It is intended that the majority of new buildings in Great Britain should be carbon neutral by 2016. One way of improving a buildings carbon footprint is to install a photovoltaic system. In order to lower the overall cost of doing so, mounting systems manufacturer Renusol has developed the VS+, a cost-efficient solution for securing solar modules to roofs. Designed especially for British roofs, the innovation was presented for the very first time at Ecobuild.
While the price of the components used in PV systems has fallen dramatically in recent years, installation costs have remained relatively constant. This is why mounting times are playing an even greater role in overall system costs than ever before, explains Stefan Liedtke, Managing Director of Renusol. This scenario led us to join forces with roofers to develop a new mounting system for British pitched roofs that uses fewer roof hooks. In addition to cutting material costs, this considerably reduces the time taken to install the solar array.
The new mounting solution comprises a stable and cost efficient rail and the innovative VS+ roof hooks. Produced from steel that has been hot-dip galvanised and boasting a strong structural design, the roof hooks feature an improved load-bearing capacity. This means that the VS+ series requires considerably fewer roof hooks, to mount solar installations, than previous systems using Renusols stainless steel roof hooks. Not only, the way in which VS+ has been tailored to fit perfectly with the roof tiles and substructures, it also simplifies the mounting process and saves the installer yet more time.
The new roof hook is available in three different models. The UK Roof Hook Flexible can be used with the majority of pitched roofs and types of tile found in Great Britain, making it easier to plan PV projects. The UK Roof Hook Plain has been designed for use with plain tiles and natural slates, while the UK Roof Hook Pantile is intended for use with single and double Roman tiles, as well as modern interlocking tiles. Additional costs are saved by the new Renusol mounting rail with its efficient use of materials.
Weve designed our new roof hooks with British roofs in mind. The hooks provide a simple way of mounting rooftop solar systems quick and secure. Our ultimate aim was to minimise the number of installation steps taken on the roof and with VS+ weve achieved just that, reports Marko Balen, Head of Product Management at Renusol.
