Solar Shingles vs. Solar Panels - NerdWallet

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The primary distinction between photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels is the way in which they’re mounted. Photo voltaic panels are mounted on a roof (or the bottom), whereas photo voltaic shingles do double responsibility as rooftop shingles. Photo voltaic shingles generate electrical energy the identical means photo voltaic panels do.

How photo voltaic shingles work, what they’re manufactured from and the way they’re put in

Photo voltaic shingles work the identical means photo voltaic panels do, however photo voltaic shingles appear like and performance as conventional roof shingles. This implies they serve a twin function: to generate electrical energy and to guard your private home from the weather.

Photo voltaic shingles might be manufactured from silicon (the oldest and some of the well-liked choices) or copper indium gallium (CIGS).

Right here’s how photo voltaic shingles (and photo voltaic panels) generate electrical energy:

You may have solely photo voltaic shingles for a roof, or you may set up some photo voltaic shingles along with your present roof shingles. Usually, if the photo voltaic shingles don’t have to take up your whole roof house, the installer integrates the brand new photo voltaic shingles with the remainder of your present roof construction. As soon as the shingles are mounted, they’re related to an inverter, and the inverter is related to the house’s electrical panel, so you may take pleasure in usable AC electrical energy out of your photo voltaic shingles. The set up course of often takes just a few days.

Photo voltaic shingles vs. photo voltaic panels: Key variations

Though they generate electrical energy in the identical method, there are some vital variations between photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels.

Price: Photo voltaic shingles are usually considerably dearer than photo voltaic panels.

Look: Photo voltaic shingles provide a sleeker look than photo voltaic panels. In contrast to photo voltaic panels, that are mounted on racks, photo voltaic shingles sit flush with the house’s roofline and might be indistinguishable from common shingles from a distance.

Effectivity: Photo voltaic panels sometimes are extra environment friendly than photo voltaic shingles. That is partly as a result of photo voltaic shingles sit flush in opposition to the mounting floor, which doesn’t enable for cooling airflow beneath them.

Availability: As an older, tried-and-true product, photo voltaic panels are extra extensively accessible than photo voltaic shingles.

Set up: Putting in photo voltaic shingles tends to take longer than putting in photo voltaic panels (except you’re changing your whole roof or working with new building). Photo voltaic shingles don’t require drilling into the roof to connect a rack; they’re put in with roofing nails, which reduces the chance of leaks or roof injury through the set up course of.

Roof concerns: Your roof must be in good situation to help photo voltaic panels. Photo voltaic shingles, then again, can double as a roof substitute for an outdated roof in poor situation. Moreover, in contrast to photo voltaic panels, which might be tilted to catch most daylight, photo voltaic shingles lie flush along with your roof. This implies photo voltaic shingles aren’t appropriate for flat roofs or roofs that don’t face the solar.

resolve between photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels

Photo voltaic shingles could also be your best option if:

Aesthetics and curb enchantment are a prime concern.

You’re coping with an HOA that has strict tips about look and would possibly problem the set up of photo voltaic panels.

You’re changing your roof on the identical time or working with new building.

Photo voltaic panels could also be your best option if:

Your present roof is in good situation

You’ve gotten a roof that isn’t on the optimum angle or orientation for shingles (some panels might be tilted to maximise the seize of daylight).

Steadily requested questions

Are photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels eligible for the federal tax credit score?

Each photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels might be eligible for a federal tax credit score. With photo voltaic shingles, nonetheless, bear in mind that the prices of precise roofing parts corresponding to deckings or rafters that solely serve a structural perform and aren’t associated to photo voltaic vitality don’t qualify for the credit score.

Are you able to stroll on photo voltaic shingles like you may on an everyday roof?

Though photo voltaic shingles are often sturdy sufficient to carry the burden of an grownup and contractors do stroll on them whereas carrying a harness, these shingles might be very slippery and unsafe to stroll on.

Which lasts longer, photo voltaic panels or photo voltaic shingles?

Each photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic shingles have equally lengthy lifespans of 20 to 30 years.