Solar Panels in the Urban Area

However, a city is not a flat field with solar panels facing the sun all day. For example, the sun is blocked by neighbouring buildings and tall vegetation in a densely populated area. Therefore, the location of the solar park to be built must be carefully considered. Most private housing estates in urban areas are not well suited for solar parks precisely because of neighbouring buildings and tall vegetation. The southern side of the roof of a private house, which is not obscured by tall vegetation, is the most suitable location for solar panels.

The roofs and walls of taller apartment buildings are generally exposed to sunlight and above the vegetation, and solar panels installed there will have a good yield.

The panels can be integrated into the building or installed as stand-alone systems in densely populated areas. The solar panels must fit visually into the urban area for both solutions.

Solar panels integrated into city buildings

Gone are the days when solar panels were seen as technical alien objects. When designing a solar power plant, creating a solution that is aesthetically compatible with the metropolitan area and the building is essential. To do this, we offer creative and tasteful solutions that are compatible with the architecture of different structures and are affordable.

Generally speaking, building a stand-alone solar park on a plot of land in a dense residential area is not advisable. It is difficult to find sufficient sunny and accessible space for this. The solar panels are unsightly and aesthetically detract from the environment and can disturb neighbours with unpleasant reflections.

For example, a suitable location for solar panels can be found with a carport or barbecue area. Still, the local authority will have to analyse the suitability of the architect’s solution on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that while solar panels integrated into a building are part of the building’s technical systems, stand-alone solar panels are a separate electricity-generating installation in the building register.

Installation of solar panels in a conservation area and a heritage site

It is also possible to install solar panels on listed buildings and buildings in a heritage area. In this case, however, strict requirements apply regarding the appearance of the panels and how they are installed: they must not spoil the appearance of the buildings or damage valuable structures.

In the case of Solarstone Solar Tiled Roof™, only a trained eye can tell whether the roof is producing electricity from the sun or not. In this picture, a solar roof with a capacity of 18.2kW is virtually unnoticeable on the top.

The solar panels must be flush with the roof to match the architectural design of the building. Solar panels may be placed on the less visible courtyard side of the top so that they are not separated from the roof surface from the exterior and are at the same pitch as the roof or integrated into the roof cladding material.

The Solarstone Solar Full Roof™ fits very well into urban areas, remaining hidden from passers-by.

It is wise to consult a heritage or environment specialist at the planning stage to determine if and how the panels can be installed.