Solar Shingles vs. Solar Panels: What You Need to Know
By: Eric Huesca, SEO Content Writer
September 2nd, 2022
Renewable energy comes in many shapes and sizes. Some are large like dams and windmills. Others can be found on homes like solar panels. forms like dams, windmills, solar panels, and other new methods that will use some type of renewable resource. The point of renewable resources is that we won’t run out of it and that it is clean to produce. It’s this renewable resource that’s most accessible to the average home owner. Solar energy has been the go-to renewable energy resource that most homeowners can own for themselves. The technology in solar panels uses sunlight in the silicon cell to produce usable electricity, depending on your system, the energy will be dispersed throughout your home and the excess energy will either go to a battery or back to the grid where you will get credited for that energy.
Solar panels on a 2 story home
Typical solar panels will lay either on your roof, or ground mounted somewhere on your property. Solar shingles is a newer technology that is only available in certain areas that provide them, solar shingles are a shingle replacement so it can look just like regular roofing shingles instead of having large solar panels on the roof but at the cost of efficiency. They are solar roof shingles that can create energy for your home in the same manner a solar panel could.
You would apply for solar shingles the same way you would apply for solar panels for your home making qualifying the same. The tax credit would affect both types of solar installations the same way and both can claim the tax credit during tax season.
Benefits of Solar Panels
Solar panels are the most common type of solar energy resource and have continued to become an investment for homeowners. Solar Panels are a lot cheaper than solar shingles and produce electricity at an efficiency of 22% average compared the 14%-18% efficiency of the solar shingles. The energy production of the solar panels is a lot better than the production of the solar shingles which means you save more money on your utility bill. Solar panels are available in plenty locations around the country as opposed to the solar shingle that is only available in certain areas at the moment. Solar panels can be installed not only on the roof, but you can also ground mount it anywhere on your property which gives the homeowner some flexibility.
- Solar Panels are cheaper than Solar Shingles
- Solar energy efficiency is at 22% – Save more
- Solar Panels are flexible with installation
- Panels are removable
- Solar Panel installations are available in more locations than solar shingles.
- Solar Tax Credits
- Monthly Savings on utility bill
- Ownership or of energy supply
- Increase in equity of the home
- Reduce carbon footprint
Drawbacks of Solar Panels
- Not as aesthetically pleasing as solar shingles
- Only produces that most solar energy when installed facing the sun.
- Shades affect solar panels
- Vulnerable to extreme weather
- Would need a whole panel replace if repair is not an option
Benefits of Solar Singles
Solar shingles provide multiple arrays of benefits, the biggest being the ability to produce solar energy while having the same aesthetics as a regular roof. Some homeowners might need to replace a roof before betting solar installed and getting the solar shingles to replace your regular roofing shingles might be the route to go if you’re planning a replacement. Obtaining solar shingles might be difficult due to only being available in certain locations in the country at the moment. Solar shingles allow you to create solar energy while keeping the look of the roof but the amount of energy you create will be less than if you had solar panels installed. Solar shingles will get the same tax credits that you would with solar panels installed.
- More aesthetically pleasing
- Replaces old shingles
- Produces solar energy at 14-18%
- Projected to be long lasting (30-40 Years)
- Reduce carbon footprint
- Easier to maintain
Drawbacks of Solar Shingles
- Cost 3 or more times the cost of solar panels
- Only produces solar energy at 14-15% while solar panels produce at 22%
- Limited to availability
Differences and Similarities Between Solar Shingles vs Panels
Solar panels on a 2 story home.
The design of the solar shingle is vastly different than the design of a solar panel. A solar shingle is designed to look like regular roofing shingle while a solar panel is flat glass panels that are mounted on the roof or ground spade of your property facing the sun. Both have the ability to produce electrical green energy. However, they both produce this energy at different levels with solar panels being the better producers. Both types of solar will help you save money every month on your utility bill, but a solar panel system will produce more energy thus helping you save more on your bill. Both types of solar have the option to be connected to a battery or the power grid which helps both options become flexible with power plans. Solar panels are much cheaper and more readily available than solar shingles. Both will get the same amount of tax credit. The amount of tax credit you get back for your installation is dependent on the cost of your solar installation.
You can technically remove your solar panels and install them on another home although it is not recommended but you can’t remove the solar single without seeing damage with the integrity of the home. The systems both require about the same amount of maintenance, which is just getting your solar energy system cleaned often.
Price
Solar panels offer good energy production at a fraction of the price of a solar roof. Solar shingles are known to be around three or more times the amount of the cost of solar panels which can be a major deciding factor for the homeowner. It costs more to produce solar shingles because of aesthetical reasons and that sacrifice can be seen on the cost of solar shingles.
Wattage
A typical solar panel will produce around 1400 watts daily from each panel and that amounts to around 520 kilowatt hours a year for one panel. The energy production from a solar shingle is about 80 watts per shingle.
Maintenance
The maintenance on both the solar panel and the solar shingle are about the same, both should be cleaned frequently to have the most optimal system. If any repairs are needed and you are under a warranty, you can have your system repaired equally.
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Solgen Power is a solar energy contractor that sells and installs solar for homeowners. Solgen Power has been recognized by INC. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation. Solgen Power has grown nationwide and continues to provide excellent customer service to homeowners.
