RENEWABLE ENERGY
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Solar roof tiles &#; A good alternative to the classic photovoltaic system?
Many industry analysts point to solar roof tiles as being the next revolution in photovoltaics. But are solar roof tiles really able to match the output of traditional solar panels? We compare the two to see what the better option is.
Making the choice between installing solar panels or solar roof tiles on a building depends on a range of factors. Cost, aesthetics, efficiency, and durability must be carefully considered.(Source: István - stock.adobe.com)
Solar power has long been touted as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Lobby groups worldwide point to solar as the cleanest and most readily abundant source of renewable energy. Indeed, solar power use is soaring across the globe. Worldwide solar energy production increased by a record 22 % in . China, the United States, Japan, and India now rank amongst the top countries for solar power capacity. In Europe, the push towards making solar power commonplace has been stepped up thanks to recent measures by the European Parliament. The EU Parliament is currently planning a large-scale roll-out of solar energy in order to remove dependence on Russian oil and gas.
The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has dropped by more than 80 % during the last ten years. Solar power is now more available and more affordable than ever before. Currently, two types of solar power systems are popular: traditional solar PV panels and the newer technology of solar roof tiles. But which of these options is the most effective? What are the costs involved? Where does the future of the solar industry lie? We take a closer look at the pros and cons of solar panels and solar roof tiles.
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The history of solar panels begins in when a young French physicist named Edmond Becquerel first discovered the photovoltaic effect. Becquerel&#;s rudimentary solar cells, however, were not that efficient. Then in , New Yorker Charles Fritts published a paper titled &#;On a New Form of Selenium Photocell&#; in the American Journal of Science. Based on his research, Fritts was able to create a working solar cell using selenium and gold, but only managed a 1 % conversion of sunlight into electricity.
The breakthrough that led to modern solar panels came in from another American, Russell S. Ohl. Ohl found that silicon was highly efficient in converting sunlight into electricity and produced the first-ever patented solar cell. From Ohl&#;s remarkable discovery, the solar industry was born.
In , the price of a silicon PV solar cell was an estimated USD 76 per watt, an astronomical sum that made solar technology impracticable. Fast forward to , and the price per watt was listed at just USD 0.20.
The solar panels that we see in use today are made from monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film panels. Monocrystalline panels are made using one single silicon crystal, whereas polycrystalline solar cells contain numerous crystals fused together. Thin-film solar panels are made by placing incredibly thin layers of semiconductors onto plastic, glass, or metal panels.
Many people first became aware of solar roof tiles in when Tesla released a solar tile in conjunction with SolarCity. However, solar roof tiles manufactured by the Dow Chemical Company had been available on the commercial market in . In fact, solar roof tiles were originally invented by NASA employees in the s and patented by NASA in .
(Source: mipan - stock.adobe.com)
Often called solar roof shingles, solar roof tiles are classified as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Solar roof tiles generate electricity using the same photovoltaic technology as solar panels. Most early versions of solar roof tiles were made with thin-film CIG cells. The majority of solar roof tiles now use monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon cells. As the name suggests, solar roof tiles are made to mimic traditional roofing materials. While one single solar roof tile can only generate a small amount of electricity, when combined to cover an entire roof, solar roof tiles can produce power equal to that of normal solar panels. Solar roof tiles are used to form the roof itself and seamlessly blend in with the architectural aesthetics of a building, unlike solar panels which sit quite obtrusively on the top of a roof.
Generally, solar roof tiles have an expected lifespan of approximately 20 to 25 years. Regarding efficiency, solar roof tiles have an average of 10 % to 20 %, with most achieving around 16 % efficiency. Quite a bit less than solar panels. Also, because air cannot easily flow underneath solar roof tiles, they are more prone to overheating and so do not generate as much energy as solar panels.
Making the choice between installing solar panels or solar roof tiles on a building depends on a range of factors. Cost, aesthetics, efficiency, and durability must be carefully considered.
If a building requires the roof to be entirely replaced, or it is a new build, then solar roof tiles can be installed for a little more than the cost of a new roof. Solar roof tiles do not impact the look of a building, so they are suitable for historical buildings that must maintain their aesthetics. While less efficient than solar panels, solar roof tiles are still preferable over conventional roofing tiles or shingles. Not all types of roofs, however, are suitable for solar roof tiles. Also, as solar roof tile technology is relatively new on the market, fewer installers may be available.
Conversely, solar panels can be installed on any building without the need to replace the roof entirely. The installation process for solar panels is quicker and much less expensive than installing solar roof tiles. Unlike solar roof tiles, solar panels can be adjusted periodically to maximize their efficiency. The higher efficiency of solar panels means that the installation costs are able to be recouped in less time.
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Factors
Solar Panels
Solar Roof Tiles
Installation
Easier to install
Harder to install
Maintenance
More difficult to maintain
Easier to maintain
Longevity
If you want to learn more, please visit our website solar shingles california.
Proven to have a lifespan of 20 to 40 years
Expected lifespan of 25+ years
Cost
Approximately US$20,000 to US$100,000, depending on the size of the roof
Approximately US$15,000 to US$40,000, depending on the number of panels installed
Energy Efficiency
10-24%
10-20%
A recent study produced for the University of Engineering and Technology in Taxila, Pakistan, found that although there was considerable domestic consumer demand for a photovoltaic product that had aesthetic appeal, the low efficiency and high cost of installing solar roof tiles were impeding their uptake. Nevertheless, the worldwide solar roof tile market was worth an estimated USD 326.2 million in . By , this figure is expected to reach USD 555.2 million.
As the technology surrounding solar roof tiles continues to advance, it seems inevitable that they will become the preferred photovoltaic option.
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Solar shingles, also called photovoltaic shingles, are solar panels designed to look like and function as conventional roofing materials, such as asphalt shingle or slate, while also producing electricity. Solar shingles are a type of solar energy solution known as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
There are several varieties of solar shingles, including shingle-sized solid panels that take the place of a number of conventional shingles in a strip, semi-rigid designs containing several silicon solar cells that are sized more like conventional shingles, and newer systems using various thin-film solar cell technologies that match conventional shingles both in size and flexibility. There are also products using a more traditional number of silicon solar cells per panel reaching as much as 100 watts DC rating per shingle.[1]
Solar shingles are manufactured by several companies.[2][3]
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Solar shingles became commercially available in .[4] In a interview with Reuters, a spokesperson for the Dow Chemical Company estimated that their entry into the solar shingle market would generate $5 billion in revenue by and $10 billion by . Dow solar shingles, known as the POWERHOUSE Solar System, first became available in Colorado, in October . A 3rd generation of POWERHOUSE Solar System was exclusively licensed to RGS Energy for commercialization from until , when RGS Energy filed for bankruptcy.[5][6]
In October , Tesla entered the solar shingle space in a joint venture with SolarCity.[7] Tesla later acquired SolarCity and the solar shingle product was described as "a flop" in .[8] Solar marketplace provider EnergySage reviewed the now named Tesla Solar Roof, noting that it had "experienced significant setbacks that have delayed its design, production, and deployment."[9] In January , GAF Materials Corporation announced they would start selling a solar shingle product.[10]
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Solar shingles are photovoltaic modules, capturing sunlight and transforming it into electricity. Most solar shingles are 12 in × 86 in (300 mm × 2,180 mm) and can be stapled directly to the roofing cloth. When applied they have a 5 in × 86 in (130 mm × 2,180 mm) strip of exposed surface. Different models of shingles have different mounting requirements. Some can be applied directly onto roofing felt intermixed with regular asphalt shingles while others may need special installation.
Some early manufacturers used solar thin-film technologies such as CIGS to produce electricity, which are less common in the solar industry than silicon-based cells. Current manufacturers, such as RGS Energy, CertainTeed, and SunTegra, have chosen to use the industry-standard monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon solar cells in their POWERHOUSE 3.0, Apollo II, and SunTegra Shingle, respectively. The installation methods for some solar shingle solutions can be easier than traditional panel installations because they avoid the need to locate rafters and install with a process much more similar to asphalt shingles than standard solar panels.
Solar shingled roofs tend to have a deep, dark, purplish-blue or black color, and therefore look similar to other roofs in most situations. Home owners may prefer solar shingles because large solar panels can be highly visible and spoil the aesthetics of the house.[11][12]
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The cost of solar shingles can range from $3.80 per watt up to $9.00 per watt installed depending on the manufacturer, technology used, and system size.[13] As of May , the average cost of a traditional, roof-mounted residential solar panel installation in the United States was just above $3.00 per watt, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association.[14] While solar shingles are typically more expensive to install than traditional solar panels, some companies in recent years since have made strides to lessen the gap between the installed cost of going solar with panels versus going solar with shingles.
According to Dow Chemical Company reports, a typical residential install consisting of 350 solar shingles can cost at least $20,000; however, federal and state incentives depending on the location might significantly bring down the cost.[4]
Solar contractors typically offer homeowners a full-service price for solar installation, which includes equipment purchasing, permit preparation and filing, registration with the local utility company, workmanship warranties, and complete on-site installation. Because photovoltaic solutions produce power in the form of direct current (DC) and the standard in homes is alternating current (AC), all grid-connected solar installations include an inverter to convert DC to AC.
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