Metal Takes on Solar: Metal Roofers’ Perspective on Solar Installations

Solar photovoltaics (PV) has been a rapidly growing energy sector in the U.S. and globally, with strong growth forecasted for the foreseeable future. In addition to its environmental benefits, solar PV is a sound investment, providing carbon-free electricity at lower costs than fossil fuels.

As important as the solar PV panels and equipment are to a long-lasting, high quality energy-producing asset, the platform on which the PV system is installed is also a critical piece of that asset. Rooftop solar has been a significant sub-sector of solar, allowing building owners and homeowners to install solar on their rooftops to create their own power plants. And, as with solar PV equipment, it is important to understand various roof types and factors that impact solar installations and their service lives. Metal roofs are particularly suited for solar PV installations, with important advantages such as durability to outlast solar systems and sustainability that aligns with the environmental goals of solar PV energy.

This panel of experts from the metal roofing and solar industries take the perspective of the solar PV system and the roof as a single asset. Their discussion will begin at a high level with roofing attributes that impact the lifecycle of the solar asset, highlighting the advantages of metal roofs. Next, the discussion will cover the solar PV mounting structures employed to install solar on metal roofs, their pros and cons, and how they interface with the roof. Panelists will also dive deeper into the do’s and don’ts of solar on metal roofs, including the technical performance requirements at each project site, what to look for and require from a solar mounting structure, and much more.

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