Photovoltaic solar slates on the roof of the stable yard. NTPL/Sarah Tebbot

Work continued last week with the installation of 300 photovoltaic solar slates on the east-facing roof of the stable yard.

These innovative photovoltaic solar panels are made by Solar Slate Ltd. They look like normal roof slates and although they are less efficient that the PV panels that we have installed on the opposite roof, they have the advantage of blending in well with the existing roof slates. Maintaining the appearance of the historic building was an important consideration for the National Trust when we were designing the project. These solar slates are therefore ideal, as although the stable yard is not a listed building, it is in a conservation area.

Each solar slate measures 500mm x 252mm and weighs 1.8Kg.  The slates are wired individually and together use over 1km of wire. The slates are installed in the same way as normal roof slates and the rest of the roof will be retiled using as many of the old roof slates as possible.

The solar slates are being installed by Greener Power Solutions Ltd working with their sister company of specialist roofing contractors, Old English Roofing Ltd.