Solar Frames
Sapa provides aluminium frames for solar collectors which are robust and durable and able to withstand heavy weight while adding minimum extra load.
Our team can advise you on how to make your components more cost effective and easier to produce.
We will work with you on the extrudability of a design with the aim of reducing excess weight and eliminating unnecessary labour further down the supply chain.
In addition, our experience and expertise in fabrication allows us to supply pre-fabricated components and welded sub assemblies.
Aesthetics: With more solar collectors in our environment, stricter demands on aesthetics on the solar absorbing surface and also the module’s frames are being made.
The modules therefore need to be as unobtrusive as possible, blending in with the rest of the building as much as possible.
Sapa offer a number of processing methods for Solar thermal and PV frames, which include surface treatment such as anodising or powder coating This ensures that Sapa profiles add to the aesthetic appearance of roof mounted solar collectors.
Solar Mounting Systems
The Mounting systems for solar applications are structures which mount the solar modules either to the roof for domestic and commercial applications or to the ground for CSP plants.
Roof Top Applications: Although most roofs were not designed to carry the additional weight of solar powered modules systems, the light weight of aluminium means that this is achievable.
The low weight of an aluminium mounting system reduces the total weight of the solar unit and the load on the roof compared to an installation using steel.
It also means that it is more economical to transport and generates cost savings from reduced installation time.
CSP Plants: Sapa’s aluminium extrusions have been used as the mounting structures of solar modules in CSP plants all over the world.
Aluminium is an ideal material for use in CSP plants due to its structural advantages:
• Stiffness to maintain geometry of reflector at all times
• Strength to withstand dead weight and loads without deformation
• Excellent corrosion resistance.
Its light weight also simplifies the transportation of multiple units to site.
