The Tesla Solar Panel: Cost Installation And Powerwall
Solar panels are becoming more and more popular. What started out as a trend in places like Florida and California has spread all over the country. Solar panel energy is popular, not just because solar power isclean or green but also because solar panel technology provides safety, security, and comfort.
Tesla has long been known for being at the top of the electric vehicle market. In 2016, Tesla acquired SolarCity, which was the nations leading installer of solar panel systems. Since then, Tesla solar has consistently been among the leaders in the solar power market with products such as the Solar Roof and the Tesla Powerwall.
Tesla Solar Panels Vs Tesla Solar Roof
Tesla Solar Panels can be installed on top of existing roofs and are significantly cheaper than a Solar Roofthough still expensive compared to other solar panels on the market. The same two-story, 2,000 square foot house from the articles introduction would only need to spend $26,900 to have Tesla Solar Panels installed.
However, these panels would only generate 8.16 kW instead of the Solar Roofs 11.28 kW, making it more difficult to be self-powered. Powerwall also comes with the Tesla Solar Panels if you are interested in storing your energy.
Tesla Solar Roof Versus Hail
If youre spending tens of thousands of dollars on a roof, then you need that roof to withstand hail and other physical damage. So how does the Tesla Solar Roof fare against hail?
Part of the reason Tesla delayed the rollout of the Solar Roof was to make the system as strong as possible. The shingles are called solarglass because the top layer is made from glass. It sounds like glass shingles would do very poorly against hail, branches, and other physical damage to your roof. However, thats not the case.
Tesla claims their Solar Roof is more than three times stronger than standard roofing tiles. The company has engineered the solarglass for all-weather protection. Plus, the tiles are backed by a 25-year warranty.
Of course, Tesla can make all of the claims it wants but it doesnt matter if the roof cannot survive a real hailstorm. In July 2021, Good Faith Energy showing how the Tesla Solar Roof fared against baseball-sized hail.
Texas experienced several serious hailstorms at the end of April that set new records in the state. One homeowner in Wichita Falls, Texas with a Tesla Solar Roof recorded the aftermath. Large hailstorms fell on the roof for 20 to 30 minutes. Most of the hailstones were the size of golf balls, but there were several hailstorms the size of baseballs.
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What Are Tesla Solar Roof Tiles
Elon revealed the Tesla Solar Roof way back in 2016 on the Desperate Housewives show. At the time, they were still in their developmental phase and not yet available for the mass market.
One of their unique features, compared with conventional solar panels, is the fact that they replace your regular roof tiles . This is a marked difference from your conventional solar panel system which is installed with solar panels laid on a metal racking system.
These regular looking roof shingles were initially available overseas in different styles. This was Tuscan glass, slate glass, textured glass and smooth glass. However when Tesla was taking pre-orders for the Tesla Solar Roof in the Australian market in 2016, they initially only offered textured glass and smooth glass shingles.
What We Dont Like About Decotech
The downsides to a DecoTech installation include a slightly more complicated installation. While these are technically solar panels, their installation takes longer than a rack-mounted solar array. Indeed, DecoTech is likely only a good option for new roofs or replacement roofs.
DecoTech doesnt offer pricing information publicly but has said that installations would initially cost about 10-15% more than a new roof plus a standard solar array. These costs were expected to come down as the rollout of DecoTech roofs expanded, allowing for economies of scale. However, because every roof is different, its not possible to tell if these cost savings have emerged. So, you may still be paying a premium for a rooftop solar array with a low-profile look.
- Limited information on warranties and installation process
- Likely more expensive than a roof plus solar array
- Installation takes longer than a standard rack-mounted array
- Company has a reputation for being choosy and hard to contact
- Few installers trained to work with Luma
Luma Solar was founded in 2007 and claims to have made the first solar roof shingles in the U.S. The companys other major claim is to have created upgradeable solar shingles, meaning you can replace the solar cells without having to rip up your roof.
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What Is A Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall 2 is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery storage system, primarily designed to be used with a solar PV system. It stores excess electricity which can then be used when the sun isnt shining i.e. overnight or on days with poor weather. This stored electricity can then be used to power the building once the sun has gone down, when there is poor weather or even during power cuts .
The Tesla Powerwall 2 can be used in virtually any building with a solar PV system, whether thats a home, a commercial or a public building. It works best when there is plenty of excess day-time solar electricity that would otherwise be exported back to the grid.
The previous generation of this system was called the Tesla Powerwall, which had a smaller battery capacity and fewer features. Details of a forthcoming Powerwall 3 are yet to be announced by Tesla.
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How Much Does It Cost To Get Tesla Solar
Estimating the average total cost of a Tesla Solar Roof can be tricky because several factors affect the final price.
Two significant factors are the complexity of your roof and whether youre removing and replacing your old roof. The more complex the roof is, the more money youre likely to spend.
To get accurate estimates for a Tesla Solar Roof cost, we can use the calculator provided on their website.
According to the calculator feature, a single-story building with a 1,000-square-foot roof generating 6.31 kW of power and with one Tesla Powerwall will cost you approximately $46,500 when removing the old roof and installing the Tesla Solar Roof.
As the number of stories and wattage increases, so does the money youre likely to spend. The above estimate considers roof removal and replacement, which means youre likely to spend less if youre building a new house or your roof is already in perfect condition.
Did you know? Tesla has set up 430,000 Solar Roofs since 2020.
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What Are The New Tesla Solar Panels
Tesla has not yet released much information regarding the actual specs of their new solar panel. However, we do know that the Tesla solar panels are 340-watt modules backed by a 25 year performance guarantee. Most likely, these solar panels will compare to Panasonics 340-watt modules. The Tesla panels, however, boast an incredibly sleek black-on-black design that seamlessly ties into any roof.
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Getting A Loan With Teslas Solar Roof Financing
Prospective Tesla Solar Roof owners are offered a few different financing options. Whatever options are chosen may be changed at any point before installation begins. Here are some details about loan purchases from Teslas site at the time of writing this article:
- System ownership
- Investment tax credits
- 10-year comprehensive maintenance with 25-year panel performance warranty
Purchasing through a loan allows buyers to own their system without the upfront cost. Additionally, depending on geographic location, buyers often find that their loan payment is less than their monthly electric bill, meaning that you can still achieve long-term ROI right from the start.
Tesla solar loans can be paid off at any moment in full without a prepayment penalty.
Loan invoices follow about 30 days after roof installation. Interested parties can read more specifics about loans and incentives on the companys Solar Purchase page.
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Can You Finance Tesla Solar Panels
Tesla is well aware that the initial upfront cost of a solar system can be too much for many people. This is why the company offers a solar loan, where you can get the installation done and pay for it with monthly installments.
- Youll need to pay roughly 10% as a down payment, after which the monthly cost will depend on your system size.
- For the small, 4.25 kW system, you can expect a monthly payment of around $80, and around $300 a month for the biggest available system.
- Teslas solar loan has a 10-year repayment term and 2.99% APR
Tesla Solar Roof: How Much Did It Cost Before
Musk claimed that, in 80 percent of cases, the new tiles would offer a price point that is less than what the average roof costs plus solar panels.
Research from Electrek after the announcement found a 9.45-kilowatt roof of 1,862 square feet cost $38,266. Once the Powerwall and repairs were factored in, it cost $54,866.
LinkedIn engineer Robby Valles in August 2020 that his 1,737-square-foot 7.37-kilowatt solar roof cost $34,067 before tax credits.
For comparison, HomeGuide lists the cost to replace a 2,000-square-foot asphalt roof as $10,460 at the high end. EnergySage lists the average cost of a seven-kilowatt solar system as $19,670 before tax credits.
This suggests Valless roof may have cost slightly more than buying the two separately, although its hard to say as the price would vary depending on the house.
Tony Cho, who ordered a giant Tesla Solar Roof for his Florida retreat, told Inverse in January 2021 that it cost around 35 percent more than the price of panels and a new roof. Jason Lassen, who bought a Solar Roof for his Wisconsin home, told Inversein March 2021 the price was almost the exact same as the cost of a good shingle roof plus solar.
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Tesla Drastically Increases Price Of Solar Roof
Tesla appears to have drastically increased the price of its Solar Roof tiles in an update to its configurator and quote estimates.
After years of delays, the Tesla Solar Roof is finally gaining momentum with a sharp rise in installations over the last few quarters.
The increased deployment came after Tesla launched version 3 of its Solar Roof tiles, which brought a significant price decrease through optimization and faster installation process.
Tesla kept refining the product and changed its online cost estimates a few times, .
But now Tesla appears to have changed course and significantly increased the price of its solar roof in its online configurator.
Several Electrek readers and prospective solar roof buyers reached out this weekend to let us know that they are seeing higher prices for the same quotes.
We decided to check it ourselves with a previous quote that we have used as a reference.
Last summer, a quote for a 3,947-square-foot roof with a 12,3 kW solar roof tile system was $54,966 before incentives.
Now the Tesla Solar Roof configurator shows prices between $79,938 and $100,621 for the same size roof:
While this is a sharp increase in price, Tesla also appears to try to make its online quotes more accurate with a new roof complexity factor:
However, in this case, the least to the most complex options all result in higher prices than previously quoted for the same address with the same square footage.
Is The Tesla Solar Roof Worth It
Were going to cut to the chase – for most homeowners, the Tesla Solar Roof isnt a worthwhile investment. Installing traditional solar panels is going to be cheaper, no matter how you slice it. Even if you also need a new roof, Teslas roofing material and removal costs are so high that unless you were already planning on getting a premium roof installed, its going to be more expensive than it needs to be.
Even in scenarios where the price of a Solar Roof is competitive, were not so sure its the right way to go solar. For one thing, Tesla is notorious for having subpar customer service when it comes to its energy division. You can see for yourself in Teslas customer reviews here on SolarReviews. People have reported waiting weeks to hear back from their Tesla advisors if there is an issue with their system.
Tesla is also extremely unreliable. Despite being introduced in 2016, Tesla didnt start installing Solar Roofs until 2018, and its still unknown how many have actually been installed. Then in mid-2020, Tesla started canceling Solar Roof preorders after homeowners had paid their deposits – claiming the sites werent within their service territory. And not long after, Tesla changed the prices of Solar Roof installations for homeowners who already signed contracts. If you cant even trust that theyll honor their contract – what can you trust them about?
Calculate how quickly a solar installation would pay for itself after rebates
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Is The Tesla Powerwall Worth The Cost
Yes, the Tesla Powerwall is worth the cost if you are looking for a durable solar battery that can withstand indoor and outdoor conditions. The Powerwall is water-resistant, and dust-proof keeping it safe from rain and other elements. This battery can operate in up to 100% humidity and temperatures ranging from -4 degrees Fahrenheit to 122 degrees.
For example, customers were shocked at how well their Powerwall systems functioned during Hurricane Ian. The hurricane brought 155 mph winds and 10 feet of water to some areas in Florida. After being underwater for hours, the Powerwall continued to function as expected.
If your Powerwall is not working correctly, contact customer service through the Tesla mobile app, chat with an agent online, or other options listed on their site.
Lets Examine The Estimates Found On The Internet
1. Motley Fool
A columnist for Motley Fool has made calculations to predict how solar shingles compare to a traditional roof. He estimates that based on a manufacturing cost of $ 0.30 per shingle is comparable to ceramic or concrete tiles. But be aware that the installation costs are extra: Tesla says that the cost price is $ 3 per watt installed (meaning $ 5880 per 100 square feet or $ 176,400 for a standard 3,000 square feet house.
2. Consumer Reports
Have developed a calculation including anticipated savings in electricity in order to be competitive with a traditional roof they determined that a maximum expenditure of $ 73,500 would be necessary in order to be competitive with asphalt shingle roofing, one of the least expensive solutions. According to information provided by roofing installation associations, and assuming an average house with a 3,000 square foot roof, the total cost of this asphalt shingle roof would be approximately $ 20,000. They then added an annual cost invoice of $ 2,000 in their calculation , and the life of the shingles being 30 years as stated by Tesla. After thirty years, savings are expected to rise to around $ 60,000. When the Powerwall, which is part of the installation of the electricity storage system for non-solarized moments, and which costs $ 6,500, the savings would be reduced to $ 53,500.
3. Energysage
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How Good Are Tesla Solar Tiles
Tesla solar tiles have a 25-year weatherization warranty and class 3 hail rating, plus a wind rating up to 166mph. In terms of power generation, Tesla solar tiles are highly efficient and capable of generating a lot of power as they cover your entire roof. In general, depending on your unique roof structure, Tesla Solar Tiles cost roughly $1,80 per watt.
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Efficiency Of The Tesla Solar Roof
One factor to consider when making a cost comparison between installing new solar panels and installing a new Tesla Solar Roof is efficiency. Tesla has not released data on the efficiency of its solar shingles, but EnergySage estimates that typical solar shingle brands range from 14 to 18 percent efficiency, whereas most solar panels are 22 to 23 percent efficient. Its important to keep this in mind when deciding if the Tesla Solar Roof is worth it for you because your overall return on investment will likely be lower than if you install new solar panels.
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Get The Roof Inspected
After the installation is complete, the roof will have to be inspected and approved to be interconnected to the grid by your utility. This can range from one to five weeks. Waiting for permitting, inspections, and interconnection could take a few months.
Once the roof is inspected, you can download the Tesla app and monitor the systems production!
Note: There is also no way of knowing when an installer can get to your house to begin the solar roof installation. So, the complete timeline of how long it takes to get the solar roof installed ranges from one month, to possibly over a year.
