During my recent trip to the sunny state of Florida, I pondered the reality of subdivision after subdivision covered in terracotta tile roofs. The thought occurred to my sun scorched brain that Florida, California and many southwestern states would be a perfect environment for solar tile roofing technology. I took up the search for a product that integrates solar cells into the actual tiles of the roof – foregoing the use of boxy, obtrusive, traditional solar panels and conforming to the pervasive roofing style. I unearthed a partnership between two companies, California-based, US Tile, and SRS Energy, that has developed Solé Power Tile.
The Solé Power Tile system is designed to seamlessly integrate with US Tile’s traditional curved, clay roofing tiles, while incorporating advanced photovoltaic technology into the new tile’s design.
Sole Power tiles are made with polymers specifically engineered for roofing applications. SRS Energy states that the tiles have been tested under harsh conditions for durability, including long-term UV stability, color fastness, wind resistance (hurricanes?), electrical output, safety, and extreme mechanical stresses. Though embedded with cutting-edge solar technology, the Solé Power Tiles ship and install like traditional clay tile roofing (US Tile needs to do the installation). The tiles can be integrated into an existing US Tiles roof as an upgrade, or installed in either replacement or new roof construction.
The photovoltaic tiles measure 37.4″ wide X 18″ long, with each section consisting of 30 tiles per 100 square-feet (each 30 tile square weighs 240 lbs per). A 100 square foot section will produce 860 KWh annually with an average of 5.8 peak sun hours per day. You need an inverter to convert the DC power to AC.
The system incorporates triple-junction amorphous solar cells produced by UNI-SOLAR. The designers claim the technology outperforms traditional, roof-mounted solar panels in harsh roofing environments. The thin-film cells are engineered for superior performance under high heat and dynamic lighting conditions. The Solé Power Tile is warranted to generate electricity at a rate of 80 percent of capacity for a period of 20 years. The companies purport that the system requires less time than conventional solar panels to offset the amount of energy expended in the production process.
The product is currently being launched by US Tile in California and will roll-out nationwide in 2010. The solar tiles appear to qualify for federal tax credits of up to 30% of cost.
Don’t have a clay tile roof? We’ll be posting on solar shingles, soon.
related: alternative energy
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