When you concentrate on solar energy, you doubtless consider rectangular, clunky photo voltaic panels which are simply recognizable. All-black panels can mix into the background just a little bit higher, however for essentially the most half, photo voltaic panels aren’t precisely bursting with character.
That is a part of what makes Tesla’s photo voltaic shingles and its holistic Photo voltaic Roof system so distinctive and crowd pleasing. The glossy system turns your whole roof right into a renewable energy supply with none of these large, boxy photovoltaic modules anyplace to be seen. But it surely comes at a price.
Let’s break down when Tesla’s photo voltaic shingles would possibly make sense to your house and after they most likely do not.
Can photo voltaic panels prevent cash?
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What’s a Tesla Photo voltaic Roof?
The thought behind Tesla’s Photo voltaic Roof is to create photovoltaic modules that double as a roofing materials whereas additionally harvesting power from the solar to energy your own home. Reasonably than the massive, normal rectangular photo voltaic panels we’re used to seeing on numerous roofs and elsewhere, Tesla’s Photo voltaic Roof is made up of smaller photo voltaic shingles and matching clean ones. The photo voltaic shingles are formed considerably like standard roofing shingles, however encompass photovoltaic cells.
It makes a variety of sense: Photo voltaic panels are constructed to withstand the weather, from hail to wind and water, identical to any roofing materials. Which means most often, a Tesla Photo voltaic Roof will really substitute your present roof. You get a tricky pores and skin for the highest of your home that produces energy and retains a glossy look, unmarred by large, clunky panels mounted on high of it.
Learn more: Finest Photo voltaic Shingles
What dimension Tesla Photo voltaic Roof will you want?
Generally, a Tesla Photo voltaic Roof will utterly substitute or cowl your present roof. Nonetheless, not each single piece of the brand new roof must be energy-generating; Tesla additionally makes use of glass and metal roofing panels. So the quantity of precise photo voltaic shingles in your Tesla roof can be decided by the quantity of power you need to generate. This may differ from home to deal with. Some jurisdictions and utilities could not assist you to set up photo voltaic power programs exceeding a set variety of kilowatts.
Determining the potential wattage for a Tesla roof is basically the identical as figuring out the entire wattage you need from some other photo voltaic array. Take a look at CNET’s article on how one can decide how a lot photo voltaic you want to your state of affairs. It ought to apply to a Tesla Photo voltaic Roof as nicely.
Briefly, you may must have a good suggestion of your power utilization and the way a lot solar your roof will get. From there, you’ll be able to dimension your Photo voltaic Roof to fulfill your power wants by estimating how a lot it can produce give your obtainable daylight.
Tesla photo voltaic panels vs. Tesla Photo voltaic Roof
The greatest distinction between Tesla’s photo voltaic panels and the Tesla Photo voltaic Roof is the best way these programs are put in on your own home. Tesla photo voltaic panels are mounted in your roof, whereas the Tesla Photo voltaic Roof is built-in into your roof. Photo voltaic shingle merchandise are designed to generate photo voltaic power, but additionally mix in with conventional roofing supplies. This gives a discreet approach of getting a photo voltaic system in your roof.
However you may doubtless have to interchange your whole roof to put in photo voltaic shingles, which drives up the associated fee fairly a bit. In case you select to put in the Tesla Photo voltaic Roof, you may additionally need to buy no less than one Powerwall battery along with your system. This provides one other $10,000 or extra to your general price. Each merchandise have comparable capabilities to fulfill your energy wants, you may simply doubtless be paying extra to put in a Tesla Photo voltaic Roof than you’d with conventional photo voltaic panels.
Tesla’s Photo voltaic Roof shingles look quite a bit like common rooftop shingles, notably up shut. I noticed these at CES 2024.
Tesla Photo voltaic Roof price vs. photo voltaic panels price
The essential trade-off with the Tesla Photo voltaic Roof is that it seems to be sleeker than photo voltaic panels and doubles as a roofing materials, however photo voltaic shingles are dearer and much less environment friendly than standard photovoltaic modules.
“For most individuals you are going to have the ability to put extra producing capability in your roof with a framed module versus a photo voltaic shingle at most likely a lower cost level per watt,” stated Corey Ramsden with Photo voltaic United Neighbors.
Tesla now not operates a press workplace to reply particular questions on pricing, however we used the corporate’s photo voltaic roof estimator software to calculate the beneath estimates primarily based on a Houston house.
The worth tag for a Photo voltaic Roof with no Powerwalls is available in at nearly 3 times the associated fee to cowl the identical roof with common Tesla photo voltaic panels.
Tesla Roof price estimates
A Photo voltaic Roof will differ in price primarily based on the scale, form and placement of the roof it is changing. The estimates beneath have been gathered from Tesla’s price estimator for a particular house in Houston. The estimates embrace incentives and have been retrieved on Feb. 5, 2024.
| System dimension in kW | Common worth per watt | With storage | Complete estimated price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.37 | $4.81 | No battery storage | $49,835 |
| 10.37 | $5.54 | One Powerwall | $57,400 |
| 10.37 | $6.00 | Two Powerwalls | $62,200 |
Elements that have an effect on pricing
Roof kind
A Tesla Photo voltaic Roof might be put in on high of an present shingle roof that is not too outdated, new development and some different restricted situations. In any other case, set up is usually going to require ripping off the outdated roofing materials and changing it with photo voltaic shingles, which can be a further price.
Roof complexity
Tesla considers plenty of components in figuring out the complexity of a roof, which might additionally have an effect on pricing. These components embrace the variety of surfaces to the roof and obstructions like chimneys, skylights, followers and vents.
Roof situation
Usually talking, a roof goes to must be in respectable sufficient situation to help the load of the Tesla Photo voltaic Roof. If the Photo voltaic Roof goes to be put in on high of present shingles, they need to have a major quantity of life left in them. If both of those circumstances aren’t met, it can doubtless end in an additional price.
Roof pitch
Pitch is one other issue Tesla considers in its roof complexity willpower. With out getting an excessive amount of into numbers, merely bear in mind: steep ain’t as low cost.
Electrical work
Every house and its wiring are distinctive. There could also be extra prices to accommodate sure quirks of your own home’s electrical system to make it possible for a photo voltaic roof can get linked safely and as much as code.
Variety of panels
Clearly this can be decided by the scale of your roof, and by how most of the wanted panels can be photo voltaic versus common glass or metal.
Obstructions in your roof can elevate the price of a Photo voltaic Roof.
Further battery storage
Including a number of Tesla Powerwalls to your system to retailer the ability you generate on website will come at an additional price. Incentives and bundling reductions can cut back the associated fee the extra storage you add.
Incentives: Federal and state
A Tesla Photo voltaic Roof will be the solely solution to get a brand new roof and have the federal government pay for 30% of it by the federal renewable power tax credit score. Quite a few different state or native incentives could deliver the worth down additional.
Subcontracted installer prices
Tesla could not carry out installs straight in all places, relying as an alternative on licensed third-party installers, whose native pricing could differ from what you discover in Tesla’s estimation software.
Is it price it to get a Tesla Photo voltaic Roof?
The economics come all the way down to how a lot of a premium you are prepared to pay for sleeker photo voltaic modules and whether or not or not you are in want of a brand new roof anyway.
“In case you’re changing an costly roof like a slate roof or a steel roof, these numbers would possibly work out,” Photo voltaic United Neighbors’ Ramsden stated.
A Tesla Photo voltaic Roof ought to qualify for a 30% federal tax credit score and different incentives, so putting in one could possibly be a possibility to get a brand new roof and have Uncle Sam pay for practically a 3rd of it. Positively double test your state of affairs along with your tax skilled, nonetheless.
For the common one that is just curious concerning the cool-looking photo voltaic roof or the Tesla model, it won’t make nice financial sense to need to tear up your outdated roof with the intention to set up an costly photo voltaic system when panels would do the job for a 3rd of the associated fee.
Take a look at CNET’s detailed evaluate of the Tesla Photo voltaic Roof for added set up situations with price estimates.
Tesla photo voltaic roof FAQs
Does the Tesla Photo voltaic Roof enhance house worth?
Photo voltaic panels have been proven to enhance house worth, although the rise varies by yr and by place, and Tesla’s Photo voltaic Roof ought to be no completely different. It is rather less clear if photo voltaic shingles add much more of a premium than standard panels.
How lengthy does the Tesla photo voltaic roof final?
How lengthy is the set up time for a Tesla Photo voltaic Roof?
Are you able to go off-grid with a Tesla Photo voltaic Roof?
