The Company Says Each Tile Can Generate Over 20% More Power
Getting to this point hasnt been easy for Tesla. While its received hurrahs for the design of its solar tiles, its been hard to convert that support to something marketable on a large scale. Despite that, the company has continued to invest in solar and says installations are trending up.
Why Are They Cheaper Than Other Solar Panels
There are a few factors that allow Tesla to sell cheap solar panels. First, you can complete the process online. Other companies require you to contact several different people and have multiple surveys of your home. Tesla has a simple online process that saves you time and money.
The Tesla name plays a huge factor too. Since this is a highly profitable company, they can sell solar panels for a lower price because they already have a high income from their other products like their cars.
Another way Tesla keeps their solar panels affordable is by offering different payment options that other companies dont. You can pay with loans and subscriptions.
Many other solar panel companies spend a lot of their funds on salespeople and advertising. Tesla doesnt need to do so as their brand and name are already well known.
Is Tesla The Best Choice
As with any major purchase, you should get multiple quotes from multiple companies. Make sure they answer all your questions and provide the information you need. While Tesla doesn’t have a press office, its customer service representatives were easy to get in touch with and seemed knowledgeable. Still, it shouldn’t be your only call.
Tesla’s price match means it will always be competitive in terms of cost. Likewise, the estimates it provides online come in well below the national average. If the look of your panels is really important, Tesla’s do sit closer to the roof and look sharp. Tesla also offers more information up front about its warranty than some of the other players. Still, make sure you can view it in detail before committing.
The Powerwall is widely considered an industry leader in batteries. It sets the Tesla’s equipment apart, but it’s also available from some other installers.
It’s also important to note that I researched this as deeply as was practical and tried to provide the clearest answers, but I didn’t go through the purchasing process, interact with customer service as a buyer or base my assessment of Tesla’s performance on any first-hand experience. This category is a hard one to review in the traditional sense, so if possible, you’ll want to make sure to get multiple estimates from the different providers in your area before you make a purchase decision.
Read Also: What’s The Cost Of Solar Panels
How Efficient Are Teslas Solar Roofs
Tesla continues to increase the power output of its solar cells while maintaining the same dimensions. Important to note is that the number of active versus inactive solar tiles is dependent on your individual profile of needs and desired investment.
To paint a better picture of efficiency and the tiles themselves, the shingles measure 15 by 45 inches. Each is 5 millimeters in thickness and can produce 71.67 Watts of power.
Teslas warranty guarantees customers 95 percent or better during Rated Peak Power for fives years after installation. In addition, for the next 20 years, the guarantee ensures no more than 0.5 percent in output loss.
Solarskin Achieves Double The Efficiency Of Tesla Roof
Teslas solar roof has been clocking in around 8-10% efficiency. SolarSkin, on the other hand, boasts efficiencies of 16-20%, which is comparable to some of the best modules currently offered to homeowners. We previously ranked current panel technologies by aesthetics, and regardless of if you choose polycrystalline, monocrystalline, or another module, SolarSkin matches your ideal performance.
What is truly innovative about SolarSkin is its ability to achieve unparalleled aesthetics while still maintaining high efficiency. Put simply, it is the most efficient aesthetic solar tech in the market. One of our recent residential projects in an HOA community in Indianapolis helped the homeowner generate 50% more electricity than before. See how harmoniously the solar panels now appear on his home.
Also Check: How Fast Do Solar Panels Pay For Themselves
Other Solar Products Offered By Tesla
Tesla offers energy storage and an alternative solar power generator with its battery back-up and solar roof offerings.
- Battery back-upTesla allows customers to store the excess energy their solar panels generate with a Powerwall solar battery. Powerwall collects energy for you to use at night or during a power outage.
- Solar roofThe Tesla solar roof is an alternative to solar panels and replaces your current roof with solar tile shingles. The solar tiles act as mini solar panels, harnessing sunlight to produce electricity for your home.
How Much Do Tesla Solar Roofs Cost
The Tesla Solar Roof can be described as innovative new solar design technology. Therefore, its not cheap and should be considered as what its meant to be: a long-term investment.
Forbes offers a pricing estimate calculated in July of 2021. The analysis concluded approximate prices for a 1,000 square foot single-story home estimated at over $46,000, a 2,000 square foot two-story home estimated at just over $64,000, and finally, a 3,000 square foot three-story home estimated at almost $82,000.
These prices do not factor in incentives, tax credits, or energy savings. Each was calculated as complete installation and roof replacement.
Major factors that affect the total price include your homes roof complexity, for which Tesla has assigned three categories:
- Simple. A single-level roof, uncrowded mounting planes, few obstructions, and low pitch.
- Intermediate. Multi-level roof, somewhat crowded mounting plane, more obstructions, and higher pitch.
- Complex. Multi-level roof, heavily crowded mounting plane, many obstructions, and steep pitch.
As with increased energy consumption, increased complexity means additional cost.
Read More: Why Are Solar Panels So Expensive
Read Also: How Much Solar Energy Do I Need For My Home
Solar Roof Durability Vs Solar Panel Durability
Tesla is extremely confident in the durability of its solar roof. Elon Musk has stated that the Tesla Solar Roof has an infinity warranty or for the lifetime of your home, whichever comes first. While the durability of the new solar tiles has not been successfully field testing, there are videos online of the Tesla Solar team launching hail and other heavy objects at the solar tiles to show their durability. Based on a video recorded in a Tesla owned factory, it seems the solar tiles are stronger than a tempered-glass solar panel.
Standard solar panels, however, are usually warrantied by the manufacturer for 25 years and the panels typically will last longer than the warranty. The expected lifetime of solar panels has also been field tested, unlike the solar roof.
The biggest question here is what is going to happen when solar tiles start degrading and losing their efficiency? When solar panels need to be replaced or corrected it is a pretty simple replacement. But what happens when there are solar tile problems? How much of the roof is going to have to be replaced? It seems that making any corrections to a Tesla Solar Roof is going to be very expensive and labor-intensive.
How Much Do Tesla Solar Panels Cost
Unlike many other solar companies, Tesla has simplified the whole process of buying panels by creating set price packages. Rather than being able to buy one or two panels, users have to buy bundles for their roofs.
The set prices for these bundles are:
| System size |
|---|
Data from Forbes, 2021
Clearly, not everyone can afford these solar tiles.
Readers should also bear in mind that these are cost estimates the real price might be even higher. For example, the New York Times spoke to one customer who received an initial estimate of $60,000 for their roof, but then received a final quote of $112,000 .
However, Elon Musk Teslas CEO states that these prices will pay off in the long run. And since the tiles are three times stronger than normal tiles, you shouldnt have to deal with many repairs.
To help with the initial cost, users can also look into Teslas solar loan system, where they can make monthly loan payments. The following table outlines the estimated monthly payments for Teslas different solar system sizes:
| System size |
|---|
You May Like: How To Get Sole Custody In Va
Does Tesla Solar Roofing Need Cleaning And Maintenance
Yes. Unlike any other solar roof, there is a time when you have to clean the solar roof to improve its efficiency. The dust and dirt would stick to the solar panels surface, blocking the direct sunlight from reaching the membrane.
You should clean the solar roof once a month on the summer days and rainy days. It doesnt require much cleaning as rainwater may clean the glass.
Tesla has claimed that the Tesla Solar Roof is made of dust-free material, so they are less prone to attract the dust to the surface.
They are designed in a way that nothing will block the surface easily. However, it is still recommended to clean in whenever you get time.
Tesla Solar Roofing business is in its early phase of innovation, and there will be more efficient solar panels designed in the future that may produce more energy than the current tiles do.
Are The Tesla Solar Roof Tiles Worth It
Since Tesla raised their prices, installing a Tesla solar roof is now much more expensive than it has been in recent years. It really only makes sense to install the Tesla solar roof if you really want to have the Tesla product or youre really in love with the solar roof aesthetic. Otherwise, it doesnt really pan out financially because the solar roof doesnt produce nearly as much electricity as regular solar panels.
If youre looking for a way to save the most on your electric bills, youre much better off going with a traditional solar panel installation. Even if you also have to replace your roof, youll end up spending less by going with a conventional roof replacement and solar installation, and youll get better savings out of the solar panels.
You should also keep Teslas reputation in mind if youre considering the solar roof. While they are extremely popular for their electric cars, the historically low customer reviews for Tesla Energy suggest their after-sales customer service isnt the best.
In fact, it took almost two years from when the solar shingles were announced to when the first ones were installed, and theres no official count of how many solar roofs are currently out there.
Before you jump into ordering their solar roof product, you should get multiple quotes from solar installers in your area to make sure youre getting the best price and quality for your solar panel installation.
Recommended Reading: How To Start A Sole Proprietorship
How Much Electricity Does A Tesla Solar Roof Generate
The amount of electricity a Tesla Solar Roof generates depends on the amount of solar shingles that have been installed. Tesla will estimate your energy requirements based on your current electric bill and the size of your home, and provide you with a system that should more than meet your energy needs.
How Tesla Roof Tiles Are Kept Cool To Ensure Maximum Efficiency
Its official the first Tesla Solar roof has just been installed, and visually it looks pretty amazing. However, the big question many people are asking is, how is a glass solar panel going to help keep my house warm in winter and cool in summer?
No Photoshop here the first Tesla Solar Roof photo courtesy of Tesla
All traditional roofing materials in Canada, whether aluminum, shingles, tiles, slate, or wood shakes, are manufactured with certain reflective properties. The more the roofing material can reflect the heat away from the building, the less heat is being transferred into the roof space. If the roofing material is not able to reflect the heat efficiently, the heat is readily transferred into the roof space resulting in higher household energy costs.
As the new Tesla Solar Roof cells are encapsulated into tempered glass and are installed directly on the roof surface, it would be a likely consequence that the thermal heat transfer into a buildings roof space will be increased.
However, Tesla SEO Elon Musk has been vocal about the Tesla Solar Roofs superior durability and higher insulating value than a standard roof tile, but he has not been clear about just how this will work.
Just prior to the first solar roof installation, Tesla received a Class A certification from Underwriter Laboratories which classified the Tesla Solar Roof as having superior fire performance, hail resistance and resistance to wind uplift.
Example of DensDeck Roof Board Application
Recommended Reading: What Is The Payback On Solar Panels
Are Solar Roof Tiles For You
The Tesla Solar Roof is an option for homeowners who are concerned about the aesthetics of their rooftop because the tiles look like a traditional rooftop. The tiles do come with a high price tag, though, and will make a Tesla Solar Roof cost prohibitive for many homeowners. Solar panels are still a reliable, tested, and durable option for homeowners who are looking for a great return on investment.
Getting A Loan With Teslas Solar Panel Financing
If you decide to take advantage of Teslas Solar Loan, you avoid paying the full amount upfront and instead make monthly payments. The payment amount depends on the size of the system installed.
Tesla states that most peoples monthly loan payments will be less than their monthly energy bill before installing the solar panels. Here is some estimated monthly pricing dependent on the size of the solar panel system provided by solarreviews.com.
| System Size |
| $297 |
Recommended Reading: Is A Sole Proprietorship A Dba
Additional Costs And Upgrades
Depending on the current infrastructure present in your home, Tesla mentions that it may be necessary to perform additional upgrades during installation. This includes services such as extra electrical work or installation of a Solar Roof on a shed or deck. Prices are quoted directly to you upon inspection, but it is important to note that they are not included in the Solar Roof calculator estimate.
How Do The Savings Of The Tesla Solar Roof Compare To Traditional Solar Panels
Now we know the cost of a solar roof compared to a traditional solar installation and roof replacement, but how do the savings stack up?
A traditional 8.18 kW solar system in California will produce around 17,688 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Based on an electric rate of $0.19 per kWh, that would save about $3,360 per year, and about $97,000 over the 25-year lifetime of the system.
Teslas production estimates for the solar roof would bring yearly savings to around $2,354 and the lifetime savings to $66,270.
The lower solar production from the solar roof is mainly because solar shingle orientation is determined by the slope of your roof. Rack-mounted solar panels are able to be oriented for ideal solar generation, giving you higher energy bill savings. So, you could actually install a smaller traditional solar panel system and still cover your electric bill.
Read Also: What Is A Solar Heated Pool
What Are Tesla Solar Roof Tiles
The Tesla Solar Roof is a seamless way of integrating Solar PV technology into homes across the globe. Available in 4 different styles , Tesla have cleverly manufactured a Solar Panel, that looks exactly like an ordinary roof tile. Each roof tile includes a highly-efficient solar cell, which has been developed in partnership with Panasonic, to work just the same way as a Solar Panel does.
In the long run, Tesla declares that their solar roof will work out cheaper than a regular roof. Due to its ability to generate electricity from a free energy source . This makes the Tesla solar roof tile perfect for homeowners who want to power their home using solar energy in style.
Specifications
- Dimensions per Solar Tile: 15 inches by 45 inches .
- Suitable for Roofs of a pitch between 9.5-59°
- Leading fire, wind and hail ratings.
- Able to withstand winds up to 166 miles per hour.
- App Monitoring and Powerwall Solar Battery Pairing.
- Tile warranty: 25 years .
- Power warranty: 25 years .
- Weatherization warranty: 25 years .
Tesla Solar Roof Estimate
Rather than directly publishing rates, Tesla provides a Solar Roof calculator on their website that estimates the cost of installing a solar roof on your home. The calculator is based on your current electricity usage and the size of your home, among other factors. We ran three basic estimates to give you an idea of the price differences. Each estimate includes a roof replacement, but does not factor in any incentives.
FYI: All estimates were run on July 13, 2021.
| Size |
|---|
Tesla changes their prices depending on a number of factors, including those listed below.
Recommended Reading: How To Pigeon Proof Solar Panels
Polished Appearance Designed With Solar In Mind
One reason to choose Tesla roof solar shingles vs. solar panels is their modern appearance. Solar panels are generally considered unattractive and can stick out like a sore thumb. Tesla aimed to solve precisely this problem by transforming roof tiles into solar power electricity generators. Letting customers utilize the entire surface of their roof. Teslas solar roof shingles were designed to replace roof shingles. Allowing them to blend into the roofs design seamlessly. This design enables the Tesla solar roof shingles to look inconspicuous and mirrors the appearance of asphalt shingles. They make it appear as though the homes roofs aesthetics was designed with solar in mind.
Tesla Solar Roof Tiles provide great appeal for homeowners who want solar energy without looking at solar panels on their roofs. Tesla solar roof tiles currently come in the same colors offered for solar panels, blue and black. Unlike traditional solar panels, Tesla plans to provide more color options for solar roof tiles.
