To offset as much of this consumption as possible, we are installing the largest Tesla Solar Roof tile system that our roof can handle. We also have two electric vehicles that pull the vast majority of their electricity from our home. We do not have a gas line running to our home, so everything in the home runs on electricity. Over the 25 year warrantied life of the solar production from the system, the Solar Roof system should generate $73,436.14 worth of electricity. For parity, I priced the system out using the production of the solar system, following the maximum degradation noted by Tesla. I used the most recent cost of residential electricity in California of 19.3 cents/kWh (March 2019) and extrapolated that out using a conservative 2% annual increase. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and extrapolating that price out over 25 years. On the cost side of the equation, it is a simple matter of taking the cost of electricity from the U.S. That is a tall order to fill, by any measure. They were ultimately trying to build a solar product that would help the masses to adopt solar because it was easier, cheaper, higher quality, and better looking. Musk and his team of energy engineers at Tesla were not simply trying to build a better roof. That came to $37,865.80 for a new metal roof. After receiving all of the bids, I took the average price from all 5 contractors and used that as the baseline cost for a comparable roof installation. Bids were made based on actual permitted architectural drawings of the roof, with all associated wrinkles and warts. This was not a hypothetical exercise, as we are in need of a new roof and were actively pursuing both options to determine which was a better fit for our family. To ensure accuracy, I went out and got bids for the job from 5 real local contractors in Southern California. As a roof, the Tesla Solar Roof is warrantied for infinity or the life of the home, whichever comes first. Because the Tesla Solar Roof is a building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system, in addition to generating power, it also must serve as the physical roof for the house. The second warranty is for the physical roof structure. Such a guarantee is standard across the solar industry. This protects the buyer from subpar solar cells, cells failing, or other factors that impact the electrical generation from the system. The solar production from the Solar Roof is guaranteed for 25 years. The first is for the solar production from the roof. The Tesla Solar Roof is not a typical roof, and that is highlighted in the fact that it comes with two different guarantees. This is not a justification for a higher price, but it is simply the reality of buying a roof that lasts. It is a high-end roof, even without the solar aspect. This is an important comparison to understand because just looking at the Tesla Solar Roof as simply the covering for the home already sets it apart from most common roofing products. The only roofing product on the market that comes close to this bold proclamation is a metal roof with an expected 50 year life. Tesla’s Solar Roof is comprised of, “Glass solar tiles are so durable they are warrantied for the lifetime of your house, or infinity, whichever comes first.” Composite shingle roofs and tile roofs are more cost effective, but do not have the same durability as a Tesla Solar Roof with its tempered glass tiles. Getting a new roof installed can range from $10,000 to $50,000, depending on the material used. One Roof To Rule Them AllĪn accurate comparison requires an accurate baseline to be used for the cost of electricity and the cost of a new roof. To kick things off, I will start by comparing the cost of the system against Elon’s claims to see if a Tesla Solar Roof tile system is actually cheaper than buying a roof and the power generated by the system over its life. I signed a contract with Tesla for the installation of a new Tesla Solar roof tile system and have unpacked the details, good and bad, from the contract in a series of articles. Since then, we have not seen any data to support his claim, until now. When Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the company’s Solar Roof tile system back in 2016, he boldly proclaimed that it would cost less than buying a roof and electricity. Were Elon Musk’s Claims About The Cost Of Tesla’s Solar Roof Accurate? Is Tesla’s Solar Roof Tile System Cheaper Than Buying A Roof & Grid Power? Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email.
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