Free online tool promises to make more solar projects viable in the UK
Green building news – by GreenWise staff
20th September 2011
New software has launched in the UK that promises to make solar installations viable that were previously discounted due to obstructions such as chimneys and windows.
The
online tool, which has been developed by
Conergy, the German-based
solar system manufacturer, is being offered free to
installers, architects and construction professionals to help them work out the best solar solution of any roof. In a release, Conergy said it expected the '
Conergizer’ to enable more solar projects to be installed in the UK that would previously have been discounted "because
buildings are not south-facing or roofs have chimneys or other obstructions". Its German-language parent has already been used in some 10,000 installations in Europe. The UK version was launched yesterday at the start of Green Building Week.
"There are investors right now passing over houses in the UK because they have chimneys or they’re not south-facing. There are installers squeezing in as many panels as they can to maximise power output but that doesn’t always generate the best returns. Solar has massive potential in the UK and this tool can help deliver that," said Robert Goss, managing director of Conergy in the UK.
How the software worksEmploying 3D graphic modeling, the Conergizer enables users to work out aesthetically the best position for their solar installation, as well as accurately forecasting power generation for the year. Conergy said climatic conditions for the whole of the UK have been mapped, including maximum wind and snow loads. In addition, the tool enables users to estimate the end-customer’s return on
investment, factoring in impacts such as the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and energy prices.
"The Conergizer will help people work out just how much they can make from their rooftops, whether they’re in Aberdeen or the Scilly Isles," said Goss.
HomeownersThe tool is primarily aimed at installers but the company said anyone could use it, including homeowners who are "technically literate".
"Anyone who can use a mortgage calculator, will be able to use the financial planning tool to work out how much they should spend and get back via FiTs, etc," a spokesperson said.
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