The first installation of Romag's new Intecto integrated PV roof tile has recently been completed in a new housing development in the North East of England.

The ground-breaking new concept in building integrated PV combines renewable energy generation with a conventional colour matched tile design to enable the PV cell to blend seamlessly into a conventional roofscape.

The first installation of the Intecto integrated PV tile in the UK has recently been completed by Gentoo Homes in its new housing development at Beechbrooke, in South Shields.

The Intecto PV tiles have been specially designed and manufactured to match the conventional terracotta roof tiles used on the new Beechbrooke houses - ensuring that property aesthetics, design and visual appearance are not compromised by rooftop solar Installations.

The new PV tiles are fitted simply and securely onto wood roofing battens using traditional roofing practices, with a guaranteed fixing system enabling the frameless Intecto units to sit flush with the conventional interlocking tiles.

The special solar roof tiles incorporate the same high quality PV cells used in Romag's existing range of PV products, enabling the new system to provide the same weatherproofing and protection measures provided by traditional tiles, but with the added benefit of renewable energy generation.

At Gentoo's Beechbrooke development, specific sections of the roof area incorporate Intecto PV tiles, but the system can be used to provide a whole roof PV solution if required.

Barry Walker, Managing Director of Gentoo Homes, said: "We are always striving to be innovative and deliver higher environmental standards across our developments.

"Our customers have been asking whether solar can be incorporated into our housing designs as they recognise the value of renewable energy and the financial benefits the technology can deliver.

"We are therefore delighted to be the first to install Romag's innovative Intecto system in the UK. It clearly demonstrates that the aesthetics of solar are improving and I'm confident that our customers will be amazed by this new system."

Intecto solar tiles have been developed to enable architects, housebuilders and roofing contractors to provide an effective rooftop PV solution with a conventional appearance without any compromise in solar power production.

They are also appropriate for use in heritage and green-belt areas, where the requirement is for rooftop solar PV systems that maintain the integrity of individual buildings and their local environment.

Available in black, grey, and terracotta colours, the new range is fully IEC and MCS certified and complies with other international and European building industry regulations and roofing performance standards.

Romag is a leading UK bespoke glass and solar manufacturing company has been a pioneer in the development of building integrated photovoltaic solutions. The company's braid range of BIPV products includes skylights, facades, windows, curtain walling, brise soleil, parking canopies, covered walkways and roof lights.

More details here