Solar Roof Tiles vs Panels: Costs, Installation and ROI

Solar Roof Tiles vs Panels: Costs, Installation and ROI I. A conventional solar array sits above the roof. Solar roof tiles become part of it. That change matters to the whole project team. The architect gains a cleaner roofline. The roofing contractor takes on electrical interfaces. The photovoltaic EPC—engineering, procurement, and construction—provider must coordinate power generation with a weather-resistant building envelope. Solar roof tiles are roofing units that contain photovoltaic cells and replace part of the conventional roof covering. They are a form of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV): solar products that also perform a building function. The U.S. Department of Energy’s explanation of building-integrated solar makes this distinction clear. Integration means replacing […]