Air Control’s solar panels don’t bring down the roof 18 September 2013

Air Control Industries in Axminster is reporting success with a bespoke 50kW solar PV (photovoltaic) array on its factory roof, which is now generating significant energy and cutting its bills.

"Solar PV makes perfect financial sense: the payback period is short and we're continually generating free electricity that receives Feed-in Tariff payments," comments Nick Wilson, purchasing manager at Air Control Industries.

"The spin-off is that it's great for our green credentials, too," he adds.

However, while solar PV appeared at first glance to be a straightforward solution, when Exeter-based SunGift Energy carried out an initial survey, it was clear that any solution would have to maintain the structural integrity of the roof.

To solve the probem, SunGift's design team, led by Oliver Grogono, worked with structural engineers and designed a bespoke system with sufficient spacing between the rows of BenQ Solar panels to minimise the loading.

"Air Control Industries were also looking for high-quality, reliable parts with exceptional performance," exlains Grogono. "So we specified BenQ Solar 250 kW panels...

"BenQs are extremely competitively priced, so it was a cost-effective solution that is generating an excellent return on their investment."

The Air Control Industries system also includes three Sputnik Engineering SolarMax inverters – the same inverters that SunGift used on the solar PV system it installed at the Met Office in 2012.

Grogono says these Swiss-made inverters are very efficient, meaning that electricity generation is maximised.

Brian Tinham

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SunGift Solar

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