Solar Shingles are niche solar products meant for use on roofs of houses.There are not a lot of manufacturers of solar shingles as they are a new product and more difficult to install than standard silicon solar panels.Solar Shingles are manufactured by mainly American companies like Dow,Energy Conversion Devices.Their high costs and lack of easy availability has meant that solar shingles have not really caught the imagination of the customers.Also Solar Shingles do not get any added subsidy from the government vis a vis Solar Panels.Thus the higher prices of electricity generated from solar shingles means that they have become a poorer cousin of the mainstream Solar Panels.Also Solar Integrators are more accustomed to buying and installing solar panels which makes it even more difficult to push the sale of solar shingles.
Solar Roofing Shingle
Solar Roof can be constructed by installing “solar shingles” or “solar tiles” made by some companies.These tiles are interlocking in nature and fit onto the roof just like normal tiles.These solar tiles however can generate electricity from the sun and have wires attaching them which converge into an inverters.This solar inverter converts the DC electricity produced from the solar shingles to AC electricity which is used by the normal electrical appliances.
Solar Shingle is a roofing shingle. Solar Shingles install just like asphalt shingles, protecting your roof from rain, snow and is integrated into your roof. Solar Shingles use Solar Energy to generate electricity just like Solar Panels.Shingles were designed purposefully tolend with your roof. Developed as a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) product, they are tough, flexible and thin enough to be a shingle.They can be installed by a roofing contractor, just like regular asphalt shingles. An Integrated electrical connection system eliminates on-roof wiring, with fewer holes drilled into your roof
Thin Film Solar Shingles – Thin Film Solar Shingles are Solar Shingles which use Thin Film Technology which is Copper Indium Gallium Selenium (CIGs) in case of Solar Shingles from Dow and Energy Conversion Devices.Solar Shingles are made of crystalline Silicon which are sold by Sunpower.Note crystalline silicon solar shingles have much higher efficiency as compared to crystalline silicon.You can read more about Thin Film Solar Technology and Companies and about the Efficiency of Solar Cells.
Crystalline Solar Shingles – At Present Sunpower is the only company to sell solar shingles made of c-Si on a commercial scale.Though there are a large number of Chinese solar panel manufacturers there are no solar shingle sellers because of the lack of a big market for solar shingles.
1) Solar Shingles are integrated into the Roof since they are a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) product while Solar Panels are mounted on a roof with racks or mouthing systems.Solar Panels don’t blend into the roof.
2) Solar Shingles Protect the Roof from Weather as they are like regular Roof Shingles while Solar Panels don’t do that.
3) Photovoltaic Shingles are not suitable for every roof .They can only be used in roofs which are facing the sun and have a particular angle.Solar Panels on the other hand are more flexible in terms of angles.
4) Solar Shingles cannot be easily moved to another roof or house unlike Solar Panels which can be easily be move
5) Solar Shingles are more expensive to buy and install than Solar Panels.The reason is that they are not produced in large volumes.In fact its very difficult to procure Solar Shingles .
6) Solar Shingles need a Roof Substrate which can handle Heat since Solar Shingles tend to get hot while collecting Sunlight
7) Solar Shingles are more Beautiful to Look at and in some case where Solar Panels are not allowed to be installed they are the only option to use Solar Energy.
Solar Shingles Cost
Solar Shingles due to low volumes and its niche use is much costly to buy and install than silicon solar panels.Solar Shingles are 12-63 Watts and they can cost almost $6-7 watt to install though these rates may vary significantly across installers.Note you need a roofing or Solar EPC contractor to get the solar shingle installation done.You will generally get a quote on the whole system installation and not on buying individual solar shingles.This will cost you almost 1.5x times the cost of installing solar panels.
5 Comments
I am impressed with Inroads that the Solar Powering is promising but the whole approach becomes negative when we talk of Storage and use of the Solar Power during night or in rainy season etc. What I mean to say is that one has to take a careful view of storage medium and reduction of costs in this area. Until then it would remain a dream project for poor nations.
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I want to know the Solar Singles in details including the Pricing and installation charges.
Hello Naresh,
http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2011/07/06/solar-shingles-pricingcostmanufacturers-dow-powerhousesharpuni-solarsunpowersolar-shingles-vs-solar-panels/
http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2011/03/30/solar-roof-what-does-it-mean-solar-tilesbipvsolar-shingle-companiesadvantages/
As solar tiles form part of the roof, they are much better at blending in meaning they are often considered to be less obtrusive than traditional solar panels. However, modern solar panels have come along way to improve their visual design meaning they are now much better at blending in with the rest of the roof.
Unless you are building a new home or having a new roof fitted, solar panels are likely to be much more cost effective than solar roof tiles; solar panels can simply be attached to an existing roof and typically cost less meaning they generate a higher return on investment. However, for homeowners who feel that the appearance of their roof is paramount or for whom cost is less of a concern, solar tiles could still be a viable option