Location: Bradford
Project type: Transparent solar PV canopy, playground installation
System size: 3.84 kWp

The brief

Keelham Primary School wanted more than just a simple shelter for their playground; they needed a covered area outside which would protect the pupils from the weather, allow natural light to pass through, and produce clean, renewable energy for the school—all without having the bulky and opaque appearance of a traditional canopy.

Polysolar was employed to carry out the design and provide a transparent glass photovoltaic canopy capable of achieving all three objectives.

Arcus FM were the project managers, KAM Projects the electrical contractors and Unique Play company installed the play equipment in the playground to complete the transformation. Thank you to Unique Play company for sharing the images of the completed playground.

The solution

The canopy features Polysolar's PS-CT-64 transparent photovoltaic glass, which allows about 20% of natural light to pass through while gently producing power above the area. Since the glass is transparent not opaque, the playground underneath remains bright and open rather than appearing as though it were under a solid roof.

Key specification:

• 60 x  PS-CT-64 solar glass panels
• Each panel measures 600mm by 1200mm by 6.8mm
• Each panel produces 64W
• The whole system puts out 3.84 kW
• 20% light transparency, keeping the space beneath naturally lit
• Unitised ladder system — panels are factory-wired in ladders of three, in landscape orientation, so mechanical and electrical integrity is built in before the canopy ever reaches site
• Finish: RAL 7024 Coastal spec, matt gloss frame
• Structure: front legs with wall brackets to the rear, the same robust canopy design Polysolar has used on public sector buildings and train station platforms

Built for a school playground

Durability and safety were important considerations. The same canopy structure which Polysolar uses on train platforms and public buildings was modified for use in a school setting — strong enough to withstand daily use by children, yet light-filled enough not to turn the playground into a shaded and enclosed area.

The fact that the ladder system was factory-built also meant that less time was spent on site when it came to installing it, thus reducing the disruption to the school.

The impact

The annual amount of clean electricity that the canopy is expected to produce, as calculated by the PVGIS (European Commission) yield model, is around 3,126 kWh, which corresponds to an annual saving of about 800 kg of CO₂ when compared with electricity from the grid.

The panels come with a warranty covering their performance for 25 years and their material for 10 years, which means the school has a long-term, low-maintenance source of renewable energy right above the playground.

Why a transparent canopy

For the school, transparency was the deciding issue. Instead of a conventional solid-roofed building which blocks out light and can make enclosed covered spaces seem dull and cramped, Keelham's canopy:

• Lets daylight through, keeping the play area bright
• Performs well even in ambient and low light, not just direct sun
• Generates power on both sides of the panel for extra yield
• Doubles as a durable, weatherproof structural roof — not just solar panels bolted onto one

Get in touch

If you're interested in having a transparent solar PV canopy installed at your school, car park, or in some other public area, get in touch with Polysolar to discuss your site and have a proposal put together.