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 London

Butterfly and parapet roofs are common on London terraces and often suit a flat-roof frame rather than an on-roof rail system, and large parts of the inner boroughs sit in conservation areas.

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.