[alancarp]

From the article, it sounds like they need the glass’s internal reflections to transport the photons to the window’s edges - something not doable on a roof shingle, for instance.

[Talisker]

Thanks I didn’t understand that part.

I see, said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.

[CurlyDave]

From the article, it sounds like they need the glass’s internal reflections to transport the photons to the window’s edges - something not doable on a roof shingle, for instance.

Well. if you put the glass over those shingles it would still collect the photons. The pane of glass can be any size, one can cover more than a single shingle. And, you can leave walkways between the glass panels for maintenance.