A dilemna?

[SolarCity]

We have a potential customer that we are dealing with at the moment who is interested in a PV system. Great, apart from the fact that any system on their roof will look AWFUL. The only design I can come up with looks terrible and I have explained this to the customer - he said that he wasn't that worried about how the system will look and is just interested in the payback of the system.

What to do? I know that permitted development asks that we install in a way which doesn't affect the look of the house too much - but surely this is subjective anyway?

Should I go ahead and do the job - bearing in mind that this house is just a few months old?

 

[JulianC]

Customer's decision at the end of the day. If he's happy for it to look crap, then plough on.

 

[whinmoor]

Can you do a mock-up in PV-Sol? Personally, I prefer the concept that the customer is always right and it's his property. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[SolarCity]

Okay, here is what it is going to look like. The property only received planning permission after they agreed to build in the same style as surrounding properties. This seems like an abuse of PD to me.

 

[TedM]

Presumably this is facing the road as well? Can you exclude the lowest panel on the main roof? Are there any other PVs in the area?

 

[whinmoor]

If the customer's happy with that, then he won't be shocked at the resulting installation.

I'd just do it. Work isn't easy to come by and it's not you who will have to look at it every day.

 

[TedM]

If you are concerned that complaints after install might lead to the council asking for the panels to be removed then I think it is legitimate to say to the customer that you think they should apply for planning permission beforehand.

 

[SolarCity]

Yes, this is facing the road. We could lose the lower left panel which would probably make the install look a little better but this would obviously lengthen the payback.

This home is part of a development and the homeowners seem to believe they must contact the developer before they start anyway - I'll advise them that a call to the planning office might be a good idea.

 

[Gavin A]

If that's on the front and there were conditions on the original planning permission for the house about the style of the build, I'd definitely advise the customer in writing in advance that you'd recommend putting in an application for either a certificate of lawful development, or full planning permission, and ensure they submit a full model of the panel layout with it to be on the safe side.

If they decide to ignore you and go ahead anyway then at least you've covered yourself in the event that there are complaints down the line.

 

[Eco Deal]

lose that odd panel and it wont look too bad seen worst

 

[Somecamel]

Are you the only company they are talking to?

 

[infinity]

How about using black panels? It will never look as bad as it does there on pv-Sol.


If its below the 200mm and not in conservation area etc, i would just install. They are entitled to benefit from renewables regardless of the arrangement IMO.

 

[SolarCity]

We're not the only company that they're talking to. They've already had a quote of £8,250 for a 4kWp system from the local idiots but I know there are other involved too.

I think we're going to press on - they seem keen to go with us so it would be a bit silly not to treat it as anything other than a standard install. We'll put disclaimers in the quote also.

Thanks for the advice fellas.

 

[Worcester]

Some developments have had permitted devlopment rights removed - they should check.

Have you considered other mounting options - car port, gazebo, or possibly PV tiles? even In roof would look better and you could do that way under the £8k

 

[whinmoor]

We're not the only company that they're talking to. They've already had a quote of £8,250 for a 4kWp system from the local idiots but I know there are other involved too.

I think we're going to press on - they seem keen to go with us so it would be a bit silly not to treat it as anything other than a standard install. We'll put disclaimers in the quote also.

Thanks for the advice fellas.

You seem to have 13 panels on your simulation which I presume is a 3.25kWp job. Not sure where the other 3 panels are going to go?

Maybe on the west-facing surface using microinverters on the lot? With additional scaffolding costs, extra cabling and top notch panels it might push it over £7k?