Solar power has soared in popularity in recent years as households struggle to cope with the rising cost of traditional energy sources and look to more affordable ways to power their homes.
If you are interested in solar roofing and would like to know more about how it works, then the below blog will tell you everything you need to know.
Read on to discover how solar roofing works, the cost of solar roofing and why you should choose the eco-friendly power source for your home.
What are solar roofs and what do they look like?
A solar roof looks pretty much like a normal roof but with one key difference, the tiles are made from integrated photovoltaic material. These roof tiles are sometimes called roof shingles or solar slates.
Solar roofs are a great idea for homeowners who need to replace their current roofing or for those who want to make their homes more sustainable and save money in the process.
How do solar roofs work?
Unlike traditional solar panels that have been available for several years, solar roofing is relatively new and comes with a whole host of additional benefits.
Like conventional solar panels, solar roofing uses sunlight to generate power via atomic interaction that creates an electric field. Photovoltaic PV solar cells are the foundation of both solar panels and solar shingles and are typically made of monocrystalline silicon cells that are coated in either glass or metal. Thin film panels are also an option.
However, solar roof tiles are designed to be more durable than solar panels, as well as more efficient and more aesthetically pleasing, as well as building integrated.
You can find out more about the Solar Installation Industry from our team of experts at Easi-Dec.
What are the benefits of solar roofing?
There are many reasons why you may want to take your existing roof and add a solar system. While installing solar roofing may seem expensive, there are multiple benefits to solar energy:
- Solar roofing has a more sleek and stylish appearance than traditional solar panels
- Solar roofing is weather-resistant and long-lasting
- Solar roofing is easier to maintain than solar panels
- Solar roofing is more cost-efficient than building a brand-new roof
Are there any drawbacks to solar roofing?
As a fairly new technology, there are a few disadvantages to solar roofing including:
- Solar roofing is not widely available in the UK
- Solar roofing is fairly expensive compared to the cost of solar panels
- Solar roofing takes longer to install, and the installations cost are higher
- Difficult roofs which do not have perfect pitch are not suitable for solar roofing
How much does solar roofing cost?
As mentioned briefly above, solar roofing is more expensive than traditional solar panels but there are reasons for this. On average, a 4-kilowatt solar roof will cost between £12,000 to £16,000. A solar panel system, on the other hand, costs around £6,500 to £8,000.
That being said, Tesla s solar panels promise to last for at least 25 years and come with three impressive warranties: a product warranty, a weathering warranty and a module warranty.