Marley enhances solar panel range with launch of M10

To further support the availability of sustainable roofing solutions, Marley has extended its SolarTile® range, with the launch of a new panel.

Larger than Marley’s existing 335Wp system, the new M10 Solar Photovoltaic Panel delivers a peak power of 405Wp to increase total power from a roof area, while allowing for the installation of fewer solar panels to achieve the desired power output.

Building on the ease of installation found in Marley’s SolarTile® range, the new M10 also offers simple roof integration with a clean, low-profile aesthetic making it a sustainable solution for new builds and retrofit projects.

n Power up with fewer panels

The monocrystalline half cut M10 (182mm) format cells are laid out in 6 x 9 x 2 arrangements over a black back sheet with black framing for a contemporary and seamless look. The M10 offers 10 slimline connectors for each cell meaning the higher power rating enables roof integrated solar to be even more cost effective.

Stuart Nicholson, Roof Systems Director at Marley, comments: “The M10 solar panel range is the next step in Marley’s continued commitment to delivering a complete renewable package, across our integrated full roof system, to drive a more sustainable environment. The specification of solar panels on roofscapes is on the rise as regulatory changes look to improve housing stock, provide access to renewable energy, and make homes more energy efficient ahead of the 2050 net zero target.

The M10 is compatible with the widest range of slate and tiles and includes special fixings for different batten thicknesses. It can be fitted during a normal roofing programme and comes with compatible roofing kits for simple fitting and installation times reduced to less than 45 min/kWp. The M10 panel achieves exceptional fire performance, wind resistance, and weather tightness and is the perfect solution for any solar roof project.

“The Marley M10 panel allows specifiers, housebuilders, and contractors to incorporate fewer panels and roofing kits to attain a given energy target. It also reduces installation timescales to optimise resource planning and further reduce cost. By increasing our SolarTile® range to include the new larger 405Wp and existing, 335Wp solutions, specifiers can benefit from increased versatility depending on project size and output requirements.

“The new panel integrates perfectly with the Marley Full Roof System and all tile types, meaning specifiers, housebuilders, and contractors can also benefit from the reassurance of Marley’s 15-year guarantee when the panels are installed as part of a complete roof system.”

“The M10 panel achieves exceptional fire performance, wind resistance, and weather tightness and is the perfect solution for any solar roof project.”

Those looking to incorporate the M10 Solar Photovoltaic Panels as part of a sustainable roofing solution can use Marley’s online configurator to assess system requirements and include ArcBox, the easy to install solar connector enclosure for enhanced safety should an electrical arc occur.

For more information on Marley’s M10 solar panel solution, visit: marley.co.uk/solar

Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has become the first timber frame manufacturer to offer a verified Pre-Manufactured Value (PMV) score of 55% or more.

Following a six-month material and labour cost analysis completed by specialist construction consultancy, Cast Consultancy, the DTS Sigma® II build system has been verified to achieve a minimum of 55% PMV, increasing to 58% for a detached home.

In conjunction with the Stewart Milne Group, the DTS timber system was tested on a live project, on a range of building typologies, including a 2-bed mid terrace, a 3-bed end-terrace and a 4-bed detached home. In these tests, the DTS Sigma® II build system achieved a verified PMV of 55.7%, 55.8% and 58.4% respectively.

PMV is a way of calculating the proportion of a building’s construction that takes place offsite or near-site using any of the seven categories of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). It can be achieved through a combination of off-site, near site and on-site manufacturing techniques, as well as through materials

innovation and site-based process improvement and

technology.

The PMV value of Sigma® II is achieved by a combination of offsite elements of the build, including: traditional strip footings and in-situ suspended floor slabs; conventional brickwork external cladding; external doors installed on site; conventional felt, batten and tiled roof installed on site; services and internal linings to walls and ceilings installed on site; sanitaryware and kitchens installed on site; and pre-fabricated doorsets and stair flight, with handrail components installed on site.

The Affordable Homes Programme from Homes England, launched in 2021, requires all projects it funds to have at least 25% of the units delivered through MMC and a calculated PMV of 55%.

The verification by Cast confirms that DTS can achieve this target PMV value through the build system alone, when using the award-winning, BOPAS and BBA-approved, closed panel Sigma® II Build System.

While the system can be used in conjunction with other offsite technologies to further improve PMV, Sigma® II achieves the target levels of PMV without reliance on any other off-site technologies.

Cast Consultancy has published a PMV Technical Manual explaining how the calculations are carried out. The baseline for the calculator, building a ‘traditional’ house without any additional MMC elements, provides a PMV of just 39.74%. While adding a basic structural framing system, such as timber frame (MMC Category 2a), raises it up to 44.74%, it still falls short of the required 55%. Setting the target of 55% is pushing the industry to innovate and to drive more offsite construction.

The Sigma II closed panel system offers nearPassivhaus standards of performance and sustainability and is being widely used with housing developers, particularly with those driven by whole life costs and fabric performance, contributing positively to fuel poverty challenges.

www.donaldsontimbersystems.com