DCP Discussion Paper Photovoltaics

7/27/2019 DCP Discussion Paper Photovoltaics

1/6

1

LEICHHARDT DCP DISCUSSION PAPER PHOTOVOLTAICS ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

energy - photovoltaics

INTRODUCTIONLeichhardt Council has a vision (as stated in the Leichhardt

2020+ Strategic Plan) o the Communit and Council working

together to promote and develop Leichhardt as a sustainable

and liveable communit.

Key objecves in the 2020+ Strategic Plan are to reduce

non-renewable uels usage and to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions. Photovoltaic (PV) installaons can help Leichhardtachieve the stated objecves.

The aim o this discussion paper is to explain current State

legislaon and how Councils new Development Control

Plan (DCP) relates to its controls. It will provide background

informaon about the installaon of PV systems, (worldwide)

best pracce examples and how to maintain the integrity of

heritage items.

BACKGROUNDThe Leichhardt LGA is characterised b a diversit o building

stock, oen heritage listed, which results in somemes

compeng interests of streetscape, heritage and Ecologically

Sustainable Design (ESD) principles.

Current legislaon and controls

Table 1 summarises the relevant State Environmental Planning

Policies (SEPP) and Leichhardt Controls regarding photovoltaic

installaons that currently exist.

RESEARCH

Controls in neighbouring Councils

The ollowing DCPs have been accessed and reviewed regarding

controls for the installaon of PV systems on residenal

development:

City of Sydney dra DCP 2010

Marrickville Council dra DCP 2010 Asheld DCP 2007

Willoughb DCP

Woollahra

Other controls and legislaon

In addion to the DCPs from neighbouring councils, the

following legislave documents have been reviewed to get an

understanding of what is current common pracce elsewhere:

East Perth Planning Policies and Design Guidelines

UK Government Planning Portal (applies to London Cit)

TyPES Of PV INSTALLATIONS

Building integrated Photovoltaics

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BiPV) are integrated within

the building itsel and orm part o the structure. Rather than

installing PV cells on the roofs of buildings, they are integrated

in the abric o the building. Examples o BiPV can be ound on

the PV Sunrise website (www.pvsunrise.eu).

Legislave Document Control Implicaon

SEPP Inrastructure(2007)

37 Complying Development(2) Solar energ sstems

39 Exempt development

(3) Solar energ sstems

The SEPP outlines controls on installaon, placement, size, output andtechnology of the solar energy system in general and specic controls relang toheritage and conservaon buildings and land.A disncon between ground-mounted and not ground-mounted systems ismade, with specic controls relang to the type of solar energy system.Controls.

Leichhardt DCP

Part B ResidenalDevelopment

B 2.6 - Design element 14

Using solar energy acvely Energy ecient water heat-ers, photovoltaic (solar energy)& sstems & swimming pool

heang

General controls outline the panels orientaon, minimum electrical output,placement and heat build-up in roof cavies when solar les are to be installed.Specic controls exist for the installaon of PV panels in heritage and conserva-on areas.

Leichhardt DCP

35 Part B Exempt

Development

3.23.3 - Photovoltaic sstems

(Including both panels aachedto roof and photovoltaic lesthat orm part o the roo itsel)

Exempt Development prerequisites must be met. In addion to the SEPP re-quirements, specic controls are to be followed. These controls outline the PVpanels orientaon, minimum electrical output, placement and heat build-up inroof cavies when solar les are to be installed.The installaon of PV on the street frontages of heritage items or in conserva-on areas is not exempt development.

Table 1. Current New South Wales and Leichhardt Council legislation relating to PV installations on residential development


2/6

2


Advantages o BiPV are that the allow the architect o to make

PV part of a building, both structurally and visually.

The power output of these PV cells can be maximised, as the

they can be posioned and installed in parts of the building that

allow for the highest solar irradiaon. PV cells can be applied in

such a way that they can serve mulple purposes, e.g. forming

a shading device, as the PV panels are not transming light.

However, BiPV are a relavely expensive form of PV systems.

Exisng buildings can be retroed with BiPV. As discussed in

Sustainability at the cung edge (2007), Applied photovoltaics

(2006) and Best Pracce Guidelines for Solar Power Building

Projects in Australia (2005), the integraon of PV in buildings

should be approached holiscally, taking all factors relevant

to the site into account: aesthec impact/design, heritage/

conservaon, structural changes, innovaon, integraon and t

for purpose. Consultaon and discussion should be undertaken

before construcon starts.

Roof-mounted PV installaons

Possibl the most widel known and common orm o PV

installaons, are roof-mounted PV systems. As the tle suggests,

these installaons comprise PV panels that are either mounted

on the roof or integrated in the roof of buildings. When ng

buildings with roof-mounted PV installaons, frames will

be installed on which the PV panels will be mounted. These

frames allow for the PV panels to be lted and rotated in the

direcon that will generate the most opmal average yearlypower output. The most sophiscated frames are installed with

tracking devices. These tracking devices will rotate and lt the

PV panels in the direcon that will generate the most opmal

power output in real me.

The advantage o roo-mounted PV sstems is that the are

relavely aordable and easy to install on the roof of a building,

either new or exisng.

Disadvantages are their visual impact once installed, especially

on heritage items or in conservaon areas and the maximum

output of the system is dependant on the orientaon and angle

o the roo on which the sstem will be installed.

Ground-mounted PV installaons

Ground-mounted PV systems consist of PV panels, aached

to frames, which are mounted on the ground. As with the

roof mounted PV systems, the most sophiscated frames are

installed with tracking devices. These tracking devices will

rotate and lt the PV panels in the direcon that will generate

the most opmal power output in real me

Ground-mounted PV systems are relavely aordable and easy

to install.

However, a considerable area of land is needed to

accommodate for a system size that can generate a substanal

amount of power. In addion, this area of land needs to

be free from overshadowing, and therefore high growth or

general infrastructure, and is unlikely to be applied in densely

populated areas.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Solar accessIn order to opmise PV power performance, direct solar

irradiaon is needed, in accordance with a range of criteria

preerabl rom 9am to 3pm in midwinter.

When installing PV systems, the potenal for paral

overshadowing needs to be considered. PV panels are to be

wired to ensure that, in the event of paral overshadowing

of the panel, the overshadowed poron of the PV panels is

isolated from the rest of the system as paral shading of just a

small poron of a PV surface can have a disrupve eect on its

electrical power output.

Objects that reduce sun exposure, both from the building

itself as well as from surrounding objects, should be avoided.Therefore, the potenal for exisng and future shading

from trees, new buildings and developments and general

inrastructure should be careull assessed when PV sstems

are considered

Consideraons to achieve opmum power output

As a rule of thumb, the opmum output for a PV panel is

achieved when:

a. it is orientated true north and;

b. lted at the latude angle of its locaon.

In Sydney the latude angle is 34 south of the Equator, whichmeans that a PV panel orientated true north and lted 34 from

the horizontal would be ideal to achieve maximum annual solar

exposure.

Figure 1 shows the eect that the orientaon and lng

angle of a PV panel have on the power output, expressed as a

percentage o the maximum possible output. figure 1 applies to

the area rom south o Sdne through Canberra and Adelaide

at 35S latude.

Figure 1. Power output o PV panel expressed as a percentage o

maximum possible output at 35S latude (Source: Best Pracce

Guidelines for Solar Power Building Projects in Australia, 2005)


3/6


4/6

4


DISCUSSION

Cung energy demand is the rst and most aordable steptowards reducing carbon emissions. Energy eciency measures

are to be implemented in the rst instance to reduce energy

consumpon these measures are to include but should not

be limited to:

the installaon of low energy light bulbs;

heang controls;

improved insulaon;

repairing damaged windows, doors and seals;

unblocking boarded over window openings;

removing introduced glazing over openable windows;

unblocking ceiling vents and ues, and;

opening doors to reinstate air movement or cooling.

Propert owners are also encouraged to reduce energ

consumpon by implemenng behavioural changes such as

turning o appliances and opening windows and doors to allow

cross venlaon of rooms.

The exisng controls in the Leichhardt DCP relang to PV

systems are thorough and descripve. Descripve controls

provide a good overview and are easily enforceable. However,

controls that are too descripve might limit innovave use ofPV on buildings and might therefore be counterproducve.

In the following paragraphs, general design guidelines relang

to the installaon of PV systems, that could be considered

when wring new controls, will be outlined. In order to ensure

that PV systems are installed correctly, they must be installed to

all relevant Australian Standards, manufacturers specicaons

and b a person accredited b the Clean Energ Council.

New technologies

Econom o scale is an important actor or new technologies to

become economicall easible. Man integrated technologies

do not yet oer the same eciencies as exisng purpose built

solar panels or are onl available at high costs.

BiPV have the potenal to radically change the wa PV

installaons/systems are integrated in the built environment.

Rather than retrong exisng properes with standard PV

panels, a more inclusive and arguably more aracve design

can be achieved once PV panels become an integrated part

of buildings. Currently, BiPV are slowly integrated in large

scale (re)developments. The high cost prohibits man smaller

developments to be ed with BiPV systems. With the ongoing

development of PV technologies, such as thin lm solar (see

next paragraph), this might change in the coming years and the

improvements o BiPV sstems should be assessed on a regular

basis.

Thin lm solar panel technology is rapidly developing, and

promises to be a major plaer in the near uture. One o the

advantages of thin lm technology is the exibility of the panels

and design as well as the reduced amount of materials, and

thus embodied energy, to manufacture them. This exibility

might lead to a beer integraon of solar panels in the built

environment, rather than the well-known retroed panels

that are currently common pracce.

The colour of the rim/edge around PV panels has always been

a point of debate. Currently, dierently coloured rims for

PV panels do exists, e.g. black or dark grey, which are more

aestheically pleasing. In addion, the previously discussed thin

lm technology will allow PV panels to be integrated in roofs

or designed without the need for a rim/edge, which makes

installing PV panels a more aesthecally pleasing opon.

Design consideraons

In order to achieve the opmum output of PV panel installaons,the ollowing is crucial:

Solar access: as discussed previously, solar access is the

most important actor when installing PV sstems. Objects

that have the potenal to overshadow the PV system

should be avoided. The site should be careull assessed

prior to installaon to limit the chance of future objects

(such as growing trees, (re)developments and general

inrastructure) overshadowing the PV sstem.

Placement: a true North orientaon and 34 degree lng

angle allow for an opmum average yearly output of PV

panels. Research is currentl being undertaken (at theUniversity of New South Wales), to invesgate if strategic

orientaon of solar panels might help addressing the

problem o peak power load in summers;

Wiring: in order to prevent overshadowing from shung

down the enre PV system, PV systems should be connected

in such a way, that the parts aected by overshadowing are

wired separately from the rest of the system. By doing so,

the eect of paral overshadowing on the total systems

output is minimised;

Cooling: generall the ollowing rule o thumb applies: the

hoer the air temperature the lower the eciency of PV

panels. Natural venlaon can be used to cool PV panels toa more desirable temperature;

Maintenance: a clear surace will result in higher power

output and therefore a higher eciency. Inspecons of PV

sstems should occur regularl;

Recycling: although PV panels are not widel reccled

yet, programs to address recycling are currently being

developed. Voluntar industr reccling guidelines

are currentl prepared b the American Solar Energ

Industries Associaon (SEIA, 2011). In Europe, PV Cycle has

been set up in July 2007 to implement the photovoltaic

industrs commitment to set up a voluntar take back andreccling programme or end-o-lie-modules and to take

responsibility for PV modules throughout their enre value

chain (PV Cycle, 2011).


5/6

5

HERITAGEDue to the cultural, historical and social signicance of

conservaon areas and heritage items, a thorough examinaon

into feasible alternaves to reduce the overall energy use

should be undertaken beore a decision is made to install

photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Altering the visual or structural aspects o heritage items

should be avoided. Heritage aspects oen can not be replaced

and should be preserved. The specic cultural, historical and

social signicance to an area or building is oen reected in

its visual and structural appearance. In order to preserve this

appearance, it is important that the PV panels have a minimal

visual and structural impact on the relevant building and the

streetscape/urban realm in which the relevant building is

placed.

Before any work to a conservaon or heritage item is

undertaken, it is important to have a conngency plan in place.

This plan will ensure that no damage will be made to the item

and will address the processes that have to be undertaken in

the event that something might not go according to plan. In

addion, the processes that need to be undertaken once the PV

panel installaon reaches its end of life are outlined in this plan.

When a conngency plan has been developed, carefu l

consideraons will have to be made as to where PV panels

will be installed. In addion to the previously discussed design

consideraons, specic guidelines will have to be developed inorder to maintain and preserve the cultural, historical and social

values of heritage items, especially when a consideraon will be

made to install PV panels on primary frontages in conservaon

areas. These guidelines would address specicaons relang to

the item and the seng it is placed in. Recommendaons to

consider when installaons of PV panels on primary frontages

could be (but not limited to):

Aesthec consideraons for both the streetscape/urban

realm and the site/item itself;

The eects of predicted future overshadowing;

Protecon of the exisng building envelop of the buildingthe PV panels will be installed on;

The colour of the PV panels and the edge/rim of the panels

could be sympathec to the roof colour;

PV panels could be prohibited on slate roos with decorave

features such as a sh scale paern;

PV panels could be prohibited on parapet roos and sub

roo elements;

The pruning or removal of vegetaon could be prohibited

when development consent or a permit is needed;

PV panels could be mounted parallel to the roo;

A maximum amount o PV panels that can be installed on

primar rontages;

Through technological advances, an increasing number o

PV products will become more sympathec to heritage or

conservaon areas. An example of one of those products is a

solar roof les and solar roof slate, available in dierent colours.

These advances in knowledge and technolog could assist in

integrang or retrong heritage or conservaon items with

PV technology without impacng on the aesthecs, cultural,

historical or social signicance.

CONCLUSIONThe installaon of PV panels on residenal development is a

very complex issue. A considered approach should be taken,

which will make a disncon between new development

and development in conservaon/heritage areas as there are

dierent interests at stake. Heritage is of great importance theLeichhardt LGA. When PV panels on heritage or conservaon

items will be made exempt development or are considered, it

is ver important that a considered approach will be taken and

strict guidelines and checklists will be developed to assure that

the items importance and signicance will be maintained for

both current and future generaons.

BIBLIOGRAPHyhp://www.atlansenergy.com/ (Accessed 17 October 2011)

www.bom.gov.au (Accessed 27 September 2011)

Cani, C, Small scale solar electric (photovoltaics) energy andtradional buildings, English Heritage, UK, October 2010

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/development/cityplan/

DraSydneyDevelopmentControlPlan2010.asp (Accessed 12

September 2011)

Eiert, Patrina Ph.D.; Kiss, Gregory J., Building-Integrated

Photovoltaic - Designs for Commercial and Instuonal

Structures - A Sourcebook for Architects, U.S. Department of

Energy Oce of Scienc and Technical Informaon, Oak Ridge

TN, 2000

hp://www.epia.org (Accessed 14 October 2011)

European SUNRISE Project in collaboraon with the European

Photovoltaic Technology Plaorm, Building Integrated

Photovoltaics A new design opportunity for Architects,

European SUNRISE Project, EU

Leichhardt Community; Leichhardt Councillors and sta; Ray

Wing-Lun, Leichhardt 2020+ Strategic Plan, Leichhardt Council,

Sydney Australia, May 2007

Leichhardt Council, Leichhardts Environmental Sustainability

Strategy 2010-2014, Leichhardt, Sydney Australia, 2010

hp://marrickville.nsw.gov.au/planning/dra_consolidated_

dcp_and_lep/dcp.html?s=1371993032 (Accessed 12



6/6

6

LEICHHARDT DCP DISCUSSION PAPER

September 2011)

h t t p : / / w w w . p l a n n i n g p o r t a l . g o v . u k / p e r m i s s i o n /

commonprojects/solarpanels (Accessed 12 September 2011)

Professor, Dr. Prasad, Deo; Dr. Snow, Mark; Dr. Wa, Muriel,

Best Pracce Guidelines for Solar Power Building Projects in

Australia, Built Environment Faculty of the Built Environment

University of New South Wales, 2005

www.pvccle.org (Accessed 28 September 2011)

www.pvsolar.com.au (Accessed 04 October 2011)

www.seia.org (Accessed 28 September 2011)

Smith, Peter F., Sustainability at the cung edge Emerging

technologies for low energy buildings, Architectural Press

(Elsevier), Oxford UK, 2007

hp://www.srsenergy.com (Accessed 13 October 2011)

Stapleton, Geo; Milne, Geo; Reardon, Chris; Riedy, Chris,

Your home Technical Manual 4th edion -: Energy Use 6.7

Photovoltaic Systems, Commonwealth of Australia, 2010

State of New South Wales through the Department of Planning,Discussion Paper on Planning for Renewable Energy Generaon

Solar Energy Consultaon Dra Not Government Policy,

NSW Department of Planning, April 2010

Tasmanian Heritage Council, Installing modern services

on heritage buildings including measures to enhance

environmental sustainability, Tasmanian Heritage Council,

Hobart TAS

hp://www.wbdg.org/resources/bipv.php (Accessed 29

September 2011)

hp://www.wbdg.org/design/historic_pres.php (Accessed 17

October 2011)

Wenham, Stuart R.; Green, Marn A.; Wa, Muriel E.; Corkish,

Richard, Applied Photovoltaics second edion, Centre for

Photovoltaic Engineering, Australia, 2006

Documents

DCP Discussion Paper Photovoltaics