Solar roofs have become all the rage in sustainability and green energy circles. Where solar panels once ruled unchallenged, the solar shingle is now stepping up into greater prominence.

Solar power has become a reliable home improvement project for many homeowners in the US due to its affordability and energy independence. Whether we're talking about regular solar panels or solar roof shingles, the important thing is that people are starting to look towards renewable energy for their electricity and home affordability needs.

In the past few years, more than 10% of all households have begun using solar energy for energy production, and this number is expected to rise to more than 30% by 2050.

While tax credits are still available, now is the perfect time to join the solar energy community and begin to generate electricity on your own accord. You'll also end up saving more money in the long run since you won't have to pay as much on your electricity bill.

Now, although conventional solar panels are excellent when it comes to generating usable electricity, they are bulky and not particularly pleasing to the eye for most. Because of this, some homeowners have begun converting their existing roofs into solar roofs (Tesla's solar roof is a prime example of how it's done).

There are plenty of differences between conventional solar panels and solar roof tiles that fulfill various house energy needs. By understanding the differences, you'll be able to figure out whether you want solar panels or solar shingles to generate power.

In this article, we'll be taking a look at how a solar roof works, why it's become a popular and cost-effective choice for solar energy generation, and which option is best for your house.

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How do Solar Shingles Work?

Solar shingles work essentially the same way solar panels do, so if you've already experienced encounters with traditional solar panels, you can skip to the differences section below. If not, here's the gist:

Solar roof tiles are made of PV (Photovoltaic) sheets that gather energy from the Sun's rays. They can be overlayed onto an existing asphalt shingle roof (as an example) or used to replace the entire roof.

Nowadays, people without a solar array have to pay for every kWh of electricity they use. However, with the use of standard solar panels or a solar roofing solution, you can save money on every kWh of energy the solar system generates. While utility costs rise and rise, the energy you consume from your own system remains free, saving you money and frustration.

People have a common question about solar shingles: What happens when it rains or if there's a big storm? Are they easily damaged? Well, the solar shingles might not generate any electricity in cloudy or rainy weather, but they very likely won't be damaged either. Solar panels and solar shingles are quite resilient and are built to withstand all sorts of weather conditions. Added to your home's insurance policy, these systems are completely covered in case the unimaginable happens.

Solar shingles function exactly the same as traditional shingles but with the added benefit of being able to generate electricity.

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The Main Differences Between Regular Solar Panels and Solar Shingles

Although both solar panels and solar shingles generate energy the same way, there are a couple of meaningful differences between the two that you should consider if you're looking to switch to renewable energy.

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Size

A solar roof usually consists of more than 350 individual solar shingles so it can take a while to set them down. However, each solar shingle is small in size (12 inches in width and 86 inches in length) making them more transportable than regular solar panels. They're also less than an inch thick so some care is required during assembly.

On the other hand, solar panels are bulky and can weigh quite a lot depending on how much energy you need. Transporting and installing a solar panel is tedious and usually requires careful planning regarding where to place them.

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Power Output

Since most people want to reduce the cost of the energy they require to power their homes, a solar power solution is a perfect choice. With that said, solar panels are better in this regard than solar shingles. Solar panels have been in operation longer and typically have higher efficiency ratios. A couple of solar panels can easily generate as much electricity as an entire solar roof.

However, a single solar shingle (try saying that three times fast) can generate between 13 and 63 Watts of energy. And, depending on how many solar shingles you need for roof replacement and power generation, they can lower your utility bill by more than 50%.

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Materials

Most solar shingles are made from copper indium gallium selenide; a mixture that makes them thin and flexible. Semiconductors such as these are superb roofing materials thanks to their excellent efficiency rate (10-12% conversion efficiency on average).

Other solar shingle types use a form of monocrystalline silicon as a higher-end solution. This solar shingles blend is predominantly used in the computer chip fabrication industry thanks to its incredible efficiency. Solar shingles using this material can be efficient up to 20%!

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Energy Production Efficiency

The raw numbers tell a story where a solar panel is just as efficient as a solar shingle, but solar energy is more than that. For starters, solar roofing (once the shingles are installed) does not move and cannot be adjusted to follow the Sun.

This leads to somewhat worse conversion efficiency. Solar roofs are most efficient when the Sun is exactly above them. Solar panels are much better in this regard because they can be adjusted at will or even moved to another location with more sunlight (though this isn't done often).

You could achieve the same energy generation with shingles as you would with a solar panel, but you'd need more shingles. This increases the roof complexity and the number of shingles used which means you'll have to pay more money to get more power. On the other hand, if your roofline doesn't lend itself to solar panels, the shingle route may be just what the doctor ordered.

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Service Life

As an example, Tesla shingles have a pretty long service life - up to 20 years in duration. However, there are dozens of solar roof shingle manufacturers who create shingles with varying degrees of longevity. Keep this in mind while you're searching for a new roof.

Additionally, you'll need to keep an eye out for warranties. While the best brands offer long warranties, their solar roof might be prohibitively expensive. In any case, solar shingle warranties generally last for multiple decades. Durability warranties are also long-lasting and can, in some cases, last for as long as the lifespan of your house. Make sure you pick an option that provides you peace of mind for the long-term.

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Aesthetics

A homeowner may be looking to replace their old roof with a new roof so they may be wondering how good solar roofs look and whether or not a solar roof will impact the appearance of their home.

The good news is that solar shingles blend in with roofing materials. It doesn't matter if your current roof features asphalt shingles or brick shingles - there is always a way to make the solar shingles indiscreet. Besides, your existing roof will look better with solar shingles than with large, traditional solar panels.

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Strength & Durability

One great advantage of a solar roof compared to the usual solar panels you see is that the shingles are fully fire-resistant. This doesn't mean that solar panels are flammable or anything of the sort (fires on solar panels are extremely rare); it just means that they are sturdier and more durable than solar panels. All shingles come with a specific fire rating so be mindful of that.

The solar roofing industry is well aware of the implications of producing weak shingles, so virtually all of them offer shingles with a strong and integrated design, minimizing the risk of damage. Replacing damaged shingles may be cheaper in the long run since you may only have to replace a few pieces rather than larger, system-reliant panels.

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Installation Process

Solar shingle installation takes a lot longer than solar panel installation. Whereas a solar panel can often be installed on the roof within the same day, a solar roof requires days or weeks (if you're redoing your roof) to complete.

Tesla's solar roof can (in total) take up to 3 or 4 weeks to complete. So, if you're planning on taking on clean energy in the form of solar power shingles, it's best if you prepare for the installation process in advance.

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Cost

Lastly, let's talk about the cost. In most cases, solar panels are cheaper than opting for a solar roof. The main reason for this is size and age of technology. While solar panels are bulky, you'll still need less of them compared to how many shingles you'd need for a solar roof.

A couple of factors contribute to the price of solar roof shingles, including how many square feet you need, whether or not you have a roof deck, what power rating you need, and what kind of shingle solar roofing material you're looking for.

An average solar roof (in size) could set you back more than $20,000. Pair that with how long it takes to install the shingles and finalize solar roofing and it's evident why people aren't as inclined to get a solar roof as they are solar panels.

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The Pros and Cons of Solar Shingles

Pros

• Shingles work great with asphalt and concrete roofs and are more aesthetically pleasing to look at.
• A solar roof is easier to maintain than traditional solar panels.
• Once installed, solar shingles are incredibly durable, weather-resistant, and fire-resistant.
• A solar roof is cost-effective and will eventually pay for itself by reducing your overall electricity cost.

Cons

• Solar shingles are still new to the industry and as such, not every clean energy and solar manufacturer has them.
• A solar roof will cost you more in the short term than traditional panels, especially if you're in need of a new roof. New houses are the ones that typically have solar roofs since they're starting from framing.
• Although solar shingles are versatile, they still won't fit on every roof. You may need to rework or replace your current roof to use them (which heightens the cost as well).
• Due to their novelty and lack of total time in market, style selection of your solar shingles may not be all that you dreamed.

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Final Words

Any form of renewable energy should be encouraged and it's good that we're seeing a popularization of solar power in the US. The solar panel was what kicked off the environmental energy generation movement for the Average Joe and solar shingles are beginning to elevate that.

Most energy that people's homes get is produced by the country they live in, meaning they have to pay bills whose totals equal consumed energy. However, with an efficient energy storage system and some photovoltaic surfaces, these costs will go down.

So, if you're looking for an aesthetically pleasing solution to generating your own electric power, look no further than a solar roof. Expensive, but it gets the job done and it looks nice as well.

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