Solar panels

[RAF]

I ve some south facing sheds . Although they are steel frame , asbestos built late 70s , should I even be entertaining thoughts off putting solar panels on them ? Even if just for my own electric ? I really have no idea , will the asbestos just be a big no no ?
thank you

 

[Fogg]

You'll be doing well to find a firm prepared to fit them. I can imagine getting the HSE side of the job right on a task like that is a nightmare.

The way the joists are fitted to the steel is a consideration too. Irrespective of the roof material it's possible your roofs aren't engineered to take the weight of the panels.

TBH if it was me I'd push the boat out and replace the sheets with steel and be done with it. Your farm will look 30 years younger.

 

[RAF]

Thank u for reply . It’s only a rented farm so wasn’t wanted spend to much if needed to alter buildings

 

[DaveGrohl]

I ve some south facing sheds . Although they are steel frame , asbestos built late 70s , should I even be entertaining thoughts off putting solar panels on them ? Even if just for my own electric ? I really have no idea , will the asbestos just be a big no no ?
thank you

You've roof sheets (asbestos) that are over 40 years old? Just have a think about putting a lot of extra weight on them, never mind the poor sods that get the job of going up there. Not that they'd be allowed anyway.....

 

[RAF]

Just thought I d ask . See I ve no idea . They are covered in moss mind so maybe rent them out for carbon sequestration

 

[Exfarmer]

There are companies fitted them, but I would be very shy. Obviously safety concerns can be got over bynetting but I would still worry about cracked sheets leaking after the job. For certain no erector would give a guarantee against that.
So why not look at a ground mount? Provided you are out of the way planning should be no issue and although slightly dearer output will be greater

 

[RAF]

I ve got a small steel frame tin barn I can use . Just I ve 4 big sheds with asbestos. Think I ll give them a miss

 

[Kentishfarmer]

So effectively if following the rules no Atcost shed roof should have solar fitted? Because of the asbestos content
Generally speaking do we think it still makes financial sense to install solar if factoring in changing the roofing sheets as part of the project?

 

[Timbo]

Thank u for reply . It’s only a rented farm so wasn’t wanted spend to much if needed to alter buildings

Ground array. To answer your Q about having solar- the answer is a massive yes.

 

[renewablejohn]

Looking at outputs then ground array using bifacial solar and light reflection will give far better all year round performance than normal roof mounted solar.

 

[xmilkr]

Looking at outputs then ground array using bifacial solar and light reflection will give far better all year round performance than normal roof mounted solar.

Just a few questions then, l need 20000 KW monthly, 240000 KW annually, how much ground would the panels take up ? and what would the cost be ? also what is the difference between an ordinary panel and a bifacial solar panel ?

 

[dirty harry]

We have just fitted a 20kw solar system to an atcost grain shed no problem at all? Sheets are sound etc, just needed a specialist asbestos driller which was an extra £500 for the day, cheers dh

 

[Still Farming]

Apparently you can buy 700 watt panels these days?

 

[Exfarmer]

Just a few questions then, l need 20000 KW monthly, 240000 KW annually, how much ground would the panels take up ? and what would the cost be ? also what is the difference between an ordinary panel and a bifacial solar panel ?

To produce 240,000 KWH will need about 240Kw of panels. However this will not produce anything like 20,000 Kwh per month in the winter as the production will be 75% in the summer.
also remember that no amount of panels can guaranttee a given output thanks to the vagaries of the weather. Some dank days in December Jan output can fall to near zero

 

[renewablejohn]

Just a few questions then, l need 20000 KW monthly, 240000 KW annually, how much ground would the panels take up ? and what would the cost be ? also what is the difference between an ordinary panel and a bifacial solar panel ?

Cannot answer all your questions as yet but will have a better idea in a years time with some real data. Problem with solar is that its good for 6 months of the year and rubbish for the other 6 months. Its the rubbish months which the bifacial help with by using reflective solar as well as direct solar. Combine that with a tracking system and winter output can be substantially increased compared to a static direct solar panel. As for the difference between normal and bifacial. A normal panel receives direct solar to only one side of the panel whereas a bifacial still receives direct solar on one side but reflective solar on the other depending how reflective the ground is. If highly reflective ie white or aluminium then the panel could generate an extra 20%.

 

[Kentishfarmer]

We have just fitted a 20kw solar system to an atcost grain shed no problem at all? Sheets are sound etc, just needed a specialist asbestos driller which was an extra £500 for the day, cheers dh

So I take it a specialist asbestos driller is a third party contractor between you and the solar installer who comes and pre drills all the holes with his specialist tools & H&S protocol?
Then the installer can proceed as normal like if it was just fibre cement?
Thanks

 

[Exfarmer]

So I take it a specialist asbestos driller is a third party contractor between you and the solar installer who comes and pre drills all the holes with his specialist tools & H&S protocol?
Then the installer can proceed as normal like if it was just fibre cement?
Thanks

I would suspect that you will have to indemnify the company if they crack any sheets while fitting the panels.
I certainly would not fit panels on to old asbestos as taking them offf to replce sheet's can come to 50% of the original cost

 

[dirty harry]

So I take it a specialist asbestos driller is a third party contractor between you and the solar installer who comes and pre drills all the holes with his specialist tools & H&S protocol?
Then the installer can proceed as normal like if it was just fibre cement?
Thanks

Yes that’s correct cheers dh

 

[steveR]

So I take it a specialist asbestos driller is a third party contractor between you and the solar installer who comes and pre drills all the holes with his specialist tools & H&S protocol?
Then the installer can proceed as normal like if it was just fibre cement?
Thanks

An Albanian worker and B&D drill.....

 

[Kentishfarmer]

I would suspect that you will have to indemnify the company if they crack any sheets while fitting the panels.
I certainly would not fit panels on to old asbestos as taking them offf to replce sheet's can come to 50% of the original cost

That's a good point. If panels are expected to last for 20years are we going to get another 20 years out of Atcost sheeting from the 70s/80s, probably not...