Solar technology is developing quickly, and building-integrated photovoltaic is seen as the solar technology of the future. Part of this move, solar roof tiles are an emerging technology receiving more and more media attention. Many people are interested in solar but not necessarily keen on the look of it. They may find solar panels “ugly” or find that they won’t match the aesthetic of their house. Read our blog post “Are solar panels going to make my house ugly?” here. That’s why more and more companies are working on stylish and invisible solutions. The main question remains: how do solar roof tiles perform compare to solar panels? Are they worth it?
Solar roof tiles are made of the same cell technology as regular panels and operate the same way. They are small panels that replace the roof tiles. They have the same shape and size as normal tiles and are integrated among them. As they don’t require any additional mounting system, solar tiles are reported to be more resistant to the strong wind as regular solar panels.
What about the downsides? Like every new technology, solar tiles come to a price, and what a cost! The magazine Choice released a report last year comparing the costs. A 4kW solar power system installed with roof solar tiles costs around $13,000- more than double the price compared to standard panels! Not to mention changing your roof to a Tesla solar roof! Read the report here.
The main problem with solar roof tiles is that they are limited to the direction of the roof. With standards solar panels, a mounted system can be installed to adjust the angles and orientation of the panels. Solar tiles are designed to match the other tiles of the roof and as a result, tend to produce less power. Solar tiles are also slightly less efficient than regular solar panels, most of the solar tiles’ options require more roof space than a standard solar installation.
With higher prices and lower efficiency, the payback period will be inevitably longer and will be far from the average 3 years of a traditional PV system.
Each solar tile is a solar panel which means hundreds of opportunities for an individual part to break down… not to mention that this technology is brand new and we all know that the first version of any technology doesn’t work as well as their successors.
Our conclusion: solar roof tiles are a fantastic building-integrated technology if you have some money to spend!
Interested in solar? Contact our team of professionals to find the right system for your home or business. Call 1300 782 217 or send your electricity bills to ea@energis.com.au
