All-Black Solar Panels

What makes a panel all-black

Black frame, black backsheet and black busbars, rather than a silver frame over a white backsheet. From the street the array reads as a single dark rectangle rather than a grid.

Where it matters in Belfast

Northern Ireland has its own grid connection and export arrangements, so the process and the tariffs differ from Great Britain and your installer should confirm both.

Where a roof is prominent from the street, or the property sits in a conservation area, all-black is often what makes the difference between a scheme that looks considered and one that looks bolted on.

The trade-off

All-black construction typically costs a little more and, because black absorbs more heat, can run marginally warmer, which slightly reduces output in hot weather. In a British climate the difference is small. Availability in a given wattage is sometimes the bigger constraint.