Bringing the benefits of Solar PV to apartment owners
Unfortunately there is one group of people who are normally excluded from typical Solar PV installations due to the lack of roof space. These apartment dwellers until now have not had any options for Solar PV installations.
We are very proud to share a recent project for a client in South Dublin whereby we upgraded a section of their balcony with a small solar canopy, providing them with a covered outdoor space and a c.2.5KWp Solar system.
This solution could be useful for many apartment owners and homeowners with limited space for typical Solar PV deployments.
We would like to thank Dean and the team at SolarPro for partnering with us on the innovative project.
If you are a Solar PV installer with a client that requires a special solution, let us see if we can help.
From the granite rock of Connemara an elegant Solar PV array appears
As is common enough in Connemara, this homeowner had a passion for solar PV but unfortunately did not have enough roof space for a typical Solar PV installation. After much thought, it became clear that the granite rockery had to be sacrificed for the greater good of saving the planet.
The home owner contacted us to design a solution for him that would allow them to install a 12 panel array, with the condition that they would not be able to see the panels from their favorite seats in house, over-looking Galway bay.
We were able to design a made to order ground-mount system that took account of the lay of the land and gave the home-owner all the benefits of a typical array, avoiding the need for weeding in the rockery ever again.
For innovative solutions to solar PV challenges, get in touch with us at Solar Structures
Is this Ireland’s most eco-friendly outdoor space?
We have just completed a very special project for a great client in Santry in Dublin. The client had a need to lower their electricity bills, while wanting to lower their carbon emissions, however they just knew that a standard roof installation would not work at their home.
At the bottom of their urban garden was a disused space that could be converted into an elegant covered patio area with the help of the team at Solar Structures. We had the great honour of helping the family upgrade their outdoor space with the addition of an 18 panel 7KWp array using special bi-facial panels from Recom. This project was undertaken in partnership with SolarSmart.
For more information and ideas about how to upgrade all kinds of outdoor space, get in touch with us at Solar Structures.
We have just completed an elegant steel structure that solves a number of common issues around Solar PV installations in urban locations. These issues are mostly around the following:
Worries about the design engineering loads on the main roof
The orientation of the roof itself
The use of certain roofing materials making an installation extra complex
The roof having Veluxs and other elements
The garden space being limited and not suitable for typical ground-mount system
The requirement that any solution does not ‘stand-out’ too much
Steel 4×2 Solar canopy in a backgarden setting
We at Solar Structures are very proud to showcase our ‘Vigo 4×2’ steel canopy, with 4 panels wide in a double row. This innovative solution maximises the benefits of a solar installation while providing the homeowner with additional outdoor space. The structure also comes with specially designed hooks for hammocks and brackets to allow for cladding in the future.
Design of the 4*2 solar PV canopy
Our 8 panel steel frame structure for solar PV panels is a potential solution for solar PV deployments in housing estates for several reasons:
Space efficiency: Housing estates typically have limited space, and a free-standing solar structure can be erected in your garden and would not take up more space than a typical timber shed.
Improved solar panel performance: Solar panels perform best when they are tilted at an optimal angle and not shaded by surrounding buildings or trees. With our free-standing elevated structure the panels can be positioned at the ideal angle for maximum solar exposure.
Protection from the elements: We all need more and better outdoor space. Our innovative structures give you the client additional space underneath for a wide range of functions, from hanging clothes to hanging hammocks!
Flexibility: Our steel frame structures can be easily dismantled and moved if needed, making it a flexible option for homeowners who may want to relocate or renovate in the future.
View of the Solar PV canopy from the neighbours
Overall, the ‘Vigo 4×2’ steel frame structure for solar PV panels is a practical and efficient solution for urban housing estates looking to adopt solar energy. The structure comes with a range of options.
On this innovative project, we would like to thank the homeowners for the vision in undertaking this project and also JFW renewables who partnered with us on this project.
For more information on our structures, please check us out at:
With the ever increasing focus on the damaging effects of climate change, everyone seems to be looking for ways to ‘do their part’ in reducing emissions. The need to lower electricity bills too can also be a huge driver to go green with Solar PV panels. However, often houses were not originally designed for optimal Solar PV deployments, i.e. the roof is not facing South, the roof might have dormer windows or Velux’s or the tiles / slates might e .
Solar Pergola 10 panel timber structure
We at Solar Structures are very pleased to showcase our recent project that creates some useful outdoor space for the client, while helping them generate clean power.
Our timber pergolas are available online in our new online store in a range of sizes, or just contact us directly for more details.
For our happy homeowners, they can rest easy thinking about the following advantages of a timber pergola structure.
For those of you think about solar PV, a 10 panel solar PV timber pergola structure can be a great investment for a domestic client for several reasons.
Firstly, it provides shade and shelter, making the outdoor space more comfortable and enjoyable to use during hot summer months. The timber material used for the pergola structure adds a natural and warm touch to the overall design, making it aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Secondly, the 10 panel solar PV system provides the client with a sustainable and cost-effective energy solution. The solar panels installed on top of the pergola will capture the energy from the sun and convert it into electricity, which can be used to power the home or even sell back to the grid.
Thirdly, the addition of the solar PV system can potentially increase the value of the property. In today’s society, more and more people are looking for eco-friendly solutions to reduce their carbon footprint and save on energy bills. Therefore, having a solar PV system installed on a timber pergola structure can be a significant selling point for potential buyers.
Overall, a 10 panel solar PV timber pergola structure makes sense for a domestic client because it provides both functional and sustainable benefits while also adding aesthetic value to the property.
5*2 panel pergola in timber5*2 panel pergola in timber5*2 panel pergola in timber5*2 panel pergola in timber5*3 panel pergola in timber4*3 panel pergola in timber
We could all be under a Solar PV canopy, but some of us can be looking at the stars
While we might have mangled one of Oscar Wilde’s best known quotes, we thought it apt in the context of a fabulous structure that we have just finished installing for a very special client in Co. Cork.
The site in Crosshaven is looking directly across the harbour to the lovely town of Cobh and our 45 panel structure is powering this innovative passive house with clean, green electricity.
As you can see from the pictures, the site was very complicated. We had great help from the main contractors, Dave O’Callaghan builders, and from the architects, John Morehead and the team at WMA Architects, in Cork.
See-through Solar PanelsInnovative car canopyCar canopy under construction
We would like to thank them and the clients for their trust in us and we wish them many happy ‘zero-carbon’ days in their soon-to-be new home.
The project itself was a c.10KW project, with 45 Solitek see-through panels in use. This means that the clients have all the benefits of a car canopy and of a solar PV array, but on pressclear starry nights they can still see the stars!
The structure is c.15m wide and c.5m deep. The see-through glass panels are laid out in three rows of 15. Each panel is sealed, so that the rainwater is collected into a gutter on the south end.
The project required us to match our upright sections to a series of pre-exsiting plinths and to look at adding in a number of additional measures due to the site’s fabulous marine location.
If you are walking along the loop walk up to Camden fort, our structure will be visible on your left hand side as you walk up. Hopefully it will add an interesting topic of conversation to all those walking chats, ideally how to mix cutting edge design and renewable energy deployments.
We would like to thank a few people in particular:
The client and homeowner, John Morehead, Fernando Gomez, Carlos Lidon Garcia from WMA, Dave O’Callaghan, John O’Callaghan and Peter and Pa from Dave O’Callaghan builders, Richard Leonard QS, Conor Coburn Engineer, Andrew Fitzsimons at FDA structural engineers, Philip Connolly Distribution, AMS architecture and metal systems, Solitek, the team at Solar Structures who worked on this project, Andrew, Ayman and Scott and perhaps more, a special thanks to Meave and Amaya for their patience and understanding.
If you have a project in mind, get in touch. We are Ireland’s provider of innovative structures for allowing Solar PV deployments to take place anywhere.
Join us on our journey bringing Solar PV panels everywhere.
