Tesla have gone as far as to claim their solar tiles will last as long as your home is standing! Solar tiles on the other hand have not been used long enough for us to know their average lifetime although many suppliers offer them with a 20 year guarantee. Solar panels have an expected lifetime of 20-25 years and have proven to be very durable. Some companies are now offering in-roof solar panels which sit much flusher to the roof. However, there is another option if you are looking for solar panels with a more subtle, integrated look. This can be prevented with mesh or wire, but again this may not be ideal in terms of maintaining a good-looking roof. Traditional panels are labelled an 'eyesore' by many people due to their bulkier design they protrude out from the roof and are usually black or blue in colours whilst solar tiles are designed to blend with or even replicate tiles.Īnother consideration with solar panels could be that there is a gap between the panel and roof which could become a nesting area for birds or small animals. One of the biggest selling points for solar roof tiles is how they look.
They also offer more flexibility in terms of placement and can be arranged for maximum exposure to sunlight. Installing solar panels is a much simpler process as they are mounted on brackets on top of the existing roof. And, even if you are replacing your roof, not all homes are suitable for a solar roof as the pitch and angle must be ideal for the tiles they cannot be angled and adjusted like traditional solar panels.
The best solar panels can achieve efficiency levels of up to 22% which means you'll see a faster return on your investment.įirstly, if you don't want to replace your whole roof then solar tiles aren't the option for you. Solar tiles have a typical efficiency of 10 – 20% (on average) while panels usually have efficiencies of at least 16%. However, solar roof tile technology is developing all the time and there have been increases in their generation levels with some CIGS models able to reach conversion efficiency close to traditional panels. Currently solar panels are able to generate more energy, meaning they can take up less roof space and are more cost effective. The more electricity they produce the less you'll need to spend on energy bills. Comparing Solar Panels and Solar TilesĮnergy efficiency is important as the higher the efficiency level the better the panels or tiles are at producing electricity for your home. Tesla are the biggest brand offering solar tiles and you are able to pre-order in the UK via their website (with a deposit), but Tesla are yet to confirm when installations will begin. Solar tiles are a relatively new product and as such only a limited number of manufacturers offer them in the UK. They are designed to blend in with the roof's aesthetics and can only be installed if you're fitting a completely new or replacement roof. Solar tiles are like mini solar panels, but they are installed as part of a roof alongside traditional roof tiles rather than sitting on top of them. There is usually a gap between the panels and the roof, and they can be installed and angled on the best side of the roof to ensure they receive maximum sunlight. Solar panels are well established in the UK and are fitted to mounting brackets which sit on top of the roof tiles or slates.
Solar roof tiles vs solar panels free#
Get Free Solar Panel Quotes: Get quotes and compare prices. What's the Difference Between Solar Panels and Solar Tiles?īoth solar panels and solar tiles include photovoltaic (PV) cells which capture energy from the sun so it can be converted into electricity, enabling you to power your home using more free, renewable energy, lower energy bills and reduce your reliance on energy suppliers and fossil fuels. Here we explore the differences between solar tiles and solar panels including the key considerations, advantages, disadvantages and costs of each option. However, a newer technology known as solar roof tiles has been growing in popularity in the US as an alternative to panels, and the UK market looks set to go the same way. Solar panels are becoming a more and more common sight on UK homes as the technology becomes both more affordable and more effective at generating renewable energy.
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