ᐅ Experience with Solar Roof Tiles / Solar Shingles

We have heard about roof tiles with solar cells/solar shingles.
Does anyone know about these?
They seem to be relatively new. Has anyone had any experience with them?

I would appreciate any insights.

Hello sasch 1,

although I am familiar with this technology, I have not yet planned it myself, so I am quoting a statement from Schottsolar, a manufacturer of photovoltaic modules for solar roof tiles:

"They are currently less common than conventional photovoltaic systems because the price-performance ratio per square meter is still less favorable compared to mounting solar panels on the roof surface. Since solar cells experience a decrease in efficiency when heated, solar roof tiles should be well ventilated.
Solar roof tiles are suitable for specific architectural or aesthetic applications where cost is not the primary concern, for example in prestigious buildings or structures, or ensembles that are protected as historic monuments. "

As an engineer, I find a solar roof made up of many small modules problematic due to the large number of electrical connections; manufacturers have certainly considered this carefully, but the more connections there are, the higher the risk of a technical failure. Two conventional modules have one connection; if something malfunctions there, it can be quickly checked—unlike with 10 to 15 connections.

"Essentially" hardly more straightforward; it is technically the case that solar roof tiles are installed on the roof in smaller modules compared to conventional photovoltaic modules. There are different types, and all solar roof tiles require more surface area to achieve the same output as a large-area photovoltaic module of comparable size.

So not only do solar roof tiles involve higher installation effort (and a greater number of wiring connections), but you also need relatively more of them.

One of the first Swiss producers of "slates," Atlantis-Energie, no longer exists. At exhibitions, I have seen photovoltaic tiles again, but I do not know anyone who has actually used them. This is quite different from companies like 3S and Easy-Roof, which offer proven integrated roofing systems.

The company autarq - solar roof tiles (DE) will begin serial production of custom solar roof tiles (tailored to specific roofs) this year. Since 2012, autarq has been gathering insights, experience, and measurement data from various roofs (regions) using different types of tiles and roof shingles, achieving very good results in efficiency and energy yield so far. Autarq provides complete systems including a controller, storage, and energy manager at very competitive prices.

On 01.01.2016, a TV commercial was broadcast on "Radio Berlin-Brandenburg" (RBB) (DE). The segment is still available in the RBB media library until 06.01.2016. It aired during the program BRANDENBURG-AKTUELL (7:30–8:00 p.m.) on 01.01.2016.

I hope you enjoy watching it and wish you a sunny and healthy year 2016.

Yours sincerely,
MS

Personally, I have no experience with these solar roof tiles. However, the tile manufacturer Louis Gasser AG produces such roof tiles. I saw them once at a trade fair several years ago. But they have not really become widely adopted yet.