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No One Saw Tesla’s Solar Roof Coming

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Re: No One Saw Tesla’s Solar Roof Coming

#21

Post by whiskers »

This appears to be a great implementation of an idea that's been kicking around a while. I love the detail of engineering that's gone into this and I really hope the numbers stack up to make it viable.

It's the first Tesla product where I've thought to myself "wow, I really want that" and I hope that I'll have a roof like this at some point. However I remain skeptical that the efficiency when taking into account to the manufacturing inputs and compared to a standard roof solar install will make sense.

I do think it's incredibly important to make technologies superficially acceptable to gain mass adoption. That's where I believe this stands above the alternatives, let's hope it pans out.

Disclaimer: I'm super excited about SpaceX (well, space in general), I'm not all that bothered about the Tesla car range, though I hope they release something I like at some point.

Re: No One Saw Tesla’s Solar Roof Coming

#22

Post by philipkglass »

I had serious misgivings when Tesla/SolarCity announced a switch of focus to building-integrated PV. Historically, BIPV is where a PV technology goes to die after it's failed to compete against incumbent module designs.

But these have far better aesthetics than previous BIPV efforts. They look better individually and they aren't clumped in one odd shiny patch on the roof like past BIPV. Search for images of solar shingles and you'll see what I mean about previous attempts.

On Friday's thread someone here mentioned the 30% tax credit for solar installations. That made the financial proposition click for me. If the whole roof qualifies as a solar system, that's probably how they can make it financially attractive. Unlike past module-atop-roof or even patch-of-roof-BIPV offerings, you'd be able to get a tax credit for the whole shebang. Add the usual solar motivation of reducing retail electricity purchases, plus getting a roof that's more durable and attractive than the typical asphalt or wood shingles of American roofs, and it looks like Tesla/SC may have a better offering than competitors for new home builds in areas with lots of sun and expensive electricity. It wouldn't take a whole lot of builds per year to soak up all the capacity of their Buffalo factory.

Just a few days ago I was saying that I couldn't see how any of the solar installation or manufacturing companies were going to build decent, defensible profit margins because panels and installation services are so commoditized. This could be the advantage that was missing: assuming decent patent coverage, SC will be able to have a monopoly on these modules and their installation for a long time to come.

Re: No One Saw Tesla’s Solar Roof Coming

#23

Post by saganus »

austincheney wrote: post #18

Hope it is insured against golf ball sized hail. If so people in Texas will buy this in droves just for the durability. In not it will never sell in Texas.

Isn't it more cost effective to put some sort of transparent shield on top, for those places with above-average risk of hail damage?

or is it that such a cover gets dirty and not-so-transparent faster than the original top layer?

I'm guessing this must be something already being considered, so what am I missing?

Re: No One Saw Tesla’s Solar Roof Coming

#24

Post by smoyer »

If the solar shingles last far longer than my current shingles (which actually need to be replaced soon), what about the degradation of the solar cells themselves? Traditional PV panels degrade and have to be replaced sooner than many roofing materials.

Re: No One Saw Tesla’s Solar Roof Coming

#26

Post by jjawssd »

smoyer wrote: post #24

If the solar shingles last far longer than my current shingles (which actually need to be replaced soon), what about the degradation of the solar cells themselves? Traditional PV panels degrade and have to be replaced sooner than many roofing materials.

iirc 20 years is a typical rated lifespan of PV installations

Re: No One Saw Tesla’s Solar Roof Coming

#27

Post by GregBuchholz »

I'm curious if anyone has stats on what percentage of houses have an unobstructed southern roof (for those in the Northern hemisphere)? My house has seasonally adjusted nanotechnology self-replicating shade "panels" that block considerable sunlight in the spring and summer months (MTBF: 100+ years). The big downside is cleaning up the unused panels in the autumn.

Re: No One Saw Tesla’s Solar Roof Coming

#28

Post by lutorm »

icefox wrote: post #12
lutorm wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

nah I don't want that rubbish on my roof I literally haven't seen my panels since the last time I went up on the roof. Granted, this depends a lot on how steep your roof is, but the appearance of the panels did really not go into our decision to install them.

Had a door to door solar salesman not notice my panels, that is how little people actually look at your roof.

That's pretty hilarious.

Re: No One Saw Tesla’s Solar Roof Coming

#29

Post by lets-tryagain »

I am in the market for a new roof...but I have a steep-pitch roof with a bunch of weird little valleys. Roofers charge people with roofs like mine extra due to the pitch.

Will I be able to actually find a roofer to do this? Will it be remotely cost effective? I have been quoted $30k or so for my roof. My utility bills are low(ish)...I am far more worried about a roof doing what a roof should do - keep water out. Do these shingles actually stand up to bad weather? Will roof repair people walk on them? Will they work on a high-pitch roof?

My feeling is that a slick surface like glass won't work on a steep pitch since roofers now need to use spiked shoes on my roof when they walk on it

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