Case study: PING Europe

By S-5!

A custom-designed solar PV system for PING Europe required the right clamp solution to suit the facility’s unique trapezoidal roof system; S-5! emerged as the best provider. 

PING, a leading golf equipment manufacturer operates its European headquarters in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, where 250 employees assemble and distribute golf equipment to the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, Europe, Iceland, South Africa and the Middle East. As one of its core values, PING is committed to environmental sustainability, recently completing the installation of 655 energy-saving solar modules on its roof…in the shape of its company logo! 

Cactus Energy, a renewable energy solutions provider, was appointed by PING to help them take the next steps towards more sustainable energy. They assessed PING’s energy needs and designed a rooftop solar system that would meet the company’s environmental requirements, reduce its carbon footprint and reduce its overall operating costs. 

Cactus Energy proposed the idea of incorporating the “PING” logo into their rooftop solar array, which would be aesthetically pleasing and a visible reminder of PING’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. 

The challenge 

Cactus Energy first discovered S-5! at an industry trade show in Munich. As the project progressed, Cactus Energy discovered the facility had a unique trapezoidal metal roof profile with a small standing seam that runs along the top. It was a roof profile that they had not installed solar on before, and none of their existing suppliers had a solution. They were also in search of a solar mounting manufacturer offering the best warranty on their products. 

The solution 

Cactus Energy determined that S-5! had the ideal solution for the specific roof profile and that S-5! offered the best product warranty in the industry. Typically, in the UK, mounting product warranties are 5, 10 or 12 years — never over 20. But, S-5! offers a material/workmanship warranty on all its products for the entire life of the roof and the life of the solar system (which may be more than 35 years).  

Cactus Energy chose the S-5! PVKIT® direct-attach™, rail-less solar solution paired with the S-5-E™ Mini clamp to provide an aesthetically pleasing mounting system.  

Featuring just three components, the PVKIT plus the S-5-E Mini enabled solar installers to fix solar panels directly onto the metal roof. The PVKIT’s pre-assembled components considerably reduce installation time and cost for photovoltaic (PV) mounting by eliminating the need for an elaborate rail system, while also providing better load distribution into the roof and substructure and reducing the total weight by 85% when compared to rail mountings. 

The S-5-E Mini was designed for this particular trapezoidal roof profile, and as with all S-5! clamps, has been tested to load-to-failure with holding strength unmatched in the industry. 

Long-term outlook 

The new rooftop solar system has significantly reduced PING’s annual electricity bills and offset 117 tons of CO₂ per annum.  

How did the S-5! products help? 

• Improved system aesthetics 
• Minimized the amount of time workers must spend in harness on the roof 
• Eliminated the risk of a voided roof manufacturer warranty ― no damage 
• And the PVKIT is 85% lighter than rails while providing 25% better load distribution 

"Our custom-designed solar PV system for PING Europe required the right clamp solution to suit the facility’s unique trapezoidal roof system. S-5! emerged as the best provider, delivering a solution that exceeded our expectations. Their exceptional support throughout the entire project was seamless, and we look forward to collaborating with them again on future solar PV projects." 

— Matt Tipler, chief sustainability officer, Cactus Energy 

At-a-glance 

• Project name: PING Europe 
• Location: Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom 
• Engineer: Cactus Energy 
• Solar installer: Cactus Energy 
• Module Manufacturer: SolarWatt 
• Inverter Manufacturer: Solis 
• Roof Profile: Butler MR-24® Conventional Roof System 
• Industry: Commercial 
• Situation: In line with PING’s’s environmental sustainability goals, the company wished to reduce its annual energy bills for its headquarters facility by supplementing its power generation with rooftop solar PV. 
• Result: Cactus Energy selected the PVKIT direct-attach solar mounting system paired with the S-5-E Mini clamp — specifically designed for the trapezoidal metal roof profile — for its quality, reputation, ease of installation and outstanding product warranty. 

Project stats 

• Roof measured: 3500 m² (38,000 sq ft) 
• Roof pitch: 5 degrees 
• Project size: 265 kilowatts 
• S-5! products supplied: PVKIT® (1556) and S-5-E™ Mini (1556)