April 18, 2017 | By RGR Marketing Blog

Will Tesla’s Solar Roof Be the Disruption That Changes the Solar Game?

According to Business Insider and a host of other digital and print sources, the Tesla solar roof will not only have a sleeker look than conventional rooftop residential solar, but it may even cost less than having a conventional roof put on in the first place, too.

This begs the question for many – will Tesla’s innovation, which relies on some in-house technology as well as technological developments from both Panasonic and recently acquired SolarCity, be the ultimate disruption that changes the traditional solar game for good?

If you work in solar power design, manufacturing, sales, or installation, the answer to that question can have very serious ramifications for your business and for your livelihood. In this post, we look into the product(s) that are likely to hit the market soon, the pricing as Tesla is currently estimating it, and the various ways current solar installers might prepare for the product launch, address the subject as it comes up in the sales process, and play in a changed landscape that includes the solar roof.

The Solar Product(s) Are Coming to Market

More in line with current practices in the roofing materials industry than current practices in the solar industry, Tesla will be producing multiple types of roofing tiles for differing aesthetic purposes.

The first four materials will resemble French slate roofing, Italian terracotta tile roofing, and two types of glass material. All of the tiles will hide the embedded solar cells so that the complete roof will look aesthetically pleasing when viewed from the ground, but will capture as much or more sunlight than traditional rooftop solar panels.

The Price of Tesla’s New Solar Roof Products

While no pricing has been released to the public at this time, Elon Musk (Tesla’s CEO) has stated publicly that the cost of a Tesla solar roof would be in keeping with the cost of a contemporary conventional roof, once the energy savings has been accounted for.

Tesla is also planning to change the landscape of solar power system sales by offering the roofing material and installation to consumers with straightforward financing as a home improvement endeavor, similar to the way that a new furnace or tank-less water heater would be financed and become a part of the home. Details on the financing are still forthcoming.

Unpacking the Potential Opportunity for Solar Installers

How is this an opportunity for those currently working in solar power that may or may not be able to sell or install the Tesla products—presuming that SolarCity (acquired by Tesla last fall for just over two billion dollars) does not retain exclusive sale, distribution, and installation rights for the products?

The new solar roofing material, if it looks as good and costs as little as Tesla has intimated, will still not be a perfect fit for homeowners looking for less of a system or for less of an investment. Additionally, many potential consumers will not be on the market for a new roof for several years after the products are launched, more than enough time for other players in the industry to come up with alternative, competitive products.

Contact Us

Get started with free* leads.
Call us at 310-540-8900
Don’t take our word for it—find out for yourself how good our leads are and what a difference working with us can make.
Call us at 310-540-8900 or fill out the form below and we’ll tell you how you can get high quality leads for free*.
I authorize ReallyGreatRate, Inc. to communicate with me via email.
* Get up to 10% free leads on your first order!

Let's talk

Start making more money today

Mortgage

Solar

Home Improvement

  • I authorize ReallyGreatRate, Inc. to communicate with me via email.