How Do Solar Shingles Work?

Solar shingles are a widely produced option in the solar roofing industry. Companies like Tesla, SunTegra, and CertainTeed, have developed solar roofing products based on integrated solar panels that mimic the size and shape of typical asphalt shingles or roof tiles. These solar shingles blend into the roof's look better than traditional solar panels. In addition, they don't require extra shingles or other types of roofing materials underneath them.

Some companies produce separate, shingle-sized solid panels that resemble individual shingles. Other companies are developing semi-rigid designs containing several silicon solar cells sized more like conventional shingles. The newest systems rely on thin-film solar cell technologies that match traditional shingles both in size and flexibility. Homeowners can also find larger solar roofing panels that are sized more like regular solar panels. However, at the same time, they act as an autonomous roofing solution. Integra, for example, has a building-integrated photovoltaic panel that produces 100 watts DC rating per shingle.

What Types of Solar Roofing Are There?

The development of solar shingles was met with excitement by many homeowners. Besides the improved aesthetics of solar shingles, many homeowners thought that solar shingles might reduce the cost of residential solar installation by absorbing the cost of the roof itself. Across the United States, the average cost for a roof replacement is $8,300. Thus, one of the enticements with solar shingles was that these renewable energy-producing panels could also eliminate the costs of purchasing and installing a new roof. Consumer enthusiasm for solar shingles ultimately led to the development of other types of solar roofing alternatives, including:

• Integrated Solar Metal Roofing, and
• Interlocking Solar Panel Roofing

What Is Integrated Solar Metal Roofing?

Forward Solar Roofing, a San Francisco, USA company, has developed solar metal roofing that looks like regular metal roofing and comes in various colors. Their multi-layer system includes a glass coating, color coating, and a layer of monocrystalline solar photovoltaic cells. The wiring and attachment systems are hidden underneath the metal for a clean look. Several other layers include durable tempered glass, optical chromatic cloaking, silicon solar cells, and galvanized metal panels, all on top of a vented racking system.  

The average cost for installing this roof is around $12.75 per square foot, towards the high end of average prices for standard metal roof installation. However, it is also significantly less than a Tesla solar shingle roof. 

Suppose you are building new or need a roof replacement. In that case, this investment could be paid off in very little time due to energy savings, not to mention tax incentives or rebates that may be offered in your area. Forward Solar Roofing guarantees its solar metal roof for 30 years and has a 2-3 day installation time.

What Are The Benefits and Drawbacks of Solar Roofing?

Solar roofing offers the advantages of having renewable energy production integrated directly into your roof. Most solar roofing products will also drastically improve the aesthetics when compared to standard solar panel mounting. For example, Tesla's Solar Roof is made of glass-faced tiles that use hydrographic printing to give the tile an appearance that looks remarkably like slate, clay tile, or a dark shingle. As solar roofing options increase in popularity, they are also becoming more affordable.

On the downside, solar shingles and solar roofing continue to be significantly more expensive than regular solar panels. They are certainly not the most cost-effective option for residential renewable energy production. That said, a solar roof can potentially cut the electricity bill of an efficient home down to near zero.