Tesla’s Solar Roof became one of the company’s most talked about products once CEO Elon Musk said that they were taking orders in May 2017. Interested homeowners were asked to put down a $1,000 deposit for the sleek solar paneling, which lets people invest in a new roof and clean energy.
Deposits started to swiftly pile up, and the company said in early August 2017 they were already sold out of the product until early 2018. The actual solar roof technology puts the energy generating devices right into roofing tiles, making them purportedly stronger and lighter than traditional shingles.
They are designed in a couple of different styles so they can seamlessly integrate with any home and look pretty much like a traditional roof from afar. Other solar shingles can actually still stand out on a roof because they are usually just one shade of blue and black (which can still not match a roof). The roof comes with warranties that cover both solar functionality and physical durability.
Tesla’s ambition with the solar roof cannot be understated, David Sarkisian of the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center said the scale of implementation was “revolutionary.” Still, there’s been a lot of questions about what aspects of the Tesla solar roof are real, and what is just embellishment that looks good in a press release.
Keep reading to learn about what is real and what is pure PR.
Real: The Roof Won’t Necessarily Help Save You Money
Yes, nothing that Tesla builds is ever cheap. But you’re not going to necessarily be saving money going with Tesla’s roof as opposed to other options.
Homeowners who already have a pretty sturdy roof are going to find it much cheaper to just install solar panels if they want green energy. Calculations comparing the Tesla roof versus solar panels for a California home found it would be 68% cheaper to go with normal rooftop solar panels if the roof was relatively new and 35% cheaper if the roof was really old.
Pure PR: Solar Shingles Are a Game-Changing Technology
Even though Tesla’s doing their best to tout their new technology, solar shingles still have a very long way to go to truly be an industry game-changer. Traditional solar panels have a reliable track record and have been out on the market for over four decades now. In contrast, solar shingle technology has only been commercially available since 2005. Even though Tesla’s solar roof has gotten a lot of attention, companies like Dow Chemical have had to shut off their solar shingle line because of a lack of interest. The solar single market is still pretty small, and companies like Aesthetic Green Power are now deliberating whether they will continue creating solar tiles.
Real: The Solar Roof Warranty Is Really Good
One of the reasons many think Tesla’s solar roof will succeed is thanks to the great warranty. The tiles have a warranty that is good for the life of the house, and the shingles are guaranteed to make power for 30 years. A lot of traditional solar panels have a warranty for just 20-25 years. Tesla also says they are willing to remove an old roof, manage all aspects of the solar roof re-design, and oversee the operations and maintenance of the system, all with just a one week install time.
Tesla’s generous warranties pretty much assure that a lot of the stress and worry surrounding rooftop damage and replacement are eliminated, especially since common asphalt shingles usually need to be replaced every 15-30 years.
Pure PR: Tesla’s Hail Demonstration
One of the ways Tesla has touted their solar roof is through video. The company released a clip putting their roof through a hail test to show off how strong it is. However, the video did not talk about how traditional solar panels are also not really damaged by hail, and that having a set of panels on the roof is only going to strengthen it from the elements. Plus, some people are saying the conventional roofing materials used in Tesla’s video for comparison were mounted incorrectly without the right cement composition, which would make them appear weaker than they really are.
Right now, Tesla’s solar roof is just available in California. Despite the price, they represent an interesting and aesthetically pleasing way for a homeowner to go green and get a new roof. Since so few companies offer solar shingles, Tesla is undoubtedly going to be leading the way in the near future for this market.
About the Author: Kyle Pennell is a Content Manager for PowerScout.com and loves accelerating solar adoption with helpful authoritative content about residential solar!
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