Instead of a massive, unattractive array of solar panels typically seen in suburbia, SolarCity had installed roof tiles that are solar collector themselves on several of the houses that are part of the film set. Whether meant to emulate clay tiles on a Spanish-style house or shingles on a colonial, Musk says they have 98% of the ray-collecting power of a conventional solar panel, are durable and will last longer than the house itself.
But can you walk on it?
And why should I believe Musk..........?
Whether meant to immolation slate clay tiles on a Spanish-style house or shingles
Why do I have the feeling that this will be an exclusive product with SolarCity and the entire goal is simply to create financial instruments to feed Wall Street?
Are they for northern climates?
Meaning can we walk on them without slipping and sliding off when up there shoveling snow off? Or will the abrasion from a shovel destroy them? How do they react to extreme winds?
And cold weather durability. I’ve purchased several electronic devices over the years that fail around minus 20 or so.
Our roof spends 2 to 4 months with snow covering it when the electrical demand is at it’s highest.
What happens when the sun and the moon both turn dark?
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Darkening-Sun-Moon-And-Stars
I can foresee a time when every roof is a solar panel and the electric utilities cry about it and demand a cut.
Rough estimate: my roof is about 120 square meters * 1 kW/m^2 * 25% efficiency * 12 hours/day * 365 days = 131,400 kWh per year. Knock that down by some amount because of clouds and non-optimal solar angles and it still provides all of my electricity unless I want to use it at night.
http://www.i4at.org/surv/solmap.htm says I get about 3.5 kWh / day / m^2 on average or 153,300 kWh per year hitting my roof. With a 25% efficiency I still get between 3 and 4 times as much electricity as I use during the year. From there it is just a matter of installed cost vs. about 11¢/kWh and rising cost to buy electricity.
(Just noticed that the 3.5 kWh/day requires the surface to face the sun, so I'll need to rotate my house during the day :-(. Looks like I'll lose some of my planned electricity.)
What about hail? Can someone walk on it if you had to get to your chimney? If a bird sits on it will it burst into flames cause it gets heated?
When the government buys them for everyone they will be free.....
The tiles “... they’re made from quartz glass...”
Wonder how they hold up to hail?
Try putting these on a house in Florida. But before you commit to a contract, you may want to call your insurance company first.
There is a reason there is not a sea of solar roofs here. Your on the hook for the replacement cost if a hurricane rips them off.
Want.
How much does one of these roofs cost?
I’m waiting ‘til the price comes down...
Bttt