Can Tesla transform home energy consumption forever?
Orders have begun by Tesla in the United States for the ground-breaking new solar roof tiles, a sensational product aiming to completely change the way that we power our houses by turning sunlight into electricity. According to Tesla founder Elon Musk, people could expect their revolutionary solar roofs to be delivered in the United States as soon as the end of 2017.
Musk has always been an enthusiastic advocate of solar power. However, his brand-new solar product has no doubt taken the world by surprise, with his expertise known to be in pioneering fast electric vehicles and the manufacturing of space rockets rather than domestic home improvements. This move shows Musk’s strong intent to deliver a diverse range of products which aim to reach unseen heights in renewable energy, rather than Tesla just considered a big name in car manufacturing. The solar panels have already taken the market by storm, with some experts predicting them to be the catalyst of widespread residential solar adoption.
Tesla has released two of the four options unveiled last year – ‘’Black Glass Smooth’’ and ‘’Textured Black’’ roof tiles. Not only will these aesthetically-pleasing tiles compliment a home according to Tesla’s website, they will also provide a long-term solution to roofing: ‘’Glass solar tiles are so durable they are warrantied for the lifetime of your house, or infinity, whichever comes first.’’
The integrated Powerwall solar system has been one of the talking points of the product, with many people impressed by its increasing self-consumption of solar power generation. Very little has been revealed about the system, but from what we know, the Powerwall batteries will capture solar energy during daylight and self-power your home by night. By utilising the abundant power of the sun, these solar roof panels will reduce the reliance on fossil fuels as a result. This will certainly be a real draw for homeowners, especially for those who have been considering the switchover to solar panels ever since they arrived on the scene.
As expected, the solar panels have come onto the market with a substantial upfront price tag which in the beginning may not seem worthwhile. However, after a few years, homeowners are expected to see a considerable reduction in their electricity bills. To reassure potential customers, Tesla’s online cost calculator allows people to estimate the price of the solar panels and the lifetime savings homeowners would gain by installing them.
Whilst residential solar power saw rapid growth in 2016 according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, it only makes up around one million solar installed homes in the United States. UK homeowners will need to wait a little longer with the launch in other parts of the world rolling out next year. Could Tesla’s ambition lead to a new age in energy?
