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Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

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Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#21

Post by t34543 »

aphextron wrote: post #11
the8472 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheaper than traditional roof plus solar .

> Cheaper than traditional roof plus solar. I find that really hard to believe. A new roof runs between 5-10k, and a 3kw solar system can be had for ~5k + labor. Even if they are including a power wall in that price it's still pretty steep. Edit: It looks like they are actually quoting a 10kw system with 3 power walls (~40kwH storage) included, which at that point sounds about right at $40k. Still far beyond the reac…

Roofs in my area are 20k for 1200 sq ft. Asphalt shingles. I would love to live in an area where it’s 5-10k.

Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#22

Post by bArray »

I think a major challenge that is yet to be addressed is the fact that solar panels lose their efficiency over time [1] [2]. Seems like you're looking at 80% of rated efficiency after 20 years - and I'm unsure this includes failures.

In the UK a 50+ year old roof is very common - most people expect a house to outlast them without anything but minor repairs. If I were building a house I would want something where it's primary power source can be repaired without larger than necessary costs.

[1] https://energyinformative.org/lifespan-solar-panels/

[2] https://www.engineering.com/DesignerEdge/DesignerEdgeArticle...

Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#23

Post by rco8786 »

wil421 wrote: post #6

> Tesla’s Solar Roof website now includes a pricing estimator, which lists $42,500 as the total price for the average 2,000 square-foot home, with 10kW solar panels. It also lists $33,950 as the price after an $8,550 federal tax incentive. You can also enter your address and get an updated estimate that takes into account local costs and incentives, and add on any Powerwalls (with three as the default for a 2,000 squ…

Traditional roof PLUS solar panels

Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#24

Post by 6nf »

admerox wrote: post #16

2 questions: - If you opt-out of the powerwalls can the system switch to the regular grid when needed? - Can you sell energy back to the regular grid in case you produce more than you need?

It depends on your local power grid. Sometimes yes, you can sell it back.

Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#25

Post by rjkennedy98 »

> It also lists $33,950 as the price after an $8,550 federal tax incentive.

There is something absolutely astonishing about the fact that in America the way we have go about being eco-friendly is to give huge tax breaks to rich people to buy solar panels and electric vehicles. To think with all that money we could build better infrastructure and denser housing. Really boggles the mind.

Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#26

Post by rco8786 »

aphextron wrote: post #11
the8472 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheaper than traditional roof plus solar .

> Cheaper than traditional roof plus solar. I find that really hard to believe. A new roof runs between 5-10k, and a 3kw solar system can be had for ~5k + labor. Even if they are including a power wall in that price it's still pretty steep. Edit: It looks like they are actually quoting a 10kw system with 3 power walls (~40kwH storage) included, which at that point sounds about right at $40k. Still far beyond the reac…

> new roof runs between 5-10k,

That is incredibly cheap if so. That would be a roof on a small barn around here.

Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#27

Post by deelowe »

bArray wrote: post #22

I think a major challenge that is yet to be addressed is the fact that solar panels lose their efficiency over time [1] [2]. Seems like you're looking at 80% of rated efficiency after 20 years - and I'm unsure this includes failures. In the UK a 50+ year old roof is very common - most people expect a house to outlast them without anything but minor repairs. If I were building a house I would want something where it's…

In the US roofs last more like 25 to 30 years for shingles.

Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#28

Post by mikorym »

wil421 wrote: post #6

> Tesla’s Solar Roof website now includes a pricing estimator, which lists $42,500 as the total price for the average 2,000 square-foot home, with 10kW solar panels. It also lists $33,950 as the price after an $8,550 federal tax incentive. You can also enter your address and get an updated estimate that takes into account local costs and incentives, and add on any Powerwalls (with three as the default for a 2,000 squ…

I wonder if they should just skip comparing it with a normal roof or normal roof + solar.

A Model 3 is way more expensive than the average ICE sedan; people buy it anyway.

Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#29

Post by pgl »

rjkennedy98 wrote: post #25

> It also lists $33,950 as the price after an $8,550 federal tax incentive. There is something absolutely astonishing about the fact that in America the way we have go about being eco-friendly is to give huge tax breaks to rich people to buy solar panels and electric vehicles. To think with all that money we could build better infrastructure and denser housing. Really boggles the mind.

Really? Isn't that how all successful technology starts off - highly priced, effectively experimental, but then becoming more and more available to the general public as the price goes down and production increases?

Re: Tesla’s new Solar Roof costs less than a new roof plus solar panels

#30

Post by nraynaud »

rjkennedy98 wrote: post #25

> It also lists $33,950 as the price after an $8,550 federal tax incentive. There is something absolutely astonishing about the fact that in America the way we have go about being eco-friendly is to give huge tax breaks to rich people to buy solar panels and electric vehicles. To think with all that money we could build better infrastructure and denser housing. Really boggles the mind.

Americans on average do not want denser housing. It's not part of their culture, they don't see the point, they want a backyard, and they don't mind having to drive all the time.

I'm pretty sure that even the people benefitting for the wealth cities produce would prefer not to live there, and I think the development of rich people's houses along the CT coast attest to that, they try to balance the wealth of the city and low density housing.

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