Installing Shingles

Solar shingles , also called photovoltaic shingles , are photovoltaic cells designed to look like conventional asphalt shingles. There are several varieties of solar shingles, including shingle-sized solid panels that take the place of a number of conventional shingles in a strip, semi-rigid designs containing several silicon solar cells that are sized more like conventional shingles, and newer systems using various thin film solar cell technologies that match conventional shingles both in size and flexibility. Solar shingles are manufactured by companies including SunPower Corporation, Solar Components Corporation, Atlantis Energy Systems, and Dow Chemical.

History

Solar shingles were first released in 2005. In a 2009 interview with Reuters, a spokesperson for the Dow Chemical Company estimated that their entry into the solar shingle market would generate $5 billion in revenue by 2015 and $10 billion by 2020.

Description

Solar shingles are photovoltaic cells, capturing sunlight and transforming it into energy. Most solar shingles are 12 inches wide. by 86 inches long and can be stapled directly to the roofing cloth. When applied they have 5 inches of exposed area. Different models of shingles have different mounting requirements. Some can be applied directly onto roofing felt intermixed with regular asphalt shingles while others may need special installation.

Appearance

Solar shingled roofs have a deep, dark, purplish-blue color, and therefore look similar to other roofs in most situations. Home-owners may be drawn to solar shingles because of their aesthetic value, allowing the homeowner to utilize solar power without large panels on their roofs. Some manufacturers produce solar shingles made of POLYMATRIX. These shingles integrate well into existing roofs and are even compliant to some countries’ historic preservation rules.

Conversion

All photovoltaic power is produced in the form of direct current (DC). Homes use alternating current (AC). Therefore part of the cost of installation of solar shingles is the price of an inverter to make the conversion.

Energy storage

The most inexpensive way to install solar shingles is to use the grid as a backup source of electricity. Backup storage, in the form of batteries, is expensive, adds complexity to the installation, and is uneconomic in any large scale. Battery backup units require an array of additional hardware. This includes batteries, battery enclosures, battery charge controllers, and separate sub panels for critical load circuits.

Cost

Older solar shingle designs were more expensive to install than traditional PV panels, but new, more efficient designs such as thin-film copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells can be installed in 10 hours, compared with the 22 to 30 hours required for the installation of traditional panels. The lower cost of installation dramatically reduces the cost of solar power implementation.

Large homebuilders in California like Lennar are partnering with SunPower to offer new construction solar homes that have solar systems installed prior to moving in. Reducing the overhead and using solar roof tile technology makes solar a standard option like granite countertops, making solar an affordable solution to reduce electricity costs.

See also

• Building-integrated photovoltaics
• Energy development
• Green technology
• Solar energy

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Goldstein, Matthew (2009-10-05). "Dow to sell solar shingle, sees huge market" . http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idAFN0536825520091005?rpc=44 . Retrieved date=2009-10-08 .  
2. ^ Solar Shingles
3. ^
4. ^ Lennar Goes Solar in Sacramento

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