David Spiers, Naps UK

Naps designs and supplies special PV systems for UK buildings

Naps has supplied three custom-designed solar power systems to our installation partner Filsol for various buildings in UK 2007. All of these systems were designed to be below the 5 kWp limit for the simpler UK government funding programme ('Stream 1'), and in two out the three cases the panel arrays were designed to provide sunshading in summer months as a secondary function.

1. Bromsgrove County Council Offices, Bromsgrove, West Midlands

In a 4.8 kWp solar power system in Bromsgrove the solar panels are mounted over a slate roof using Naps standard NSR mountings, specially adapted for use on slate roofs. The system comprises 48 x NR100G24 solar panels, 2 x SB2500 inverters mounted in the roof space and a Sunny Boy Control and large wall display mounted in the reception area. Naps provided customised graphics for the display.

2. Tamworth Manor School, Mitcham, Sout London

In a 4.8 kWp solar power system in Mitcham the solar panels are mounted over classroom windows to provide sunshading as well as electricity production. A special adaptation of Naps NSR structure is used. The system comprises 48 x NR100G24 solar panels, 2 x SB2500 inverters, a Sunny Boy Control and a wall display mounted in the entrance lobby. The school also had a solar thermal collector system installed at the same time.

3. Caddsdown Farm Industrial Estate, Devon

In a 3.6 kWp solar power system in Devon the solar panels are mounted over the south side upper floor windows to provide sunshading, and the effectiveness of this shading can be seen from the photograph. Special mounting consisted of aluminium U channels bolted to projections from the roof structure. The system comprises 36 x NR100G24 solar panels and 3 x SWR1100E inverters. A Sunny Beam wireless monitoring and display system is used to show the system performance.