Solar panels on a Flat dormer roof

super_ski

Hi
I have a c30yr old loft conversion (no planning docs available when i purchased the house/ or on the council website).
There is a decent amount of flat space, there is a shared chimney which is c40-50cms higher than the flat roof.
I live in Barnet council area

Do i need PP? (will the chimney count as the highest point)
What are my options to safely install PV angled at 10-20 degrees?
How can i assess the structural impact of such an installation?
are there any specialist or recommended companies to install in my circumstances

thanks

Martyn1981

Hiya. Just off the top of my head, so will need checking, but I think you'll need PP for two reasons (at least). If your PV will be higher than the ridge line, then I believe that will need PP. Also, for permitted development (assuming no other issues), PV has to follow the slope of the roof, so with flat roofs, where the PV is usually mounted on an angle, then that too requires PP.

Hope this helps, and you manage to get some PV, but I think you'll need to be careful and do due diligence on this. Hopefully your local council will have some of the PP rules / requirements on line.

Also worth looking round for any 'odd' PV installs in your area, and perhaps knocking the door and asking for a chat?

gefnew

Do I Need Planning Permission for Solar Panels? - Evergreen Energy
Please have a read may help.

markin

Its never easy poking holes in a flat roof that don't leak.

2nd_time_buyer

If you have to mount the panels at an angle that will obviously add to the cost for the mounting system. There will also be increased wind loading to the roof structure - which is often not inherently strong on a flat roof.

My gut feeling is that it would need to be a sizeable roof area and no other options to consider it.

QrizB

markin said:

Its never easy poking holes in a flat roof that don't leak.

If your roof is strong enough to bear the load, ballasted console bins don't need to be bolted down.

https://www.bimblesolar.com/renusol-console-plus

NoobSolar

Ring planning. They are generally friendly and will be quite candid. I agree that in a storm like the recent one, your panels might have been ripped off along with some of the roof. There is also the question of efficacy and angle.

Exiled_Tyke

I was advised not to go with my flat roof section for two reasons: 

1. It will create pressure points on flat section and could therefore make leaks more likely. (whether this is true or not is another matter)
2. If the roof needs replacing during the life of the panels (highly likely as the roof was last re-felted a good number of years ago) then it's an added complication and cost to deal with the panels.