Solar on roofs

Do! Of course you want the highest possible return on your (business) property. With a roof full of solar panels, you benefit doubly. The extra income ensures a healthy future for your company, the substantial CO2 reduction and the generation of green electricity provides a healthy future for our planet. So making your roof available for solar panels is a good idea.

Looking at the long term, there are no costs associated with solar panels on your business premises. The costs that may be incurred depend very much on whether or not you, the roof owner, choose to invest. If you choose to rent out your roof, there are no costs associated with solar panels on your roof. What's more, your roof actually generates income. When you choose to invest in a solar roof, you obviously incur investment costs. But thanks, among other things, to subsidy schemes, you will earn this back and in the long run your solar roof will generate money.

The cost of solar panels for a business varies greatly. They depend on the type of panel chosen, the quantity of panels purchased and the lot from which they are purchased. There are three types of panels:

• Monocrystalline solar panels: they have the highest efficiency, but they are also the most expensive.
• Polycrystalline solar panels: the difference in efficiency between polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar panels runs to several percent.
• Amorphous solar panels: this type of solar panel is the cheapest due to low production costs, but also has the lowest efficiency.

Efficiency versus yield is thus an important consideration for a solar roof. The final choice and cost are therefore different for each project.

Yes, there are subsidies for business solar panels. In addition to the standard SDE++ subsidy, there are often several additional subsidies in each region. Such as for the removal of asbestos, strengthening the roof structure or the purchase of lightweight panels. In this way, the government encourages making business premises more sustainable.

Yes! It is important to us that you have no inconvenience when Novar installs the solar panels on your company roof. You don't have to worry about productivity; we arrange everything on the roof so you can continue working underneath.

If your roof is not suitable for solar panels, it is almost always possible to make it suitable. Together we look for solutions to realize a solar roof. For example, by adapting the roof structure so that it can support a solar system. Or by looking for a creative solution to connect to the energy grid. We think in terms of solutions and are happy to work with you.

To determine whether a company roof is suitable as a solar roof, we always do a feasibility study. Not every roof is immediately suitable, but often company roofs can be made suitable for installing solar panels. In doing so, we always take into account:

• Obstacles on the roof
• Shade from surrounding trees and buildings
• The current roof structure
• Type of roofing
• Net roof area
• Connectivity to the existing energy grid.

Together with the roof owner, our specialists explore options such as a new roof construction, the ideal arrangement of solar panels and the best mounting system. For example, there are possibilities for solar panels on roofs with a lightweight construction. We also make arrangements with the grid operator. Here, capacity is the biggest issue.  

The yield of a solar roof, depends on the choices you make and the space you have. For example, will you rent out a roof for solar panels or invest in your own solar project? At Novar, there are several options for a solar roof at a minimum area of 3,000 m². Here's a calculation example: Do you rent out a roof of 3,000 m²? Then you will receive +/- €4,500 per year. After 16 years you will have earned €72,000. Wondering how much you can earn with your company roof? Schedule a no-obligation consultation. A solar roof also provides (indirect) marketing revenue. As a result of a 'green' image. Are you a landlord? Then you increase the attractiveness of the property for existing and future tenants.

To give substance to the energy transition, we will have to generate sustainable energy in various ways. For solar, this means that we must realize solutions both on land and in the built environment. Roofs are enormously important in this regard. From Novar, we are also looking at solutions such as solar carports, solar thermal and batteries.

The efficiency of your solar roof depends on several factors. Owning your solar roof means maximum returns. But also more risk and a lot of self-regulation. When renting out the roof, the return is lower, but so are the risks, the own investment and the worries. In addition, a combination is also a possibility. Furthermore, the return on your solar roof depends on the business case that can be made: how many panels can be put on the roof, how many hours of sunshine your roof has, etc. Solar energy is a profitable source of energy that has a high degree of financial security thanks in part to the SDE subsidy.

We focus specifically on roofs from 3,000 m2 and up. For roofs smaller than this area we unfortunately do not yet have a suitable solution.

The number of solar panels on a commercial building depends on several factors. Such as the size of the roof and the net surface area: the space actually filled with panels. This depends on the rotation of the sun, the shadows on your premises and any 'obstacles' on your premises. An example is Zonnedak Beerta Ulsderweg. Here are 1,297 panels placed, good for 223,230 kg less CO2 emissions per year.

No, usually no permit is needed to install solar panels on a roof. Very occasionally this is required because a solar roof then does not fit into the zoning plan. This may be the case with monuments or protected cityscapes, for example. Through the Omgevingsloket you can do a permit check for placing solar panels. Or read more in the leaflet Solar collectors and solar panels.

Realizing a solar roof consists of five different phases:

1. Applications: You take the first step. Based on the information entered, we can estimate the solar yield of your roof.
2. Develop: We examine how your solar roof can fit into the power grid, how good the current roof construction is, and we set the initial (contract) arrangements.
3. Financing: As a roof owner, you don't have to invest in your solar roof yourself. We arrange all the financing and apply for the SDE subsidy.
4. Construction: During construction, we make sure that you and your employees can continue to work undisturbed 'down below' . So you have no loss of production. In short: you operate under the roof, we are on top.
5. Manage: We stay connected for at least 16 years and keep your solar roof in top condition all that time. We remotely monitor the performance of the solar roof 24/7 and intervene immediately if necessary.

A solar roof is a pitched or flat roof that generates renewable solar energy by using industrial solar panels. These are different solar panels than for private use: in fact, they are a lot larger. The area on which solar roofs are built is also large. At Novar, we build solar roofs as small as 3,000 m2. A solar roof is much more than a row of solar panels: it is above all and primarily a sustainable source of energy! Read more

A solar roof doesn't have to cost anything. In fact, a solar roof makes money. Here you can choose several options. If you choose to rent out or lease your roof, no investment is required. We take care of the installation and maintenance of the solar panels. You receive the returns and run no risk. Do you want a higher return? Then you can choose to invest in your own solar roof, in which case we can also co-finance. It is also possible to choose a combination. Depending on your wishes, we will look for a mutually beneficial cooperation.

Not every roof is suitable, but it can become so. We have listed some of the things that are important to determine if your roof is suitable:

• Connectivity: The roof must be able to connect to the (future) energy grid.
• Sufficient rooftop space: For a large-scale solar roof, the net roof area must be at least 3,000 square meters, which is essential for optimal efficiency.
• Number of obstacles on the roof: It is desirable to have as few obstacles as possible such as vent pipes or skylights. This minimizes shadows on the roof and allows more sunlight to be captured.
• Surrounding obstacles: Fewer surrounding obstacles such as other buildings or trees are also beneficial, as this results in less shade on the roof.
• Strength of the roof structure: The structure must be able to support the panels.
• Current roofing: The choice of solar panel system depends on the current roofing material.

With every solar roof application, we first do a feasibility study. There we look at various factors such as obstacles on the roof. Our technical designer calculates the net roof area and the most ideal arrangement for the solar roof to determine the solar yield. In addition, the roof structure and roof covering are also assessed by an independent engineering firm. Connection to the grid is of course also important, this is looked at by our grid specialists.

There are several reasons to choose a solar roof:

• Future-proof premises: As an entrepreneur, you want to be able to continue doing business carefree, both in the short and long term. Sustainability plays an increasingly important role in this endeavor. With a solar roof you give substance to sustainability and increase the attractiveness of your business premises.
• Financial benefit: As a business owner, you expect a return on your investment. Based on the current subsidy scheme, a solar roof currently offers an attractive return that is fixed for at least 16 years.
• Laws and regulations: In 2019, companies, civil society organizations and governments concluded the Dutch Climate Agreement. The agreements made therein are increasingly being translated into concrete laws and regulations. The realization of solar roofs is a widely supported first step in this.
• Desire of other stakeholders: the social urgency to become more and more sustainable is increasing. In addition to politics, your company's immediate environment also expects more and more in this area. By investing in a solar roof, you give a positive signal to the outside world and show that you are actively working on sustainability.