Energy generated from solar roof shingles can provide electricity to residential houses as well as commercial buildings. Power can either be consumed right away or be channeled back to the power grid.

There are a few configurations you can implement with solar roof shingles. You may build an off-grid system, an intertie (grid-tied) system or have a hybrid design. Implementing an intertie system will save you the most money. These setups require the least resources and require minimal maintenance.

With off-grid and hybrid systems, you have to buy several batteries and a charge controller. These components cost a lot and you have to schedule regular preventive maintenance to keep it performing at an optimum level.

The electrical system for installing solar roof shingles is similar to traditional solar panel setups. The only difference for solar roof shingles is how the PV panels themselves are connected.

Many solar shingles measure 12 x 86 inches and can be mounted directly on the roofing. After installation, they have an approximate area of 5 x 86 inches exposed to the sun. Different solar roof shingles require different mounting requirements. Some can be intermixed with normal asphalt shingles while others require special procedures to do so.

Old solar shingle models are more expensive to install. However those panels could be cheaper as manufacturers may want to move their inventory to accommodate new models.

Even though solar roof shingles are more expensive than conventional PV panels (in terms of dollars per watt), there are several advantages you can enjoy. These include:

• Visual appeal

Roof solar shingles are visually appealing and blend in with standard roof shingles. Therefore they can preserve the aesthetics of a home.

• No need for additional materials during installation

Each solar roof shingle replaces the roofing material and provides protection for the home. This is because they are as tough and can be as durable as asphalt shingles. There is also no need to buy solar mounts or engage specialized labor to lay solar roof tiles. This keeps installation cost low.

Before you build a solar shingles roof, you may want to use a solar pathfinder to identify shading risks on each position of your rooftop. This is because you must position solar shingles in shade-free positions in order to get the most bang for your buck.

Ideally, solar shingles are mounted on a south-facing roof. If such location cannot be found, you may want to consider alternatives and use different techniques to optimize the power supply from your solar generator.

In case you are confused or lost at any point in time, you can always get help from a solar professional who can help you along for a small fee.

There are some big-name manufacturers you’ll want to check out as you do your research. These include Dow Chemical, (Ecotech) ecotechshingles.com, SunPower Corporation, U.S. Green Energy Corporation, United Solar Ovonic (Uni-Solar), Solar Components Corporation and Atlantis Energy Systems.

Continue Reading:

1. Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities
2. Solar Shingles — What Are These?
3. Solar Panel Installation

These flexible panels are made into shingles and can be installed on roofs. This technology is known as building-integrated photovoltics (or BIPVs).

BIPVs can replace the boxy solar panels we know today. Instead of using rigid glass and aluminum frames, we can now integrate photovoltaic material on the surface of construction materials.

When engineers first presented this technology to the world, consumers were concerned about its reliability. However this type of solar shingles are easy to install and can last at least 25 years.

Regardless of rain, hail or harsh ultraviolet radiation, both the solar film and substrate continues to function.

The most important aspect of this technological breakthrough lies in the manufacturing process. Engineers are hopeful about finding a cost-effective process to reduce the cost of solar energy to less than $1 per watt of power.

This will be quite competitive compared to the rate (per kilowatt-hour) that a utility would charge.  Hopefully this can be an important catalyst to create a widespread use of residential solar panels.

Currently there are 2 major factors that prevent homeowners from installing PV panels on their property:

1. Cost

It is quite expensive to install a full-scale solar power system on your property. You need to incur at least $25,000 and systems that cost $70,000 (and more) are not unheard of. Even with rebates, you still have to pay several thousands of dollars upfront.

Thankfully solar panels require little maintenance. If you install the correct type of PV panels for your house, the upfront payment is about all you have to cough out.

This is good for people who use a lot of energy since oil prices is set for a long-term increase. Your solar power generator can help you hedge against the risk of  (ever) increasing utility cost.

2. Complexity of Installation

Installing PV panels on roofs is not a straightforward job. It requires special skills. Thus the cost of solar installation is not cheap.

On the other hand, most contractors will know how to lay solar shingles on roofs. As long as they overlap the shingles correctly, they’ll work. It is also quite impossible to make mistakes that cannot be remedied in a short time.

With flexible solar shingles, home owners can have the opportunity to install solar panels on their roofs without the exorbitant cost and complex installation.

Continue Reading:

1. Insider Solar Power Generator Review: 3 Most Common Mistakes Hobbyists Make on Their First DIY Solar Panel Project
2. Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities
3. Solar Shingles — What Are These?

Solar Shingles

At one glance, solar shingles look exactly like common asphalt shingles, except for their deep-blue tinted surface. These cleverly designed solar panels can blend into the roof of any house. Therefore they can integrate into any architectural design easily.

Solar panel shingles are made by integrating a layer of special thin film photovoltaic cell onto pieces of roofing material. These types of solar cells are more durable than the usual photovoltaic materials used on conventional solar panels. Hence they do not need to be protected by a glass covering.

Solar shingles serve the dual function of sheltering the home (from wind and precipitation) and producing solar power for the household. This type of roof can withstand up to 130 mph of wind-driven rain. Needless to say, they are aesthetically pleasing so they make the best materials that a solar powered home can have.

There is, however, a downside to this material. Solar radiation tends to heat them up quickly for roofing materials retains heat pretty well. This threatens the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells to drop. Therefore the roof requires a well-ventilated under-decking to remove excess heat.

To install these shingles, you have to connect them together as you lay them on the roof while interlocking them. Heat-activated Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is used to keep them together so that they can withstand strong winds without shifting. As the sun heats up the roof, each solar shingle is bonded to adjacent ones.

While they look pretty, solar panel shingles are generally more expensive than common solar panels. Each solar shingle is estimated to cost about $12 per watt. (Each shingle produces between 13 to 17 watts of electricity, depending on the brand.) That means a piece of 13-watt shingle probably cost consumers about $156. This is a little above the average household budget.

Fortunately, while we have to pay more for solar shingles, their payback period is only between five to seven years. This is an obvious contrast to normal solar panels that often take more than a decade to payback. In this light, the advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages.

Each shingle is also expected to work for at least 20 years. And manufacturers often provide a 5-year warranty on their product. Therefore owners will possibly have about 13 to 15 years to enjoy the rewards of their investment.

On average, a roof fully installed with solar panel shingles is expected to provide more energy than necessary during the summer. The excess energy flows back to the grid and you may even get paid for your contribution, depending on your state’s legislation.

As the demand for solar shingles increase, there will be more competition and this may drive the price down. Soon the average household may be able to install this on their roof. By then, solar shingles will probably be so common that solar panels will probably be considered old fashion.

Continue Reading:

1. Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities
2. Solar Panel Battery — The Basics
3. Do-It-Yourself Solar Panels – Electricity Conversion From Sunlight