Solar Panels vs. Tesla Solar Roof: Here’s the Difference

The picture in your thoughts while you consider photo voltaic panels might be fairly customary: flat black or blue slabs organized on a rooftop. But look intently at the roofs of some homes and also you may discover a shock.

Tesla gave the photo voltaic system a brand new look. Instead of photo voltaic panels that sit in your entrance yard or stand out on the roof, the firm determined to show each shingle right into a photo voltaic panel. The Tesla Solar Roof replaces an present roof and captures daylight to assist energy your own home in a clear and streamlined method. Tesla’s product is one among a small however rising market of photo voltaic shingles, which provide a unique look and set up setup in comparison with conventional photo voltaic panels.

There are some important downsides, specifically that the Tesla Solar Roof is sort of costly. (Tesla does not function a public relations division to discipline requests for remark.) 

For owners considering photo voltaic vitality, that raises the query: Should you go together with the customary photo voltaic panel system or strive the much less intrusive — however expensive — Tesla Solar Roof? To show you how to along with your shopping for questions, I’ve compiled an inventory of the largest variations between the two photo voltaic choices. Read on.

Solar panels must be comparatively acquainted by now, as they’ve been gaining recognition and have change into extra inexpensive lately. An array may be positioned in your roof or set to face in your yard, relying on what works greatest for you. While there are a selection of various manufacturers and kinds of panels, all of them provide a clear vitality different to fossil gasoline sources like coal or pure gasoline. These panels may be costly, and a few are harder to put in than others. But for the most half, you’ll be able to anticipate cheaper vitality payments, a smaller carbon footprint and elevated property worth. 

Read extra: 5 factor to contemplate before you purchase photo voltaic panels

Instead of utilizing panels, the Tesla Solar Roof turns your whole roof into your photo voltaic array. The Tesla Solar Roof makes use of tempered glass panels that substitute your customary shingles, offering the identical safety you’d anticipate from a conventional roof whereas additionally capturing photo voltaic vitality. The Tesla Solar Roof is novel, however much less confirmed and tougher to switch to a different dwelling in the event you transfer as a result of they’re {custom} made for every roof. 

Solar panels or a Tesla Solar Roof?

Pricing

Price is difficult relating to photo voltaic methods as a result of rather a lot is determined by what your own home and property can deal with. There’s the value of photo voltaic panels and the infrastructure wanted to assist them, after which there’s the set up price — and it’s important to account for the capability of the system. You can get tax credit and different incentives for putting in these methods, in order that’ll assist ease the worth considerably. Industry information reveals that the typical photo voltaic panel system prices someplace between $3 and $4 per watt — so a 5 kW system may run you $15,000 to $20,000. 

Conventional photo voltaic panels are cheaper than the Tesla Solar Roof. Tesla has additionally confronted some challenges maintaining the worth down, which has been a difficulty for some individuals. Estimates recommend a worth per watt (earlier than including a battery) of practically $5 for the Tesla Solar Roof — which might be $25,000 for a 5 kW system. 

Installation

The set up course of for photo voltaic vitality methods may be difficult. In normal, conventional photo voltaic panels are simpler as a result of they are often put in in other places relying on the structure of your property — both in your roof or on the floor. The Tesla Solar Roof can solely be put in in your roof, clearly, and is a little more of a to-do because it requires changing your whole roof. There are fewer contractors aware of the Tesla Solar Roof system than typical panels, so this could create challenges find a succesful installer.

Solar energy capabilities

Both the Tesla Solar Roof and conventional photo voltaic panels could have an analogous means to satisfy your energy wants, though your means to scale your solar energy system to your electrical energy wants may be extra restricted with the Tesla Solar Roof in comparison with panels. It will possible be simpler to broaden a setup with conventional photo voltaic panels in the future in the event you discover your electrical energy wants have elevated. Solar panels are typically extra environment friendly than the photo voltaic roof.

Mobility and longevity

One draw back of the Tesla Solar Roof is the indisputable fact that it actually cannot transfer with you. Because it’s custom-fit to the roof of your own home, you’ll be able to’t pack it up and set up it on one other dwelling. Conventional photo voltaic panels provide a bit extra flexibility right here, as you can doubtlessly take your photo voltaic system with you — although you might need to go away it to profit from the increase in property worth that they supply. 

Read extra: Want one thing smaller than a whole-home photo voltaic system? See our picks for the greatest transportable photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic turbines.

Winner for many: Solar panels

For now, typical photo voltaic panels are the safer guess in case you are trying to make the change to solar energy. They are a confirmed product. They are additionally sometimes cheaper and provide a bit extra flexibility when it comes to how you put in them. 

Tesla’s Solar Roof reveals quite a lot of promise, however the {custom} tiles may be cost-prohibitive and early troubles with the product make it onerous to advocate at this stage. Future variations of the Tesla Solar Roof could enhance and make good on the promising idea. For now, stick to what works so it can save you in your vitality invoice and shrink your carbon footprint.