Tesla’s Solar Roof is the new way to power your home with solar power

These glass shingles double as solar panels

These glass shingles double as solar panels

On October 28th, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk unveiled a new solar roof tile made of glass that looks far better than any similar product yet created. The company hopes that its attractive look will entice more homeowners to go solar. It comes in four different styles: terra cotta, slate, textured glass, and smooth glass, all of which were demonstrated on the rooftops of the houses featured in the US TV drama Desperate Housewives in Los Angeles. These tiles are basically mini-solar cells covered in a durable glass coating to protect them from the elements and work like thousands of little solar panels all hooked together.

The manufacturer of these tiles is the company SolarCity, in which Musk is also the chairman and the main shareholder. These solar tiles, in combination with Powerwall, Tesla’s long-lasting home battery, can offer the consumer the energy supply needed to power a home in a fossil fuel-free way. “This is sort of the integrated future. An electric car, a Powerwall and a solar roof. The key is it needs to be beautiful, affordable and seamlessly integrated,” Musk said while showcasing the new product.

The exact cost has not yet been announced, but according to the company’s website, it will cost less than a conventional roof with solar panels. Additionally, according to Musk, the shingles would be more durable and have better insulation qualities than conventional roofing. The rollout of the product is expected as soon as next summer.

Source: The Guardian