Viridian Solar

Veri..., viredi..., no, Viridian Solar. What a name, right? “It's not always easy when someone asks for your e-mail address,” admits Pim van Oppen, Specification Sales Manager, with a smile. The name is derived from ‘viridian’, a bluish-green pigment. It stems from the Latin word ‘viridis’, meaning ‘green’.

Viridian Solar started in 2004 with the manufacture of thermal solar panels. Since then, Viridian Solar has switched from thermal systems to photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. And not just your typical solar panels, but roof-integrated solar panels. The panels are fitted in the roof and as such form part of the roofing itself.

Viridian Solar also saves on CO2 emissions with roof-integrated solar panels

Viridian Solar is a manufacturer of so-called roof-integrated solar panels. Their Clearline Fusion PV solar panels fit seamlessly into the roofline and are designed at the company's headquarters near Cambridge in the UK.

In 2004, a team of innovative engineers and designers set themselves the challenge to design a new kind of solar system. They sought out partners from the construction industry to help with the specification of the desired solar product and quickly realised that cost was not the only thing holding back solar energy from mainstream acceptance. Aesthetics, sustainability and ease of installation were just as important. This led to the creation of roof-integrated solar panels.

Solar systems

Pim: “Our system is fitted directly onto the roofing battens. This means that there is no need to lay roof tiles first and then the solar panels on top. Our system replaces this and is particularly suitable for new-build applications.” Solar systems themselves are getting ever bigger, which means that roof-integrated systems can save costs on roofing tiles.

Benno adds to his colleague: “If you need fewer roof tiles, you'll save on CO2 emissions, especially when it comes to the production and transport of tiles. Our roof-integrated solar panels actually reduce CO2 levels, resulting in the house becoming more sustainable.” A minor change that has a major impact.

Clearline Fusion from Viridian Solar: a safe solution

Above-roof installations are currently more popular than roof-integrated systems. Pim: “We may not be the only supplier of roof-integrated solar systems, but our system incorporates a watertight skin on the upper side of the panels and not underneath where sensitive electrical components are located. That's not actually the case with every above-roof panel and the majority of other roof-integrated solar systems.”

Another advantage of the Viridian Solar solution is of a more practical nature: no dirt and grime under the panels. No hassle with twigs, leaves, insects or birds that nestle under the panels. “That adds to the level of safety, which is paramount when it comes to roof-integrated solar panels. And contrary to other roof-integrated systems, the Clearline Fusion system developed by Viridian Solar also makes roof modifications unnecessary.”

European fire-safety certificates

“Each panel we supply is tested. This has resulted in an AA rating being awarded for fire resistance, which concerns the prevention of flames spreading. This is also the reason why we use no plastic parts in the construction, but sustainable metal components instead.” Viridian Solar Clearline Fusion has been awarded all of the European fire-safety certificates, namely BRoof T1 to T4, which can all be found on the Viridian Solar website.

Pim adds: “Installation is carried out by our regular partners. We supply the complete system and provide all the supervision in-house, such as designing in AutoCAD or BIM. Installation training takes place on-site and at the indoor training facility in Ruurlo.” Pim explains that a major advantage of this set-up is that in the exceptional case of anything going wrong, a general contractor does not have to deal with multiple suppliers, but only one construction specialist.

About Pim

Pim is Specification Sales Manager. That means he approaches architects and contractors to help them get acquainted with the product. “I have a background in skylights,” he explains. “I previously worked for two suppliers of skylights and through them came into contact with Viridian Solar. After the company approached me, one thing led to another. It certainly ignited my interest.”

Fifteen years ago, Pim was adamantly against working in the PV market. “I was at a trade fair and thought: how can you sell this product? They all look the same! But because Viridian Solar has such a unique product, I ultimately decided the time was right. And to this day, I've had no regrets.”

About Benno

Benno Klein Goldewijk is Country Marketing Manager Benelux. Quite a mouthful, but simply put, Benno is responsible for the marketing for the Benelux. “That mainly involves organising social media, photography of realised projects and translation work. But that is not all. ''I'm also responsible for logistics in the European Union and for the EU distribution centre in Ruurlo.”

Benno is a versatile member of the Viridian Solar team. “I first came into contact with this sector in 2013 when I was searching for a specialist in roof-integrated solar panels on behalf of an installation company. I soon came into contact with Viridian Solar.”

Reservations about things not known. 12Build is changing that.

Pim points out that PV roof-integrated solar panels are fairly unknown among general contractors. “We are not high on their list of interests. That's why we want to have a greater presence. But then you have to start somewhere. One of them needs to be the first. I often notice that when I speak with contractors, calculators and project managers, they tend to have certain reservations about things they do not know. ‘We're not concerned about things like that,’ they say. It's really amazing when you think about it, because builders are generally keen to manage every other aspect of a construction project. Apparently that is not the case when it comes to solar panels.”

12Build is bringing Viridian Solar to the attention of general contractors. At the time of writing, Viridian Solar is the only subcontractor on our platform that is advertising roof-integrated solar panels. “We're seeing that working with 12Build has had a beneficial effect when coming into contact with a great many parties,” says Benno. “General contractors often think that if a subcontractor is using 12Build, that company must be in order.” Viridian Solar hopes that roof-integrated solar panels will become more popular and that the company will receive more invitations to tender through 12Build. “12Build provides a nice opening for us to the major players in the construction industry.”

Greater reach

When 12Build and Viridian Solar started working together, marketing fanatic Benno immediately set to work on the company website with an article and a quote from 12Build director Erik Nieuwenhuis and Viridian Solar colleague Pim. “12Build makes it easy for us to reach more companies in the construction industry. 12Build ensures an efficient exchange of information. We believe that this should help us continue to attract more attention to the Clearline Fusion roof-integrated solar system of Viridian Solar.” That was the quote that Pim gave in the article. “And I continue to stand behind it,” he says.

You need to be using 12Build if you want to be successful in the construction industry, both men agree. “You've gained a great reputation and that's the reason we decided to start working with you.

Sustainability in the construction industry: why is it so important?

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important, also in the construction industry. The nitrogen crisis in the Netherlands has made this even more evident. We not only need to ensure our buildings become more energy neutral, but also nitrogen-free and circular, and that the interests of nature are considered. Pim: “We need to reduce CO2 emissions, the effects of which are currently hampering a great many construction projects. One of the ways of doing this is through solar energy. We must continue to think about how we can climb higher on the CO2 Performance Ladder.”

The CO2 Performance Ladder is the best sustainability instrument in the Netherlands for helping companies and government bodies in reducing CO2 and costs. Whether it concerns business operations, projects or throughout the chain. The Ladder is used as a CO2 management system and as a procurement tool.

New project

“We think green and we are green,” says Pim, referring to the company name and the type of product. Viridian Solar recently launched a new project: Fusion Forest. Benno: “For every panel we sell, we plant a tree. We do this to help develop our green focus. The initiative has already started in the UK, where the headquarters of Viridian Solar are actually based, and in various forest projects around the world. And we'll soon be planting the first trees in the Netherlands.”

Sustainable energy is not the only area in which the sector must adapt. “We also have to deal with the enormous emissions in the cement industry, for example,” explains Benno. “The whole sector needs to work more sustainably and circular.” Pim smiles and adds: “When the water level rises, we will all eventually get wet feet!”

Development of sustainability in construction

Benno and Pim believe that the construction industry will have made a few steps in sustainability over the next five years, but not great strides. “Five years is too short,” says Pim. “The construction industry is making good progress, but there's still a long way to go. You can already see that we recycle, reuse materials and work more circular. Of course, there's also a factor of cost-price improvement involved.”

He expects the industry to have reached the desired point in ten years. “The turnaround time from project to end result is very long. It takes years. If a project has just been completed, the plans were drawn up two or more years ago. Five years is therefore just two and half projects. You are soon ten, fifteen years further along before you've started doing things that create real change.”

Sustainability in business operations

Viridian Solar uses electric cars, it has its own solar-energy installation on the roof of its headquarters in the UK and is busy installing one on the premises in Ruurlo. Benno has recently taken on a new team member receiving a Wajong allowance (for young people with a disability). “It's really difficult to find employment when you have a disability, but what is important is that he is extremely motivated, interested and wants to work hard,” says Benno with a smile. “It was a conscious decision to employ this person. I think this is also sustainability: employing people who would normally have limited opportunities.”

Pim: “That's what is so nice about this sustainable company. Viridian Solar is not a family business, but it certainly feels like that sometimes. You see it in the way we treat each other: everyone on the same footing. You can discuss everything.” Benno adds: “Of course we are a company and so we have to make money. But it is also about the other things as well.”

Collaboration with 12Build

During the interview for this client story, Benno pointed out that he missed filters in the 12Build tool. That was passed on to Customer Success colleague Mario, which allowed the comment to be addressed right away. Benno: “That's a good example of how you really listen to the customer.” Pim, do you have anything to add about the contact with 12Build? “Certainly. Your service is about communication with data and that works well, quickly and accurately.”

Benno Klein Goldewijk
Country Marketing Manager Benelux at Viridian Solar