Tesla Solar Panel Warranties
All Tesla solar panels come with a 25-year performance guarantee and a 10-year comprehensive warranty. The comprehensive warranty covers repairs and replacements of any solar system components.
The 25-year performance guarantee states that the panels will perform for at least 80% of the manufacturers nameplate power capacity for at least 25 years. Other solar providers tend to offer performance guarantees with no power capacity conditions.
Whats The Latest News On The Tesla Solar Roof Tiles
Tesla has now installed solar roof tiles across the country, though the exact number of installations is unclear. The product has been gaining popularity among some consumers, leading to long installation wait times for customers who sign contracts. In April 2021, many of these customers were shocked when they received emails from Tesla quoting higher costs than their contract prices. The lack of explanation and transparency caused confusion and frustration among consumers, especially if they could no longer afford the hefty price tag.
During Teslas quarterly earnings call in April 2021, Elon Musk affirmed that demand remains strong for the Tesla Solar Roof, despite the price increases. He did concede that Tesla basically made some significant mistakes in assessing the difficulty of certain roofs. Tesla added roof complexity information to its website and a roof complexity disclaimer to its Solar Roof calculator however, Tesla notes that your roof complexity wont be determined until after you place an order for a Solar Roof. Tesla divides the complexity into three categoriessimple, intermediate, and complexbased on the following criteria:
- Simple: single-level roof, uncrowded mounting planes, few obstructions , low pitch
- Intermediate: multi-level roof , more crowded mounting plane, more obstructions , higher pitch
- Complex: multi-level roof , heavily crowded mounting plane, many obstructions , steep pitch
Is It Worth It To Get A Tesla Solar Roof
If youre willing to pay the high price point, need to replace your roof and like the idea and sleek aesthetic of Teslas solar shingles, then it may be worth it to get a Solar Roof. Otherwise, Teslas Solar Panels, or even traditional solar panels, may make more financial sense while still increasing your homes energy efficiency.
Teslas solar options are significantly more expensive than other renewable energy alternatives on the market, and the company has had a record of changing quoted prices for the Solar Roof fairly regularly. However, if you have the finances and do not mind integrating your home into the Tesla system, a Solar Roof is a good long-term investment for your home.
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Tesla Solar Roof Review
In this EcoWatch review on the Tesla Solar Roof, youll learn:
- What is the Tesla Solar Roof?
- How the Tesla Roof works with active and inactive tiles?
- Is the Tesla Solar Roof A Good Option?
- How you can get a Tesla Roof installed?
This article has helped many homeowners understand how they can benefit from a Tesla Solar Roof and can make your solar purchase decision a lot easier. Lets get started!
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In 2016, CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Solar Roof, a futuristic product consisting of photovoltaic roof tiles capable of generating clean energy. The roof is designed to maximize your energy production without sacrificing the aesthetics of your home. This addresses one of the most common complaints surrounding solar panels, which is the way they look.
It took almost two years for Teslas solar shingles to make their way onto the roofs of real homeowners. After a few more years of improvements, were finally seeing Tesla Solar Roof installations become more common.
- Sleek, efficient and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Suntegra Solar Shingles In Review:
According to SunTegras product specs, their solar shingle system has a conversion efficiency rate between 14.4% and 15.9%. SunTegra shingles contain 16 solar cells each and offer 64 to 67 Watts of power output. Like other BIPV shingles, SunTegra mounts directly to roof decks and acts as the roof covering.
Costs & Warranty comparison for SunTegra solar shingles
- Install price: SunTegra doesnt list the cost on their website, but numbers circulating around the web indicate $3.65 per Watt.
- Product warranty: 10 years.
- Power output warranty: 25 years.
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Pros And Cons Of Tesla Solar Panels
Allows customers to receive an instant online quote Offers a solar panel price-match guarantee Provides 24/7 solar panel monitoring through their mobile app
Customer service can have lengthy long wait times for repairs Powerwall battery systems are not available for purchase separately
Is A Tesla Solar Roof Cheaper Than Tesla Solar Panels
The main draw to the Tesla Solar Roof is two-fold: the cost per Watt and the added roof durability.
Teslas Solar Panels offer a cost per Watt of $2.01, which is highly competitive and below the national average. However, the Tesla Solar Roof is a newer technology that beats its standard solar panels in efficiency at $1.80 per Watt. Both of these prices are calculated before incentives and tax credits.
Not only do you get more efficient solar, but you also get a brand new beautiful Tesla roof. Homeowners looking for a solarized roof should see this as a no-brainer.
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How Many Tesla Solar Roofs Have Been Installed
Tesla Solar Roof got off to a very slow start, with only less than 100 installed in the first few years of production. To date, Tesla claims to have installed over 400,000 solar roofs and was at one stage installing 200 a week, despite producing enough tiles for over 1,000 per week.
So far, Tesla has installed over 3.6GW of power through Solar Roof, the equivalent of 10 million traditional solar panels.
What Are Tesla Solar Roofs
Tesla solar roofs use Tesla solar shingles to collect solar energy. The setup is called building-integrated photovoltaics. Tesla solar shingles, made with tempered glass panels, capture solar energy and serve as your roof.
Operable and inoperable solar shingles get installed so any given roof is able to keep the aesthetic consistent. Homeowners can determine how many operable panels or shingles they want. The power harnessed goes to a Tesla power inverter or a Tesla powerwall, which serves as a battery.
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What Do I Get From The Tesla Solar Roof
Tesla is pitching Solar Roof as a breakthrough of technology and design. And while it’s not the first time someone has incorporated solar power into a building’s design — the practice is called building- integrated photovoltaics, or BIPV — Solar Roof is certainly the highest-profile instance.
When you order a Tesla Solar Roof, you aren’t getting solar panels to cover your roof, you’re getting a new roof made up of regular and photovoltaic shingles. The result is a covering that powers your house and keeps you dry all while looking like a normal roof to the average passerby.
This means scrapping your current roof. While Tesla has recently said it will install Solar Roofs on top of newer, single-layer roofs of some designs, roofs made of metal, clay, wood or architectural shingles will have to be replaced. Flat roofs aren’t eligible for Solar Roof, though regular solar panels could work.
Unlike Tesla’s solar panel offering, Solar Roof comes in more than four sizes. Tesla’s solar shingle has a maximum output of 71.67 watts, according to Electrek, which received the shingle’s specs. This means the Solar Roof can be more specifically tailored to your energy needs.
Tesla Solar Roof offers an unobtrusive solar-generating solution.
You can install Powerwall batteries indoors or outdoors. They’re 6 inches deep, 2.5 feet wide and almost 4 feet tall.
Ecohome Predictions For The Bipv Market
One very legitimate criticism of all Tesla products so far is the meeting of their own delivery-target dates. The Tesla solar roof is no different. Their competitors have a long head-start in the industry, but once a good number of Tesla roofs are installed in Canada and the US, and consumers get a look at them compared to the competition, we think it will be game over. And did you notice the warranty timelines? 30 years across the board is a noticeable improvement over combo 10 to 25 year warranties for different components from the Tesla solar roof competitors.
And this all begs the question – if they really do become the most sought-after roof, will they then be able to meet demand? Well, there is a Tesla masterplan for that too. Since as much as 70% of a roof wont need active solar panels, it makes no sense to tie up Tesla production facilities with producing inactive but matching roof tiles, so they will probably license that out to mainstream roof tile manufacturers instead. And, considering it is 70% of the roof surface, and it’s going to be in the premium roof covering market sector – and it has that magic “Tesla” name attached to it – which roofing product manufacturer wouldn’t be interested in producing the inert Tesla solar roof tiles?
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Tesla Solar Review: 2022
In this article: Our Take | State Availability | Solar Panel Options | Installation and Services | Warranties | Cost and Payment Options | Reviews | Competitor Comparison | Making Your Decision | FAQs | Methodology
Tesla is known for its electric vehicles , but since acquiring SolarCity in 2016, its entered into the residential solar energy space. Namely, its built a reputation for high-quality solar products and its innovative solar roof.
Does that mean the company is right for your home? This review covers Teslas panel options, warranties, services and costs to help you make a decision. It also compares Tesla to other top installers based on our research on the best solar companies in the United States.
How Much Do Tesla Solar Roofs Cost
The Tesla Solar Roof can be described as innovative new solar design technology. Therefore, its not cheap and should be considered as what its meant to be: a long-term investment.
Forbes offers a pricing estimate calculated in July of 2021. The analysis concluded approximate prices for a 1,000 square foot single-story home estimated at over $46,000, a 2,000 square foot two-story home estimated at just over $64,000, and finally, a 3,000 square foot three-story home estimated at almost $82,000.
These prices do not factor in incentives, tax credits, or energy savings. Each was calculated as complete installation and roof replacement.
Major factors that affect the total price include your homes roof complexity, for which Tesla has assigned three categories:
- Simple. A single-level roof, uncrowded mounting planes, few obstructions, and low pitch.
- Intermediate. Multi-level roof, somewhat crowded mounting plane, more obstructions, and higher pitch.
- Complex. Multi-level roof, heavily crowded mounting plane, many obstructions, and steep pitch.
As with increased energy consumption, increased complexity means additional cost.
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Additional Costs And Upgrades
Depending on the current infrastructure present in your home, Tesla mentions that it may be necessary to perform additional upgrades during installation. This includes services such as extra electrical work or installation of a Solar Roof on a shed or deck. Prices are quoted directly to you upon inspection, but it is important to note that they are not included in the Solar Roof calculator estimate.
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How Much Power Does Tesla Solar Roof Produce
When you apply to install Tesla Solar Roof, contractors will come and assess your roof and power needs and install the tiles accordingly. Tesla uses a combination of active solar tiles and glass decoy tiles to keep the aesthetic consistent. Your home will receive as many active tiles as your power demands require, and the rest of the roof will be filled with decoy tiles.
Each Tesla solar shingle or tile produces roughly 70 watts of power, so youd need around 5 tiles to produce the same output as a standard 300-watt solar panel.
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Does Tesla Manufacture Their Own Solar Roofs
Tesla acquired SolarCity in the third quarter of 2016, as reported by PCMag. SolarCity, now a subsidiary of Tesla, leases the Tesla Giga New York , where the photovoltaic cells are manufactured.
Tesla Giga New York, previously called GigaFactory, lies within the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub in RiverBend. The site is owned by State University of New Yorks Polytechnic Institute.
Getting A Loan With Teslas Solar Roof Financing
Prospective Tesla Solar Roof owners are offered a few different financing options. Whatever options are chosen may be changed at any point before installation begins. Here are some details about loan purchases from Teslas site at the time of writing this article:
- System ownership
- Investment tax credits
- 10-year comprehensive maintenance with 25-year panel performance warranty
Purchasing through a loan allows buyers to own their system without the upfront cost. Additionally, depending on geographic location, buyers often find that their loan payment is less than their monthly electric bill, meaning that you can still achieve long-term ROI right from the start.
Tesla solar loans can be paid off at any moment in full without a prepayment penalty.
Loan invoices follow about 30 days after roof installation. Interested parties can read more specifics about loans and incentives on the companys Solar Purchase page.
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The Tesla Solar Roof: What You Need To Know
The Tesla Solar Roof is a building-integrated photovoltaic product that takes the functionality of solar panels and integrates it into roof shingles. A home with Tesla solar roof tiles installed would have a protective and complete roof with the capacity to generate solar energy. By installing the solar roof, you dont have to install solar panels to generate electricity, which some property owners find visually unappealing.
Some solar industry stakeholders believe that solar needs to be rebranded as an aesthetic and technical improvement that can be a part of a home renovation rather than a hefty module affixed to your rooftop. That sentiment was emphasized in Elon Musks October 2016 launch of Teslas first roofing product. With the solar roof, the company aims to bring solar further into the mainstream by removing any sort of aesthetic concerns that homeowners may have.
I think theres quite a radical difference between having solar panels on your roof that actually make your house look better versus ones that do not, I think its going to be a night-and-day difference, said Musk in a statement before the official launch of Teslas first solar roof. Two months later, he unveiled the solar roof using a crowded, suburban event in California to demonstrate that his panel design was so seamlessly integrated that the entire audience of press needed to be altered to its presence on the house in front of them.
Cons Of Tesla Roof Tiles
Cost: To install Teslas Solar Roof, youre required to replace your whole roof even if you dont need a new roof right now. That means youre paying for the cost of both a solar energy system and a new roof. According to EnergySage, on an apples-to-apples comparison: Teslas solar roof will cost nearly $25,000 more than installing solar panels, and yet will only deliver 77 percent as much solar electricity .”
Unknown Maintenance Costs: Since the Tesla roof tiles are a new product, the maintenance costs and processes are an unknown. If you have a roof leak, for example, how complex would it be to fix? Could you call a roofer in your area or would Tesla be the only company able to perform the fix and how much more would that cost than a regular roof repair? There is also the question of how Tesla will deliver on the infinite warranty for required maintenance. Will the company have the financial strength and longevity to deliver on that guarantee?
Unknown Return on Investment: When you crunch the numbers , solar panels still offer a significantly higher return on investment. According to their head-to-head comparison of the Tesla Solar Roof vs. solar panels for the same house, the Tesla Solar Roof cost 48.9% more and yielded just 2.79% of the savings that the solar panels delivered. In other words, with the Solar Roof you pay almost 50% more and get 97% less in savings. Ouch.
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Tesla Solar Panels Cost And Payment Options
Tesla provides a cost calculator online that estimates the cost of solar panels based on your address and average monthly electric bill. Teslas pricing falls toward the higher end of the average cost for solar panels. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the average price of a 6-kilowatt-hour system ran between $16,000 and $21,000 in 2021.
We obtained quotes from Tesla for a 2,000-square-foot home in Dallas with an average monthly electric bill of $170. The roof space is approximately 2,329 square feet. Each price also includes one Tesla Powerwall, quoted at $10,000.
| System Size | |
|---|---|
| $75,200$87,400 | $57,800$66,800 |
You can obtain a quote from Tesla Solar on its website after providing your homes address and average monthly electricity bill. To obtain a more accurate estimate, you need to contact the company and undergo a virtual survey with a customer service representative. This process involves going over your energy needs and surveying your property through satellite.
Tesla customers always own their systems through a cash purchase or loan in select states.