How can the energy benefits of the pv cells be maximised?
Orientation, shading and the temperature of the PV elements all impact on their output and must be considered at the design stage. The best orientation for solar PV in the UK is south facing at 30 – 40°. Of course, the more energy efficient the building, the greater the overall benefit of the PV cells. Some PV products have now been designed to provide thermal insulation as well as electricity – eg flat roof systems and solar metal roofing systems that include insulation and solar glass laminates with low emissivity glass.
