Tesla Solar Panels Review 2020

Get An Exact Quote From Our Solar Advisors

The SaveOnEnergy marketplace helps you search, compare, sign up and save on the right energy fit for your home all for free. If youre interested in solar, answer a few questions to get an exact price quote from our solar advisors.

1. Complete the form below2. Schedule an appointment with a solar advisor3. Get an exact price quote for solar panels for your home

Ready to go solar? Callto be connected with a solar expert today!

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.

How Good Are Tesla Solar Panels

Tesla currently installs Hanwha Q CELLS Peak Duo Black solar panels more specifically, the Q.Peak Duo Blk-G6+ modules which are not exclusive to Tesla.

This specific model has an up to 19.5% efficiency rating a pretty average figure, which doesnt quite match some of the best solar panels on the market, which have efficiency ratings of around 22%.

However, if youre searching for aesthetically pleasing panels, Hanwha might be the way to go. The panels sleek black body has no visible gridlines, and its concealed edges make it blend into the roof nicely.

Plus, Teslas mounting hardware uses 30% fewer anchor points on the roof, compared to a traditional installation, making the solar panels less prominent.

An additional feature that many solar panel owners will find useful is Teslas smart solar inverter, which has Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity. This means it can easily integrate with Tesla Powerwall and the Tesla app, and users can manage their solar system from anywhere in the world.

Shirley has a 2.4 kW solar array and a Solax battery, and managed to break even on the system in 10 years. Despite electricity prices increasing around the world, Shirleys panels have brought her energy bills down to £15 a month, instead of £50.

Check out the full interview with Shirley to learn more about solar panels.

Don’t Miss: Best Solar Fence Post Lights

How Does Tesla Compare To Other National Solar Providers

Tesla is one of the top solar providers in the nation, and one of the few companies to offer solar roof tiles. But is Tesla Solar the best solar energy provider? Heres an overview of how it stacks up against some of its competitors:

Tesla Solar is one of the top solar companies, but its up against some other great contenders. The inherent diversity in the market is a great opportunity for potential customers to shop for their best option and identify what specific offerings best align with their energy needs and budget.

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.

Also Check: Is The Federal Tax Credit For Solar Panels Refundable

Read Also: How Much Does Solar Panel Cleaning Cost

What Has Their Return On Investment Been

So do the Pfitzners think their solar battery solution was worth it? Lets break down the numbers to figure out Nicks ROI.

Nick originally paid $15,990 for his solar panels, inverter and solar battery system.

And remember that the family has only paid $677.34 over the past four years to power their house. Before the Tesla Power Wall, theyd have paid around $9,156.64 for the same period .

So theyve saved around $8,479.40 over those four years.

And that, in turn, means theyll have almost completely paid off the entire cost of the system in just seven years.

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.

If you’re looking for the lowest prices and the backing of a national brand, Tesla is the way to go. 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.

There is very little reliable customer service and satisfaction information for the solar industry. Tesla Solar doesn’t have a score on with the Better Business Bureau , but anecdotally Tesla’s customer service for solar is bad enough in cases to make some people regret their purchase. It’s customer service call center was responsive and it’s not hard to find customer service complaints for any of the major solar installers, but the complaints about Tesla seem louder and more numerous.

You May Like: How Do I Make My Own Solar Panels

Powerwall’s Unlimited Cycles Warranty

Tesla offers a 10 year “unlimited cycles” warranty , but this only applies to solar self-consumption and backup use. Tesla warrants 70% energy capacity retention at 10 years following initial installation date. This means the Powerwall should be capable of storing a minimum of 9.45kWh at that point.

Any other application or combination of applications sees the warranty cover drop to around 2,800 cycles about 7.6 years worth if cycled once a day.

However, there is an exception.

Tesla Solarcity Solar Panels Models

Right now, Tesla only offers one solar panel model in the range. There arent any options for solar from Tesla SolarCity aside from the Tesla Roof. However, if youre in the market for panels, youll only find the standard 350W IP65 panels. Each panel weighs 44.5 pounds and has a black anodized frame. Tesla claims that each panel has an operating temperature between -40°F up to +185°F. However, studies and consumer ratings have shown that the panels do not have the temperature coefficient that Tesla claims.

Read Also: Most Powerful Solar Fence Charger

How Much Do You Save With Tesla Solar Panels

Again, this depends on your electricity usage. With the smallest available Tesla solar setup, youre getting 425 kW of power per day in perfect conditions. If youre using this much or less power on a daily basis, youll be getting 100% free electricity!

For most homes, youll have paid back the systems initial cost within 510 years depending on the system you choose, where you live, and how much sun youre getting per day.

Is The Tesla Powerwall Right For You

Although it is not a prerequisite to owning a home solar panel system, a Tesla Powerwall may be right for you if:

• You live in a high solar-producing state. Once your solar panels have generated enough energy to power your home, your solar battery allows you to store any extra electricity.
• Your area experiences frequent power outages. If power outages are detrimental or dangerous to your lifestyle, a backup power source is a good solution.
• You pay expensive Time-of-Use electricity rates. Using stored energy from the Powerwall during peak times can reduce your energy bill.

Recommended Reading: How Much Power Does A 350 Watt Solar Panel Produce

Tesla Solar Installation And Services

Tesla handles every part of your solar systems installation, from site inspection to Permission to Operate . Learn about the installation process with Tesla here:

Can You Get Tesla Solar Panels In Canada The Uk And Australia

Unfortunately, Tesla Solar is not currently available outside of the US, although many countries had the Powerwall available before it became exclusive to a Tesla solar setup.

Although Teslas CEO, Elon Musk, has stated he has plans to make the solar roof available in other parts of the world, it is still yet to happen.

You May Like: How Do Solar Loans Work

Tesla Solar Roof: How It All Came Together

In January 2021, Nochta switched on his new roof. His 1,175-square-foot roof has enough solar-harvesting tiles to generate 7.6 kilowatts of power. The Tesla Solar Roof uses a mix of solar tiles and dummy tiles the latter used at the edge of the installation to enable teams to more easily cut edge tiles down to size and fit the roof seamlessly to the house.

Nochta first installed solar panels on his house in 2016, supplied by SolarCity. SolarCity merged with Tesla later that year.

The first installation was less than three kilowatts not much energy, which meant the couple was using slightly more than they produced. But as the household grew to add children and parents, Nochta discovered it was surprisingly difficult to expand the existing solar panel system to add more capacity. The new panels would have to work as part of a dual system, with two inverters feeding into the house.

These inverters are vital for getting solar power into the home. As Energy.gov explains, they convert the panels direct current electricity with a single voltage in one direction into the alternating current used in homes where the voltage moves between positive and negative.

I think the people hate me at Tesla.

Nochta had a couple of friends that do roofs and they estimated it would cost $8,000 to $10,000 to replace the roof. Including new solar panels would cost another $10,000 to $15,000.

At that point, its just, dont do it, just get a Solar Roof done, Nochta says.

Tesla Solar Panels Review Summary

While there are plenty of solar panel companies to choose from, Teslas solar panels deliver what they promise. Its sleek and low-profile design makes it aesthetically-pleasing, which is to be expected from Tesla products. On top of its appearance, Tesla offers one of the most efficient solar panels on the market. The panels feature market-leading specs like 19.4% efficiency and a 0.258% temperature coefficient.

Whether or not you want to pay for the Tesla name is up to you. If it is, then its worth the hassle. Tesla solar panels are unlikely to disappoint you.

Recommended Reading: Price To Install Solar Panels

Frequently Asked Questions About Billing

How do I pay my bill?

If you would like to make a payment online, log into your Tesla Account. Select ‘Billing.’ There will be a yellow Pay Now’ tab. Select ‘Pay Now’ and follow the instructions to finish making your one-time payment.

If you would like to pay by check, please include your job number, as listed on your invoice, in the memo line and mail all payments to the address included in your monthly invoice. Please note that this option takes the longest for processing .

How can I view my billing and payment history?

If you would like to view your billing and payment history, log in to your Tesla Account. Select ‘Billing Portal.’ Under ‘Useful Links,’ you can simply select Payment History or View Statements to access a breakdown of your payment history and an archive of past invoice statements.

How am I billed for my Power Purchase Agreement?

Your invoiced amount is based on how much energy the system produced in the previous calendar month. The varying monthly charge is calculated by multiplying the total amount of kWh that the system produced during the month by the rate per kWh per your contract. You may notice a higher bill in the summer when your solar system is producing the most energy. This energy is typically applied as a credit by your utility for usage later in the year.

Will my bill fluctuate with a Power Purchase Agreement?

Can I change my due date?

Will my utility rates change if I have a solar power system?

What is the Non-ACH fee listed on my bill?

Teslas Customer Service Comes Up Short

Its true that youll probably get the lowest price for going solar when you go with Tesla. But the price of solar also includes the cost of the long-term relationship that you get with your solar installer, and that seems to be where Tesla cuts costs.

Unfortunately, Tesla has historically been known for having pretty shoddy long-term customer service – which you can read about in customer reviews here on SolarReviews. Because they are such a large company, they don’t have the ability to give you the type of one-on-one service that you need when going solar.

Teslas customers have reported that its hard to get ahold of them if theres a problem with their system, and it can take even longer to get someone out to check on the issues. This can actually cause you to lose a substantial amount of money.

If your solar panels arent producing energy properly, you have less electricity to power your home, and thus a higher electric bill. The longer it takes for someone to fix your system, the more money you lose.

You May Like: Is Solar Power Environmentally Friendly

Tesla Solar Panel Reviews

Overall, Tesla Solar has mixed reviews on its Better Business Bureau profile. However, these reviews are for all of Teslas products, not just its solar products. The company features an A+ rating and does not have accreditation.*

Critical reviews of Teslas solar panels mention communication and scheduling difficulties. Meanwhile, other customers praised the company for its solar systems integration, equipment quality and savings.

We reached out to Tesla about these negative comments as well as about the vague language in the warranty and long wait times for service, but we had not received a reply as of the publication date of this article.

Read over some Tesla customers experiences below.

The whole procedure was smooth and easy for me. Neal was an excellent advisor, clear, concise and knowledgeable. The installation company kept me up to date via email. It took very little effort on my part. My electricity bill has $0.00 for the last three months! Randy W. via BBB

After researching for months about switching to Solar Panels we decided to go with Tesla Energy Solar, its been really a good experience. Installation and City Permits everything done quick and so far so good. Its been almost a since we did it. Rocio A. via BBB

*Better Business Bureau information is accurate as of November 2022.

Is Tesla Solar A Good Deal

In terms of price and quality, lease and solar loan options, plus ease of ordering and installation, Tesla solar seems like the obvious choice.

However, the lack of customer service is slightly worrying, considering youll be dealing with Tesla for up to 25 years, and the lack of customization is not ideal either.

For those looking for a smaller solar setup, or a setup more specifically tailored to their needs, contacting your local solar installer may be a better choice.

Still, Tesla offers a solar system that is incredibly high quality for a surprisingly low price and will install it for you too.

Don’t Miss: How To Size Your Solar System

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.

Using your homes equity is an easy way to fund your new roof!

Get prequalified in minutes by clicking on your state.