Flat-roof solar for the Woodsmith Mine change house, near Whitby
Woodsmith Mine sits on the North Yorkshire coast near Whitby. We were brought in by the main contractor to fit solar to the flat roof of the site’s change house, the building where the workforce changes before and after shifts. The aim was simple: to make clean power on site and cut the building’s running costs, on a roof that was otherwise unused.
The challenge
This was no ordinary rooftop. The site is exposed and windy, so the mounting had to hold firm in strong winds without overloading the flat roof with heavy ballast. The design had to stay light and balanced.
It’s also a major industrial site with strict site rules. Our team completed the site inductions. All electrical work ran under permit-based isolation, and we wrote and agreed detailed RAMS (risk assessments and method statements) before work started. On a live industrial site, nothing happens until the right paperwork is in place. Working this way takes careful planning, but it keeps everyone safe.
What we installed
We designed a 51.03 kWp east/west array using JA Solar 405 W panels (JAM54S31-405-MR). The east/west layout spreads generation across the day, from morning through to late afternoon, and lets us fit more panels on a flat roof. The panels also sit at a low angle, which helps to keep wind loads down on an exposed roof like this one.
The panels sit on Van der Valk low-ballast mounting, laid out in three groups to suit the high-wind site. Low-ballast systems link the frames together, so the array works as one stable structure and needs less weight on the roof. All of the output goes through a SolaX X3-Mega 50 kW three-phase inverter.
Timeline
- September 2024: roof works on site
- February 2025: system handed over
Results
We estimate the array will generate about 35,329 kWh a year. This is an estimate, not a metered result. Real generation will depend on the weather and on how the building’s power use fits around solar hours.
Because the site is so exposed, the system is on a 12-month inspection regime, so it gets checked regularly. It’s also covered by our 24-month workmanship warranty, on top of the manufacturers’ product warranties.
Have a flat roof on an exposed or high-security site?
See more on our commercial solar page, read about solar for warehouses and industrial buildings, or find out about solar panels in Scarborough, Filey and Whitby.
Main contractors and site managers: contact us to talk through flat-roof solar for your next project.
