- Solar roof tiles work just the same as solar panels
- Modern tiles are sleek and subtle, but more expensive than solar panels
- Solar roof tiles have an efficiency rating of between 10% and 23%
- Solar panel efficiency is usually between 18% and 25%
Ergosun solar roof tiles can be hard to spot – credit: TBS Specialist Products
Solar roof tiles are slightly different to other types of solar technology as they blend seamlessly with your roof while providing your home with green electricity.
This makes them the perfect match for people who want to benefit from cheaper energy bills and renewable energy, but don’t like the look of solar panels.
As solar roof tiles are a more niche product, available in different variations to match your roof, and installing them means re-tiling your roof, they are more expensive to buy and install than solar panels.
But are they as efficient as regular solar panels? That depends. In some instances, solar roof tiles can even outperform solar panels (but more on that later).
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about solar roof tiles, including how much they cost, where you can get them in the UK and the best brands to look out for.
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Get startedWhat are solar roof tiles?
Just like solar panels, solar roof tiles convert sunlight into electricity, but they’re made to look just like traditional roof tiles. Some models are actual roof tiles with integrated solar cells.
Because traditional solar panels are quite bulky and need to be mounted directly on top of your existing roof, some people are put off by their appearance. They can also contrast with the colour and texture of existing roofing materials, such as clay tiles or natural slates. That’s where solar roof tiles come in.
As Chris Hall, director of TBS Specialist Products told The Eco Experts, “wherever you can install a roof tile, you can install a solar tile”.
Solar tiles were invented for people who wanted a more subtle solar-powered home – and are prepared to pay more for these products.
However, unlike solar panels, you can’t just swap out a couple of roofing tiles here or there to install a solar tile roof. You need to replace the whole thing.
For this reason, those considering getting solar roof tiles are often advised to wait until your existing roof is at the end of its life. They are also an excellent choice for anyone building their home from scratch.
Since you’re installing a new roof anyway, why not get one that can repay your investment?
Ergosun solar roof tiles – credit: TBS Specialist Products
Should I buy solar roof tiles?
If you want to benefit from solar power for your home but would love to preserve the aesthetics of a tiled roof, solar roof tiles might be the way to go. Sometimes called “invisible solar,” solar tiles are also a great option for solar power upgrades to listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas.
They are also fantastic for complex roofs with cross-gables, dormer windows, sloped gables, and other non-standard pitched roofs.
In most cases, using solar tiles allows for much larger solar installations (in terms of area) than traditional solar panels.
With more and more solar tiles coming onto the market, the problem at the moment is that there are far fewer qualified and experienced installers out there than there are for conventional solar panels.
While this shouldn’t put you off, it is important to consider the lead time between an installer providing you with a quote, and your solar roof tiles being up and operational – particularly if you are considering solar tiles as part of a larger renovation project where timing is critical.
Depending on the make and model, solar tiles come in various colours and materials, with suppliers offering options to suit different roof designs.
They are best suited to new home-building projects, or for tiling roofs that are already in need of re-tiling.
If you have a relatively new roof and are looking to make the switch to solar power, conventional solar panels will be more cost-effective.
Chris from TBS says that only about 10% of their installs are retrofits for existing homes, with the other 90% for new builds.
You usually won’t need planning permission for solar tiles.
Your tiles will not protrude more than 20 cm from your roof, so they’ll almost certainly fall under the ‘permitted development’ category of home improvements.
The only exceptions are if your home is a listed building or in a conservation area.
As far as cleaning goes, you won’t need to, unless you live in a particularly dry and dusty environment. The rain will keep solar tiles clean enough to keep operating efficiently, according to most manufacturers.
The one bit of maintenance you should do is make sure to keep your solar tiles clear of any debris, such as branches or leaves. And if you do feel you need to clean them, you should hose your roof down from the ground.
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Get solar powerHow much do solar roof tiles cost?
An average of 3.5 kW solar roof tile system will cost you £9,500.
| House size | Solar PV system size | Cost of solar tiles |
|---|---|---|
One-bedroom flat | 1 kW | £8,050 |
1-2 bedroom house | 2 kW | £9,900 |
3 bedroom house | 3.5 kW | £13,000 |
4+ bedroom house | 5 kW | £16,100 |
Information last updated in July 2024.
By contrast, on average, 3.5kW worth of solar panels will set you back £7,026. But remember, you are also getting a new roof with your solar tiles, so direct price comparison is slightly misleading.
To give you some idea, the average cost to replace a roof in the UK is £5,500. If you’re looking at roofing with solar tiles, you could spend anywhere between £3,000 and £18,000.
But the cost is only part of the story. Remember that solar tiles are effectively little solar panels that will generate electricity and eventually pay for themselves from the savings you’ll make on your energy bills.
Edilians solar roof tile installation – credit TBS Specialist Products
Are solar roof tiles better than solar panels?
Are you wondering whether you should buy solar panels or solar tiles? Let’s take a quick look.
Advantages of solar roof tiles
✔ Sleek and subtle.
The biggest advantage of solar tiles is their stylish appearance. With solar panels on your roof, it’s usually pretty obvious that they’re up there – for some people, this is a good thing (“look at me, I’ve gone solar”), but for others, subtlety is key. Solar tiles give you renewable energy without blowing your cover.
✔ No glass: no glare.
Another benefit of most solar tiles is that they produce little to no glare. This is because rather than using glass, they typically have a mineral coating instead. This also enables most of them to continue producing electricity in low light when traditional solar panels can suffer.
✔ They don’t get too hot.
Solar tiles are typically integrated into a regular roof tile, like a concrete tile. These tiles act like heat sinks, meaning the PV elements of the tile don’t get excessively hot (and therefore become less efficient) compared to traditional solar panels. This setup also means birds can’t nest behind the solar tiles, which can be a disadvantage of conventional panels.
✔ Ideal for listed buildings and complex roof forms. If you’re lucky enough to live in a listed property (or within a conservation area), you might not be allowed to mess with the appearance of your home. Fortunately, solar tiles are a great way to keep the switch to solar sneaky (but please consult your local authority before proceeding).
✔ Smaller unit size. Easier to cover more of the available roof space, especially on complex roof shapes, around dormers or Velux windows, where you would struggle to fit traditional large modules.
✔ More durable.
Solar tiles are tough as nails – Tesla’s, for example, are up to three times tougher than traditional tiles – so they’ll give your roof some serious protection. When the hail gets hard, or the storms get serious, your tiles will face it all with grit and resilience. Tesla even dropped a kettlebell on their solar tile to prove its strength, but we’re hoping airborne kettlebells aren’t a peril your roof has to face. They are also easier to replace. If a few tiles break for any reason, they can be switched out like-for-like, like replacing damaged roof tiles or slates.
Disadvantages of solar roof tiles
✘ Very expensive. As mentioned, solar tiles generally cost more than solar panels. But you are also getting a new roof and improved aesthetics.
✘ Low efficiency. Solar tiles look great but can be less efficient. The efficiency of solar tiles tends to range between 10% and 20%, although some models approach the best solar panels, topping out at around 23%. For comparison, traditional solar panels generally achieve 18-25% efficiency.
✘ Long installation time. Of course, replacing a whole roof takes far longer than just sticking on a few solar panels, which significantly adds to the total cost, and a larger number of workers may be needed to do the job. According to Tesla, most installations take five to seven business days to complete.
How efficient are solar tiles?
Solar roof tiles typically have an efficiency rating of around 10% to 23%, making them, on average, less efficient than typical solar panels, which are 18% to 25% efficient. Chris from TBS Specialist Products told us that his company typically installs monocrystalline wafers with an efficiency of 21.8%, which he says is within 5% of the best-performing wafer worldwide. Unfortunately, solar tile manufacturers don’t always publish the efficiency ratings of their tiles, so it can be hard to compare them.
There are cases where solar tiles are much more efficient than panels. The first is shading from trees or buildings, which can temporarily dramatically reduce the overall efficiency of traditional solar panel installations.
As Chris from TBS Specialist Products explained, this can be a serious problem.
“If you have a solar panel installation of two by seven panels,14 in total. If one or two of the panels suffer from a 50% drop in efficiency from shading, the entire system is reduced to this performance,” he explained.
“This isn’t a problem with solar tiles as they act like individual small solar panels independent of others. This is because they come with integral bypass diodes which act as individual optimizers, meaning while some are shaded, the rest will continue to perform optimally,” he added.
Solar tiles need a pitch angle above 14-15 degrees (depending on the tile), so they are unsuitable for flat roofs.
Whilst solar panels usually have the same limitation, as they are usually installed parallel to the existing roof, they can be angled using frames on flat roofs or ground installations. This isn’t possible with solar tiles.
Solar roof tiles can last 25 to 30 years, which is around the same lifespan as solar panels. They are very durable and can sometimes be stronger than regular roof tiles, so it’s unlikely that they will break.
Close-up of an Ergosun solar roof tile – credit TBS Specialist Products
Are solar roof tiles more expensive than solar panels?
Solar tiles are generally more expensive than solar panels because they are individually manufactured, less widely-produced and operate in a slightly less competitive market than solar panels.
Unlike traditional solar panels, solar tiles double up as a roof covering or roof tile replacement, so they will naturally be more expensive than bolting solar panels onto an existing roof.
Solar tiles also require a longer, more complex installation, installed by roofers rather than PV installers, increasing costs. If it’s an existing roof rather than a new build, the work includes stripping tiles and installing new ones, so it’s not surprising that it would cost significantly more than installing solar panels.
Where do you want to install solar panels?
Get startedAre solar roof tiles available in the UK?
Yes, solar tiles are available in the UK, but there are only a few companies that provide them.
These include GB-SOL, which creates blue solar slates in Wales, and Solecco Solar, which is based in Leeds.
Solar roof tile options in the UK
Here are your options when it comes to installing a solar roof in the UK.
Tyle
This newcomer to the solar market is located in the capital, and charges London prices.
A three-bedroom household can expect to pay £19,995 for a 3.6kW system.
Each grey tile generates 100 W, and comes with a market-standard product warranty of 10 years and performance warranty of 25 years.
XO Edge
London-based XO Edge says it can install its sleek-looking black and silver tiles on your roof within eight weeks of purchase.
Each tile generates 12 W, and you’ll need around 13 tiles per square metre. You need 6.5 square metres of roof (84 tiles) per kW of energy generated.
Marley SolarTile
Marley describes its product as a tile, but it’s really just a solar panel that’s integrated with your roof, so it’s flush with your roof tiles.
Each tile generates 335W at an efficiency of 20.7%, making it a decent but average solar panel.
The company offers a 15-year product warranty, which isn’t bad, and a 25-year performance warranty that also isn’t pulling up any trees.
If you desperately want panels to be inserted into part of your roof in place of tiles, choose Marley.
Solar roof tiles come in a variety of colours and shapes – credit TBS Specialist Products
GB-SOL solar tiles
GB-SOL, located in Pontypridd, Wales, sells solar tiles in just the one style – “natural blue” slate, to complement a slate roof.
They’re lighter than traditional tiles (just 3.5kg per slate), which means you could replace your roof without having to strengthen your property’s structure.
A GB-SOL solar slate can generate 28 W of power, and has a 25-year warranty on the product, its solar performance, and its weatherproofing abilities.
The tiles sell for £294 per square metre, which adds up to £8,449 for a 4 kW system – though that’s without installation, which will typically add another £2,200. That means you’ll pay a total cost of £10,649.
Solecco Solar
Solecco Solar, based in Leeds, manufactures and sells solar tiles for £3000/kW, which means that a 4kW system will cost you £12,000.
It also usually costs an additional £1,000 to have the tiles installed, according to the company.
Though its product is more expensive than some, Solecco Solar does offer tiles in eight different colours, from smooth grey to terracotta and old English dark red.
And if you don’t need or want to buy solar tiles to cover your whole roof, you can purchase the company’s identical (and cheaper) non-solar tiles to make up the difference.
Tesla solar tiles
Just as Tesla made electric cars look cool, they’ve made solar tiles that are understated and appealing. But they’re not yet available to be installed in the UK.
California’s clean-energy aficionados have created their own solar tiles, built with Panasonic photovoltaic cells. Elon Musk announced the new product on the set of Desperate Housewives in late 2016.
The tiles are extremely tough (up to three-times stronger than a traditional roof tile), available in four styles (Textured, Smooth, Slate, or Tuscan), and they have an ‘infinite’ warranty. If you want them, you just have to wait a while (and pay a lot).
However, they require a long installation time, boarding of the rafters to an existing roof, and other bespoke works (like flashing) on site. They are, in effect, a bit of a different beast from other solar tile products. However, Tesla also sells a high-performing solar battery called the Tesla Powerwall that integrates with the tiles.
Solar roof tiles are great for more complex roofs. Image courtesy of TBS Specialist Products.
Edilians solar tiles
Edilians make two types of solar tiles, called SolarMax and HP 10 solar. The SolarMax have an aluminium casing and are larger, fitting two per square metre, while the HP10 have a clay support and fit five per square metre. Both are available in either slate or red colours
The company historically exclusively manufactured regular roof tiles but was commissioned by the European Commission to develop a solar tile system. One of the first installs in the UK was in 2002, and they are still going strong.
Ergosun
An example of an Ergosun solar roof tile installation – credit TBS Specialist Products
Ergosun Solar Roof Tiles were among the first commercially available solar roof tiles, backn 2011. Designed by an engineer in Derbyshire, they have since been installed across three continents.
They are large-format roof tiles that can have grey or terracotta colour-matched solar PV modules installed to give the most discreet solar array available.
As the module is matt finished and only 3.6mm thick, the resulting finish makes it almost invisible. As a result, they have been installed in the Peak District National Park and even on a Grade I-listed building in London.
Are Tesla solar roof tiles available in the UK?
Tesla solar roof tiles aren’t currently available in the UK, and it’s unclear when, if at all, the first UK installations are going to happen.
They were initially expected to be available in mid-2018, but this was pushed back to 2019, and more recently to 2023, so it’s unclear if they will ever be available.
If Tesla solar roofs become available, the company has said they will cost $21.85 (£17.23) per square foot. That’s equivalent to $235.12 (£185.37) per square metre.
Based on this, here are the expected costs of a Tesla solar roof:
Size of home | Cost of Tesla solar roof |
|---|---|
1,500 ft² | £27,500 |
2,000 ft² | £36,700 |
2,500 ft² | £46,000 |
3,000 ft² | £55,100 |
Information updated in March 2024
However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk admitted in 2021 that the cost to consumers could be two or three times higher than Tesla’s initial estimate, according to Verge – five years after he initially unveiled the tiles.
Next steps
You should now have all the information you need to decide whether to buy solar roof tiles or solar panels.
In terms of value for money, solar panels are the clear winner, producing more solar electricity at a lower cost – which means you’ll break even on your solar investment sooner.
To find the best solar panel prices for your home, fill in this quick form, and our trusted installers will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare.
