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Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

electrek.co

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Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#281

Post by morepork »

thelastgallon wrote: post #276

(This comment is a US centric observation and may be somewhat relatable to other counties which use shingles. Solar shingles are not a thing in many many countries with billions of people, homes are built with concrete). Solar shingles (Tesla roof, GAF) seem like a smart idea -- why do 2 layers of install, shingles and solar panels, instead save on both material and labor by using solar shingles. It didn't work becau…

They also never managed the massive economies of scale for regular solar panels that have driven down prices. Solar panels that can be mounted on any kind of roof, in fields, etc.

Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#282

Post by dv_dt »

I keep hoping some architect will take up an residential building design with solar panels to rethink with deeper integration than just a "material" swap out. On the roof, mounting panels inches over the roof, or even as the roof material is a terrible thermal environment. Why not design in a rooftop open air living space, topped with solar panels. Panels get cooler temperatures, the physical roof gets reduced temperatures and probably extended life through shading too. At least for some new building and sites it would be interesting to see.

Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#283

Post by toddmorey »

thelastgallon wrote: post #273

Solar panels have become cheap as dirt and the balance of system is majority of the cost. Installing these massive panels on roof requires a lot more skilled labor and time. Its time to incorporate solar into more areas of the building, build fences with vertical panels, mount them on walls, solar car canopy in front of the garage, optimize for fast installation with ease of installation as well as repair. We should…

Have always said community solar programs are the way to do residential solar. In those programs, you pay for and own off-site solar panels, then the energy they produce is credited to your electric bill.

They end up installed at commercial locations ideal for solar: often on covered parking, in fields, or on industrial roofs. Easier to repair, they can do larger panels, no issues with your roof line or roof condition.

Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#284

Post by cillian64 »

pjc50 wrote: post #278
thelastgallon wrote: post #276

(This comment is a US centric observation and may be somewhat relatable to other counties which use shingles. Solar shingles are not a thing in many many countries with billions of people, homes are built with concrete). Solar shingles (Tesla roof, GAF) seem like a smart idea -- why do 2 layers of install, shingles and solar panels, instead save on both material and labor by using solar shingles. It didn't work becau…

The widespread UK new build style looks like this: https://lirp.cdn-website.com/0e11269a/dms3rep/multi/opt/Inte... It doesn't blend with the surrounding slates (asphalt shingles are rare in the UK, use of asphalt is more for flat roofs and sheds), but .. how much does that really matter? It sounds like US HOAs have replicated the worst aspects of UK "conservation areas", preventing building variation, while not actua…

I had that style of integrated panels installed on my (Victorian) house in the UK. The slates were old and crumbling so needed replacing and doing integrated panels meant only needing a fraction as much slate which saved a chunk of money. I think the result also looks a lot better than non-integrated panels, at least with slate roofs (which are common in my area)

Apparently integrated panels can be a little less efficient in hot weather as they don't get cooled by airflow under the panels and are less efficient when hotter. But it's a pretty minor effect, maybe a few percent of output. Seems like the best option on a new-build or if you're re-roofing anyway.

Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#285

Post by idiotsecant »

dv_dt wrote: post #282

I keep hoping some architect will take up an residential building design with solar panels to rethink with deeper integration than just a "material" swap out. On the roof, mounting panels inches over the roof, or even as the roof material is a terrible thermal environment. Why not design in a rooftop open air living space, topped with solar panels. Panels get cooler temperatures, the physical roof gets reduced temper…

You just built another roof on top of your roof.

People generally limit the number of roofs to one, as they are expensive and important for keeping the outside out and the inside in.

Residential roofs are more or less the worst place possible to put solar panels.

Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#286

Post by itissid »

idiotsecant wrote: post #285
dv_dt wrote: post #282

I keep hoping some architect will take up an residential building design with solar panels to rethink with deeper integration than just a "material" swap out. On the roof, mounting panels inches over the roof, or even as the roof material is a terrible thermal environment. Why not design in a rooftop open air living space, topped with solar panels. Panels get cooler temperatures, the physical roof gets reduced temper…

You just built another roof on top of your roof. People generally limit the number of roofs to one, as they are expensive and important for keeping the outside out and the inside in. Residential roofs are more or less the worst place possible to put solar panels.

> People generally limit the number of roofs to one, as they are expensive and important for keeping the outside out and the inside in.

What does this mean?

And why is it the worst place to put solar panels? Is this and America only phenomenon, cause in India people are installing them like hot cakes on the roof. What’s different about roofs here?

Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#287

Post by bradley13 »

dv_dt wrote: post #282

I keep hoping some architect will take up an residential building design with solar panels to rethink with deeper integration than just a "material" swap out. On the roof, mounting panels inches over the roof, or even as the roof material is a terrible thermal environment. Why not design in a rooftop open air living space, topped with solar panels. Panels get cooler temperatures, the physical roof gets reduced temper…

When we recently build our house, the south side of the roof became mostly solar panels - just a few shingles near top. Solar panels make a perfectly fine roof surface. Underneath the panels is an air gap, with ventilation at the bottom and top. Under the air gap is a plastic underlayment that ensures the roof remains waterproof.

Sure, it was more expensive than a shingled roof, but less expensive than a shingled roof with solar on top. Add to that, it looks better.

Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#288

Post by bradley13 »

cucumber3732842 wrote: post #280
1123581321 wrote: post #167

My thoughts are generally in line with the conclusion. The growth in the rooftop solar market has come from right-sized installations that can be put up in a day or two by a small crew. Minimizing crew and paperwork costs is important when quoting solar competitively; plus it reduces the complexity of operations at headquarters. Cheaper installations generally win, especially when the homeowner receives a credit on t…

The biggest thing that could be done to reduce costs at this point is to make the systems sufficiently self contained (electrically) that the utility is comfortable taking just plugging them in. Cut the licensed electricians and the municipalities out. Make it a purely utility thing. For small (i.e. residential) installation these parties taking their pounds of flesh represents a double digit percentage of system cos…

Many small solar installations are exactly that. Hang a solar panel over your balcony railing, and plug it into the socket.

Larger installations, of course, will never work that way, simply because they generate too much current for your standard wall plug to handle.

Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#289

Post by grosswait »

youngtaff wrote: post #256
anthomtb wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eyesore? Maybe on well architected multimillion dollar custom homes. On the average suburban tract home in my corner of the USA, panels are no more ugly than the shingled roofs they sit atop.

I’ve never understood why so many houses in the US have felt shingles rather than a longer lasting alternative Tiles on my house are at least 150yrs old

Economics. No one lives 150 years, so why pay for someone else’s roof when you’ll be making payments for so long.

Re: Tesla Solar Roof is on life support as it pivot to panels

#290

Post by bradley13 »

pbmonster wrote: post #117
t1234s wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regular solar panels work well but are an eyesore on a nice home.

There's a third way: in-roof or roof integrated photovoltaics. Normal panels, but integrated into the roof. Those look amazing. Very popular in Switzerland where some villages have strict aesthetic rules for buildings. Next best thing aesthetically are full-roof racks, where one face of the roof is 100% covered in panels. Nowadays you just have to select the right panel and you can make it tile the plane perfectly.

Yep, that's exactly what we did with our new house in Switzerland (a few years back).
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