Princess of Wales Court

Combining integrated solar PV with a complete roof system

With Marley appointed as the roofing system provider, the project team benefited from early engagement and technical support throughout the specification process. This included guidance on integrating SolarTile® with the rest of the roof design, helping to create a coordinated approach from specification through to installation.

Tomas Davies, Trainee Project Officer at Caredig, explains: “We were keen to explore a fully integrated photovoltaic solution that could be delivered as part of a complete roof system. Having specified Marley as the roofing system provider, we were particularly interested in their integrated PV offering to ensure a cohesive, high-performing solution.”

For social housing providers, combining solar PV installation with a planned roof refurbishment provides an opportunity to upgrade existing housing stock while also supporting carbon reduction targets.
Chris Marshall, Marley's Regional Sales Director for the south-west, conducted a site meeting and visual survey with the project team. He then developed an NBS specification for the complete roof system, including the Marley SolarTile® PV arrays, concrete roof tiles and all associated roofing components, such as the ridge, fascia and eaves systems.

“Marley SolarTile® brings together our roofing knowledge and PV expertise, creating a product that performs and perfectly compliments our roof systems. Because we were involved from the earliest stages of the project, we were able to help Caredig develop a specification that addressed the scheme’s technical requirements while delivering reliable roof performance and renewable energy generation.”

Specifying and installing solar PV and new roofing for occupied social housing

As the homes remained occupied throughout the works, the project needed to be delivered efficiently while minimising disruption for residents.

“This required a high level of coordination and communication from SureServe Wales and the wider project team at Caredig to minimise disruption to residents while ensuring works could proceed safely and efficiently,” Tom explains.

As an integrated solar panel, Marley SolarTile® is installed as part of the roof covering, replacing traditional roof tiles to create a low-profile and intentional appearance. By combining the roof covering and PV installation, roof-integrated solar PV simplifies installation and improves project efficiency without compromising the aesthetics or performance of the refurbished roof.

The integrated design of Marley SolarTile® also offers practical benefits over traditional on-roof PV systems. Because the tiles sit flush with the roof covering, there is less potential for debris accumulation and bird activity. This helps to minimise maintenance requirements over the lifetime of the roof. The system has also been designed to withstand local wind pressures, supporting reliable performance as part of the complete roof covering.

“Roof-integrated PV provides an opportunity to combine the performance requirements of a roofing system with the benefits of renewable energy generation,” says Chris. “When installed as part of the Marley Roof System, Marley SolarTile® becomes an integral part of the roof covering, helping to protect homes from the weather while generating renewable energy that can help occupants reduce their reliance on grid electricity.”

Roofing and solar PV specification support from concept to installation

From the early stages of the project, Marley provided technical support to help develop the roof specification and ensure the proposed solution was suitable for the project requirements. This included:

• A site meeting and visual survey
• Development of an NBS specification
• PV array design information
• A full component list to support installation
  
  

Tom notes that Marley provided strong support from the outset, helping to develop and refine the specification: “Their team worked closely with Caredig to ensure the system met both our technical requirements and the practical constraints of the project. This early collaboration gave us confidence that the integrated roofing and PV solution would perform as intended and could be delivered efficiently on site.”

Successful delivery of integrated solar roofing for social housing

The Princess of Wales Court refurbishment demonstrates how a roof renewal project can improve existing housing stock, while also providing an opportunity to add renewable energy generation to social housing. By integrating Marley SolarTile® into the new roof covering, the project supports long-term roof performance while reducing reliance on grid electricity.

The close collaboration between SureServe, Caredig and Marley ensured the project progressed smoothly from specification through to installation. Early technical support, a coordinated roof system specification and ongoing communication throughout the project helped the team overcome the challenges of delivering refurbishment works to occupied homes.

Tom concludes: “Overall, the decision to specify Marley as the system provider, combined with early-stage support, strong collaboration with Caredig and effective delivery by SureServe Wales, has resulted in the successful delivery of an integrated roofing and PV solution.”

The project has also been shortlisted for the Pitched Roofing Awards 2026 in the Best Integrated Solar Application category. 

Find out more about Marley SolarTile®

Marley SolarTile® is a roof-integrated photovoltaic system that combines renewable energy generation with the performance and appearance of a traditional tiled roof.

From specification support through to installation guidance, Marley works with project teams to help deliver complete roofing solutions for residential and retrofit applications.

Explore Marley SolarTile® or contact our team to discuss your next integrated solar roofing project.