Are Solar Roof Tiles Available

Tesla Solar Roof Alternatives: Suntegra

SunTegraâs solar roof shingles, similar to CertainTeed, blend in with a composition roof. The firm boasts 50 percent fewer parts than a standard rack-mounted solar system, and installations twice as fast. The roof offers a limited power warranty of 25 years, and the shingle measures just under 53 inches by just over 23 inches.

Solar price comparison site EnergySage noted that SunTegraâs offering is an improvement over traditional solar panels, thanks to their lower profile against the roof.

Invisible Solar Visible Savings

The Tesla Solar Roof combines the beauty and durability of today’s top-tier roofing tiles, with the power generating capabilities of a modern rooftop solar array. Almost completely indistinguishable from a non-energy producing roofing system, the highly durable Tesla Solar Roof will reduce your monthly power bill while dramatically increasing your home’s curb appeal.

With a fully integrated design, the Solar Roof delivers exceptional energy production without the aesthetic compromises associated with more traditional solar panel arrays. Energy savings have never looked this good.

Pros Of Solar Shingles

• More aesthetically appealing and sleeker compared to the bulky and somewhat unattractive traditional solar panels, and can blend in more easily with your existing roof design
• If you are building a new home or replacing your roof, solar power shingles could prove to be more cost-effective because you would save on the traditional roofing material and labor
• Solar panel shingles can usually be removed and reinstalled in a situation where you have to move your home

Also Check: What Is The Most Durable Type Of Roof

Should You Install Ergosun Solar Tiles On Your Roof

Ergosuns solar tiles are a great way to power your home with renewable energy and are one of the few alternatives to Teslas solar roof. They offer a different style that may be better suited to the design of your home. And Ergosuns higher efficiency and power production per square inch are a huge plus.

Because Ergosun is such a new and small company, it is a bit of a risk if you choose to install their product. Plus, its hard to say exactly how they compare to Teslas solar roof in real-world applications. You could also say that about Tesla though because theres no official count of how many have been built, and they dont explicitly state their solar roof efficiency and wattage on their website.

So, while Ergosuns prices are higher and their warranty could be better, they do let you know all of their specifications right off the bat. At the very least, its worth it to get a quote from Ergosun if youre in their service area, especially if you want a concrete or tile roof.

Working with an installer is the best way to ensure you get the best solar system installed on your roof – for your specific needs.

Find out how much you can this year save by switching to solar

Advantages Of Solar Roof Tiles

Sleek and subtle. The biggest advantage of solar tiles is their stylish appearance. With solar panels on your roof, its usually pretty obvious that theyre up there for some people, this is a good thing , but for others, subtlety is key. Solar tiles give you renewable energy without blowing your cover.

Ideal for listed buildings. If youre lucky enough to be living in a fancy, listed property , you might not be allowed to mess with the appearance of your home. Fortunately, solar tiles are a great way to keep the switch to solar sneaky .

More durable. Solar tiles are tough as nails Teslas, for example, are up to three times tougher than traditional tiles so theyll give your roof some serious protection. When the hail gets hard or the storms get serious, your tiles will face it all with grit and resilience. Tesla even dropped a kettlebell on their solar tile to prove its strength, but were hoping airborne kettlebells arent a peril your roof has to face.

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Cost Comparison Between The Different Types Of Solar Shingles Available On The Canadian Market

The Tesla Solar Roof is not a new concept. Other manufacturers have already attempted the production of solar shingles some have failed, and others are still on the market. One of the products from Dow Chemicals Powerhouse Solar System only lasted five years at the time it was the product of choice, but the company end up going bankrupt.

Other companies are continuing to produce and install solar shingles. But it is difficult to find the costs associated with it. It is important to note that the companies listed incorporate solar shingles and tiles with traditional materials, while Teslas solar roof tiles are designed to cover the entire roof or even replace it. But Teslas competitors are demanding that a large part of the roof be covered with normal shingles in addition to the price of their systems.

1. Dow Chemical

Even if the company is no longer in business, it is worth looking at it because of cost information. Their Powerhouse system did not cover the entire roof it came in super shingles that fit well with traditional shingles. Installing 350 Powerhouse shingles would cost more than $ 20,000 and reduce electricity consumption by 40-60%. In a Dow press release, it was announced that for an additional expense of $ 27,480 above the cost of a traditional roof, you could collect $ 58,640 in energy savings over 25 years, and similarly increase the value of your home by $ 33,000 .

2. CertainTeed

3. SunSlates

4. SunTegra

What Are The Disadvantages Of Solar Roof Shingles

Solar shingles do have a few drawbacks:

• Solar shingle roof cost: The total costs of installing solar roof tiles are about three times the cost of conventional roofing materials and most brands of solar shingles cost more than the average cost of solar panels in the U.S.
• Limited styles available: Solar shingles arent offered in as many styles as conventional roofing, so if you really love the look of your Spanish-style roof, youre going to be disappointed by your limited solar shingle choices
• Orientation: Solar shingle production is subject to roof orientation rack-mounted rooftop solar panels can be installed at angles to capture maximum sunlight, but solar shingles are limited to the natural direction of your roof, so they tend to produce less energy
• Could require entire roof replacement: You cant just replace half your roof with Tesla solar shingles, you have to replace all of your roof material other solar shingles might not require this, but then youll have an aesthetic problem similar to the one that exists with regular solar panels

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Installing Solar Shingles: How Many Do You Need

Installation of solar roofing shingles may take up to a week old shingles will need to be removed from the home, new shingles put into place, and the entire solar system connected through your inverter and solar battery.

Before the installation process begins, an installer will join you at your home to help you assess how many solar shingles you’ll need. There are a couple of factors that will determine how many shingles you need: The size of the shingles you select, the square footage of your home and the amount of energy you need to generate.

One thing to keep in mind is that most homeowners do not need to cover their entire roof with solar shingles you can intermingle them with traditional roof shingles to cut costs while still generating plenty of solar power.

Who Can Install Tesla Solar Shingles

Solar shingles are usually installed by certified solar companies that partner with the solar shingle manufacturers.

So, if you get a Tesla solar roof, Tesla wont be the one installing them. One of their solar roof installer partners, either a solar installer or roofing company, will be the ones putting the solar roof on your home.

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Who Should Buy A Solar Roof

The initial appeal of the Tesla Solar Roof will target the wealthy, tech-savvy homeowner with a passion for renewable energy. Due to the solar roof cost, the purchaser of a solar roof will have a deep passion for aesthetics.

There is certainly a risk-reward aspect of being one of the first owners of a Tesla Solar Roof. The reward is obviously being able to be one of the first owners of this beautiful technology. The risk is the same. Being the owner of the first version of anything comes with the risk of having to be patient while kinks are worked out.

If you want to be an owner of the Tesla Solar Roof you will need a large amount of expendable cash and an even larger amount of patience as it could take years for the solar roofs to get installed.

What Are Solar Shingles And How Do They Work

Solar power shingles, also known as photovoltaic shingles, are solar panels that mimic the appearance and function of conventional roofing materials like asphalt or slate, while performing their core task of generating electricity.

Technically called BIPV , solar roof shingles present a unique and increasingly popular renewable energy solution. Studies backed by the Department of Energy in recent years have shown that solar roofing features such as solar shingles can boost the value of your home by as much as $15,000 or even more.

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Solar Tiles Vs Other Rooftop Pv

There are some downsides to solar panel roof tiles compared to alternatives such as in roof or on roof PV. Its going to be more expensive – youre probably looking at about twice the cost. This is due to it being a newer technology, with little competition and longer installation times . Obviously, costs will depend on roof size, access, system size and the proportion of PV vs dummy tiles.

Tiles are unlikely to be as efficient as other options, such as high performance monocrystalline panels which can reach efficiencies up to 25%. Connecting tile rows in a string could also lead to reduced output if part of the roof is shaded, but this could be mitigated by using dummy panels in shaded areas.

Ultimately wed only recommend solar tiles in a protected area or where aesthetics are crucial, due to the extra cost and efficiency limits. A nice alternative is in-roof solar panels, which sit flush with the tiles and can look very attractive. Learn more in our solar tiles vs solar panels blog.

You can find out more about domestic solar in our free guide, or give us a call on 0118 951 4490 to discuss your project:

How Much Does A Solar Roof Tile Cost

While the concept is still in its infancy there are a number of solar roof tiles manufacturers in the UK and elsewhere selling variants of the new technology to suits householders and business owners alike. Costs vary depending on the size of the roof in question type of tiles chosen and complexity of the installation. Additional features, such as tempered glass, invisible solar cells and bespoke designs will increase costs, however reputable companies offer a lifetimes manufacturers guarantee and instructions on how to maintain your new solar roof tiles to help reduce unexpected costs further down the line.

There may also be grants for solar roof tiles available in selected areas of the country information about this can be found on the internet for those interested in finding out more. The main consideration with this type of technology is that they cannot be integrated into an existing roof set-up without carrying out some structural changes to the existing tiles. The tiles are best suited for new build projects, or as a roof replacement or upgrade instead. Speak to a solar panel expert for further information and advice on solar tiles.

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Evaluating The Pros And Cons Of The Tesla Solar Roof

Tesla is a company with a certain mystique about them people get super excited about every announcement they make. So it comes as no surprise that people constantly ask us what we think about the new Solar Roof.

We wanted to take a deep dive into what we know about the Solar Roof to help you determine whether its a viable option for your needs.

First, a quick summary of the pros and cons:

Version 3 Product Release

Version 1 of the Roof was announced in October 2016, but it had very limited production. On a Tesla earnings call in March, Elon Musk explained that the solar division had taken a back seat to the Model 3 vehicle production ramp-up, which consumed the companys focus for over a year. With Model 3 production improving, Musk declared that 2019 would be the year of the solar roof.

More recently, on a conference call on October 25th 2019, Tesla announced the latest version of their Solar Roof.

It turns out that Tesla is currently on their third version of the Solar Roof and that the previous two versions were expensive and complicated to manufacture and install.

The following are some questions and excerpts from the conference call. It has been lightly edited.

Solar Roof conference call: introductory remarks by Elon Musk

The following are some excerpts from Muskâs introduction. You can follow the link above to hear the entire call.

Musk spends time explaining the improved economics of the version 3 roof, but that the Solar Roof still only makes sense if you are planning to replace your roof anyway. If your roof has ten years or more life left in it, he recommends that you go with conventional Tesla solar panels:

What changes have been implemented from v1 to v2 to v3, and what was the impact on cost and performance?

When can we expect Solar Roof v3 to available for wide residential adoption?

What do you anticipate the wait time will be?

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What Does Solarreviews Recommend When It Comes To Solar Roof Shingles Vs Conventional Solar Panels

Our advice depends on your circumstances:

If youre building a new house, solar photovoltaic shingles are worth considering. They are a functional roof, a way to reduce electric bills, and can be a beautiful, sleek architectural feature. They can also be a good idea if youre in need of a roof replacement.

However, if your home doesnt need a roof replacement, conventional solar panels will be substantially cheaper than some of these solar shingle options. Not to mention, traditional solar panels are more widely available than solar shingles, and the installation process will likely be faster.

If youre looking to switch to solar, the sooner you get the installation done, the better. The 26% federal solar tax credit steps down at the end of 2021 and expires completely at the end of 2023.

Plus, net metering, the law that allows you to export excess solar energy back to the grid at the full retail electricity rate, is at risk in many states where its currently offered – further indicating that securing your solar panel system now is more important than ever.

Find out how much you can save annually by switching to solar

What Are Solar Shingles

Solar shingles are a relatively new technology designed to look like ordinary asphalt shingles on your roof. They protect your roof and have the same durability and flexibility as regular shingles, while harnessing the suns solar energy to generate power for your home. Each solar shingle will produce between 13 and 63 watts of energy, depending on the brand of solar roof shingles. Solar shingles are lightweight and easy to install and just like ordinary shingles, they are designed to withstand rain, wind, and hail.

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Solar Shingles: Pros And Cons

Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding whether solar shingles are the best choice for your residential solar system:

The Construction Makeup Of The Shingles

What are these things made of? Is there a warranty? The warranty is expected to be 25 years, about the length of the life of the photovoltaic cells themselves. The photovoltaic cells are manufactured by Panasonic, and the company has developed cells that still produce energy on hot days.

In the past, energy capture would drop as temperatures rose, so places perfect for solar, like Southern California, would get too hot and the panels didnt work well. Now they do. The next layer is the colored glass that give the styles their distinct well, style. The final layer is tempered glass, which is highly durable and resistant, so dont worry about something scratching your $70,000 roof and damaging it.

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How Does The Tesla Solar Roof Work With The Federal Solar Tax Credit

When it comes to the Federal Investment Tax Credit , Tesla claims it can be applied to their entire solar roof and their home storage battery the Powerwall. This is not necessarily the case. The issue here is that this type of solar technology doesnt fit into the structure of the current ITC. For this to change, a special appeal process is necessary to decide which parts of the solar roof fall under the ITC.

• Will all of the solar roof fall under the ITC?
• Or just the solar portion of the roof?

This all depends on how the IRS decides to view Teslas new solar roof. If they determine the non-solar tiles are so specifically engineered that it is in essence part of the machinery or equipment with which it functions, then the entire roof will fall under the federal solar tax credit.

Determining the solar roof and its impact on the ITC will certainly be a lengthy process. As customer service advocates at Pick My Solar, we can only hope that Tesla will take care of the entire process for their homeowners.

The federal solar tax credit, however, is going to start scaling down at the beginning of 2020 and be completely phased out in 2022. When taking into consideration the buying and installation process of the newly released solar roof, a large number of homeowners may miss out on the chance to claim the federal solar tax credit.