Hi Andy, hi everyone,
Just to clear up any confusion:
"/BCV/NWBC_SIDEPANEL" is for Business Context Viewer side panels - released in EHP5, they are a side panel for a WD application, tightly coupled (in same session). More info:
https://uxexplorer.hana.ondemand.com/_item.html?id=75#!/overview
Generally when people say "Side Panel", they mean the side panel for a SAP GUI tx, released in EHP6, loosely coupled (has its own session), for which you need the roles : BSSP*. More info: NWBC: Side Panels and Page Builder Entry Pages
HTH Julie.