Tesla's solar roof will now cost less than and last twice as long as a regular roof
71 replies, posted
SOURCE: [url]https://electrek.co/2016/11/17/tesla-solar-roof-cost-less-than-regular-roof-even-before-energy-production-elon-musk/[/url]
[QUOTE]Musk said during the meeting earlier this afternoon:
“It’s looking quite promising that a solar roof actually cost less than normal roof before you even take the value of electricity into account. So the basic proposition would be ‘Would you like a roof that looks better than a normal roof, last twice as long, cost less and by the way generates electricity’ why would you get anything else.”
That’s including the labor costs and without subsidies for solar, Musk added.
The CEO claimed that it is achievable because the current roofing supply chain is “incredibly inefficient” – emphasizing that no one looked at the roofing supply chain for a while. He also echoed some comments made recently by Tesla CTO JB Straubel about the cost of products being linked to their weight when produced in volume.
He said that the glass developed by Tesla for the solar roof tiles weigh “a third, a quarter and sometimes even a fifth” of other current concrete and ceramic roof solutions. Musk calculated that because of the weight and fragility of the current products, logistic costs and breakage are important parts of the total cost.
Musk added that there are “huge gains” to be made by “cleaning up” that supply chain. While it remains to be proven, it has the potential to significantly accelerate the deployment of solar capacity by opening the market to homes that need to have a new roof, which is 5 million homes every year in the US alone.
The end price to the customer will obviously vary depending on the price of the house and the difficulty of the installation.[/QUOTE]
Pretty fucking awesome if you ask me.
it's shocking how fast tech is advancing, to me
I'll believe it when I see it.
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
Green energy "news" sites should be added to the do not post list.
Holy shit :joy:
[QUOTE=download;51389844]I'll believe it when I see it.
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
Green energy "news" sites should be added to the do not post list.[/QUOTE]
Why? It's legitimately what he said so it's not like the site is making it up.
[video]https://youtu.be/XT4BxI18B2I[/video]
He's obviously comparing it against high end roofs though so you might be able to get cheap regular asphalt roofs cheaper maybe.
Make a version that works in the Canadian north and spends some energy to melt the snow on the roof so it can keep absorbing light
[QUOTE=download;51389844]I'll believe it when I see it.
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
Green energy "news" sites should be added to the do not post list.[/QUOTE]
I don't agree with this, but maybe the title should have the word "claims" in it
[QUOTE=Karmah;51389922]Make a version that works in the Canadian north and spends some energy to melt the snow on the roof so it can keep absorbing light[/QUOTE]
Musk talked about doing exactly that on Twitter after the unveiling a few weeks ago.
[QUOTE=Karmah;51389922]Make a version that works in the Canadian north and spends some energy to melt the snow on the roof so it can keep absorbing light[/QUOTE]
[media]https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/792218248917811204[/media]
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
yep
How secure are these roofs? Not uncommon here on tge west coast uk to get 40mph gusts which pull of roof slates
[QUOTE=Mining Bill;51389839]it's shocking how fast tech is advancing, to me[/QUOTE]
Capitalism and having competition try to piss on your shoes everywhere you step tends to push people to the edge.
[QUOTE=Drury;51389960][media]https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/792218248917811204[/media]
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
yep[/QUOTE]
Why does this remind me of "Solar Roadways"?
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=Morgen;51389875]Why? It's legitimately what he said so it's not like the site is making it up.
He's obviously comparing it against high end roofs though so you might be able to get cheap regular asphalt roofs cheaper maybe.[/QUOTE]
Because they're usually a giant solar/wind circlejerk who can't display an ounce of scepticism for any stereotypically green technology.
[QUOTE=download;51390286]Why does this remind me of "Solar Roadways"?[/QUOTE]
Solar roadways would involve a massive, unfeasible investment into our infrastructure.
A family can pay for a new roof, and will likely have to do so at least once while owning a home.
[QUOTE=download;51390286]Why does this remind me of "Solar Roadways"?[/QUOTE]
This is a whole lot less ambitious and more practical - it's just a bunch of solar panels used as roof shingles. It's not a whole lot different from the basic solar panels that people put on their roofs - those also have to survive the same elements as the roof and they do this with no maintenance required and a 25-year warranty.
It's also made by Tesla rather than a random startup company.
Frankly the only thing I find hard to believe here is the price. Either roofs are overpriced or this isn't aiming for a return of investment.
[QUOTE=Drury;51390374]Frankly the only thing I find hard to believe here is the price. Either roofs are overpriced or this isn't aiming for a return of investment.[/QUOTE]
Ceramic roof installations are fuckin' expensive. I doubt solar shingles are cheaper than asphalt, but asphalt shingles don't last very long, or provide energy... whether that makes them a better investment in the long run is yet to be seen
[QUOTE=rilez;51390365]Solar roadways would involve a massive, unfeasible investment into our infrastructure.
A family can pay for a new roof, and will likely have to do so at least once while owning a home.[/QUOTE]
Like Solar Roadways a solar roof is not going to be pointing the right direction to get the most amount of sunlight and the idea of solar panels heating themselves is laughable given the snow and northern latitudes.
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
It's a waste. Solar panels are already very expensive compared to how much energy they produce and wasting them by building them in stupid locations is moronic.
[QUOTE=download;51390408]Like Solar Roadways a solar roof is not going to be pointing the right direction to get the most amount of sunlight and the idea of solar panels heating themselves is laughable given the snow and northern latitudes.
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
It's a waste. Solar panels are already very expensive compared to how much energy they produce and wasting them by building them in stupid locations is moronic.[/QUOTE]
How is a roof a moronic location? This isn't meant to power anything more than a standard home - and solar panels have been doing that for years now when not even covering an entire roof.
[QUOTE=rilez;51390384]Ceramic roof installations are fuckin' expensive. I doubt solar shingles are cheaper than asphalt, but asphalt shingles don't last very long, or provide energy... whether that makes them a better investment in the long run is yet to be seen[/QUOTE]
I guess that's on of the risks you have to take in order to pioneer this sort of tech.
It makes sense to integrate power generating photovoltaics into the roof instead of mounting them to the roof or placing them in the backyard. It allows for vertical integration and can fit into almost any style of house (urban, suburban, rural(although, if you have hectares you could probably make a farm yourself)).
The minimalism of this technology is what appeals to me the most - not only are houses more self-sufficient in a sense, but they can also bring excess power back into the grid.
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=download;51390408]Like Solar Roadways a solar roof is not going to be pointing the right direction to get the most amount of sunlight and the idea of solar panels heating themselves is laughable given the snow and northern latitudes.
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
It's a waste. Solar panels are already very expensive compared to how much energy they produce and wasting them by building them in stupid locations is moronic.[/QUOTE]
The innovation in material sciences and photonics is steadily increasing and the energy efficient of solar cells is greater than most ICE's - largely the issue is with usable long-term storage of energy, not necessarily with the power production.
[QUOTE=download;51390286]Why does this remind me of "Solar Roadways"?
[/QUOTE]
Can't remember the last time a fucking truck had to drive on my roof. I think it sounds kinda retarded to have the roof melt snow, but this is not at all the same as solar roadways.
[QUOTE=Matthew0505;51390487]If the power gained by melting the snow is more than the power used to heat the panel then it's not that retarded.[/QUOTE]
Of course that's a possibility, though I'd put my money on "probably only feasible at some pretty specific latitudes", but hey, maybe I'm wrong. Kinda just seems like A) You need to live somewhere where it snows enough to mean a significant decrease in your energy production B) Also doesn't snow continually
It takes some pretty serious power to melt snow, and I mean how many places is it gonna be worth putting up heating elements? Just seems like a gimmick to me. Maybe not "retarded", but doesn't sound all that useful.
[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;51390505]Of course that's a possibility, though I'd put my money on "probably only feasible at some pretty specific latitudes", but hey, maybe I'm wrong. Kinda just seems like A) You need to live somewhere where it snows enough to mean a significant decrease in your energy production B) Also doesn't snow continually
It takes some pretty serious power to melt snow, and I mean how many places is it gonna be worth putting up heating elements? Just seems like a gimmick to me. Maybe not "retarded", but doesn't sound all that useful.[/QUOTE]
You wouldn't run the elements while it's snowing since you wouldn't get any power anyway during the storm. Once it stops snowing you only need enough power to melt the bottom layer, allowing the rest to slide off.
[QUOTE=AbbaDee;51390413]How is a roof a moronic location? This isn't meant to power anything more than a standard home - and solar panels have been doing that for years now when not even covering an entire roof.[/QUOTE]
Because a good half of your roof doesn't get direct sunlight shining on it (of if you're unlucky you'll own a home that's orientated the wrong direction so your roof does have a good orientation). Because of this it's a waste of money to cover your entire roof in solar panels. They're not cheap.
[QUOTE=Bradyns;51390427]
The innovation in material sciences and photonics is steadily increasing and the energy efficient of solar cells is greater than most ICE's - largely the issue is with usable long-term storage of energy, not necessarily with the power production.[/QUOTE]
Solar panel prices are almost at rock bottom and they're still not viable without subsidies. There was a sharp drop last year but that wasn't the panels becoming cheaper to manufacture, that was a supply glut caused by Germany changing its feed in tariff rules.
Eventually they'll change the feed in tariff to match the market price for electricity at which pount the mid-day sun will cause the prices to crash destroying their economic viability instead of the hundreds of dollars per megawatt hour they're currently getting.
[QUOTE=download;51390408]Like Solar Roadways a solar roof is not going to be pointing the right direction to get the most amount of sunlight and the idea of solar panels heating themselves is laughable given the snow and northern latitudes.
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
It's a waste. Solar panels are already very expensive compared to how much energy they produce and wasting them by building them in stupid locations is moronic.[/QUOTE]
Solar panels are becoming more efficient and less expensive by the day. I can't say whether Tesla's claims are actually accurate, but I can say that, assuming we have reached the threshold wherein the price of solar energy technology and the amount of energy it is capable of producing have reached a justifiable ratio for most homes, the roof is objectively the best place to put it. Every home in the country has a roof, and almost all of those roofs are generally unclaimed real estate that would otherwise serve no functions beyond simply keeping the weather out and looking good.
Solar roof tiles are a phenomenal idea. Even if they aren't 100% efficient 100% of the time, we're talking about a massive reduction in reliance on the energy grid. Solar roof panels, which would largely be purchased directly by consumers, in reliance with clean energy grid options such as windfalls (primarily paid for by the government) could be the key to one day achieving a near-total transition to clean, renewable energy.
This is a good thing.
[QUOTE=download;51390947]Because a good half of your roof doesn't get direct sunlight shining on it (of if you're unlucky you'll own a home that's orientated the wrong direction so your roof does have a good orientation). Because of this it's a waste of money to cover your entire roof in solar panels. They're not cheap.
Solar panel prices are almost at rock bottom and they're still not viable without subsidies. There was a sharp drop last year but that wasn't the panels becoming cheaper to manufacture, that was a supply glut caused by Germany changing its feed in tariff rules.
Eventually they'll change the feed in tariff to match the market price for electricity at which pount the mid-day sun will cause the prices to crash destroying their economic viability instead of the hundreds of dollars per megawatt hour they're currently getting.[/QUOTE]
Not ever panel is a pv panel. Some are dummy tiles.
We got solar panels on our roof roughly 7-8 years ago now, what a great investment. I'd love to see solar roofs become the norm.
[QUOTE=Morgen;51391095]Not ever panel is a pv panel. Some are dummy tiles.[/QUOTE]
I thought that was only for the Tuscan model? The smooth glass and slate tiles can be all solar if you so choose.
[QUOTE=OvB;51391209]I thought that was only for the Tuscan model? The smooth glass and slate tiles can be all solar if you so choose.[/QUOTE]
Musk clarified in the Q&A that not all of them would be pv in places that didn't make sense for them to be.
Cheaper than concrete and ceramic roofs? I believe it (if you don't buy the garage battery). But cheaper than asphalt shingles? Hahahaha I doubt it.
Almost psyched that I'll need a new roof in the next 10 years or so.
[QUOTE=download;51390408]Like Solar Roadways a solar roof is not going to be pointing the right direction to get the most amount of sunlight and the idea of solar panels heating themselves is laughable given the snow and northern latitudes.
[editline]18th November 2016[/editline]
[B]It's a waste. [/B]Solar panels are already very expensive compared to how much energy they produce and wasting them by building them in stupid locations is moronic.[/QUOTE]
you're the most pessimistic baby about this, what the hell. Why is it a waste to spend less money than a normal roof would cost to install this? New homes will be built with them because it's a no-brainer, and as buildings degrade they need maintenance and would benefit from making the switch instead of continuing to patch the old one. Even if it can only generate electricity efficiently only for a few hours of the day, or only during certain seasons (before citing the fact they can install cheap heating elements to keep snow from building up on it), it's not doing anything less than an old roof in its off hours.
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