✔ Tesla has solar systems on 480,000 roofs
✔ A Tesla Solar Roof typically saves you £291 per year
✔ Fill in the form at the top of this page to receive solar panel quotes
Tesla, it turns out, is more than just fancy cars. But are Tesla’s solar panel prices justified by their quality? Let’s find out.
If you’re after more affordable (and just as efficient) solar panels or need a list of the 12 best solar panel installers in the UK, we can help.
Use our quick comparison tool to receive free solar panel quotes and find the best deal for you. All you have to do is fill out a few simple questions about your property, and we’ll get you in touch with our suppliers.
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Does Tesla manufacture solar panels?
Tesla installs both solar panels and solar roof tiles. Although the company isn’t exactly transparent about this on its website, it doesn’t manufacture solar panels but, instead, supplies and installs them.
For a while, the tech giant partnered with Panasonic to create its solar cells, but this partnership came to a close in 2019. With Panasonic out of the picture, Tesla is now working with a company called Hanwha to manufacture its solar panels.
If you’re looking to buy some of these panels, expect sleek, all-black slabs, with a 25-year warranty.
Tesla solar panels can be purchased as a standalone product, or can be bundled with Powerwall, their storage battery system.
Does Tesla manufacture solar tiles?
As well as traditional solar panels, Tesla also supplies solar tiles, which blend into your roof seamlessly.
Whilst the Tesla website insists that the company creates solar tiles in its factory in Buffalo, New York, there has been a lot of scepticism around this claim. In fact, in a bid to figure out how accurate this claim is, PV Magazine looked into the tiles’ origins and found that they were shipped from China.
Interested in buying solar roof tiles? Check out our Guide to Solar Roof Tiles, and find out everything you need to know.
How good are Tesla solar panels?
Tesla currently installs Hanwha Q CELLS’ Peak Duo Black solar panels – more specifically, the Q.Peak Duo Blk-G6+ modules – which are not exclusive to Tesla.
This specific model that Tesla uses has an ‘up to 19.5%’ efficiency rating – a pretty average figure, which doesn’t quite match some of the best solar panels on the market, which have efficiency ratings of around 22%.
However, if you’re searching for aesthetically pleasing panels, Hanwha might be the way to go. The panel’s sleek black body has no visible gridlines, and its concealed edges make it blend into the roof nicely.
Plus, Tesla’s mounting hardware uses 30% fewer anchor points on the roof, compared to a traditional installation, making the solar panels less prominent.
An additional feature that many solar panel owners will find useful is Tesla’s smart solar inverter, which has Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity. This means it can easily integrate with Tesla Powerwall and the Tesla app, and users can manage their solar system from anywhere in the world.
Where do you want to install solar panels?
Get startedWant to get a better idea of what it’s like to own a set of solar panels? Check out our case study with Shirley Ward – a 73-year-old retired office worker, based in North Yorkshire.
Shirley has a 2.4 kW solar array and a Solax battery, and managed to break even on the system in 10 years. Despite electricity prices increasing around the world, Shirley’s panels have brought her energy bills down to £15 a month, instead of £50.
Check out the full interview with Shirley to learn more about solar panels.
Tesla solar roof vs solar panels
Tesla’s Solar Roof and its solar panels are both popular options – although the tiles take up most of the limelight. But what are the pros and cons to them both?
Solar Roof
One of the most attractive qualities of Tesla’s solar tiles is the fact they can blend into the existing roof much better than panels can. Homeowners can choose from four different styles – textured, smooth, Tuscan, or slate – which integrate well with non-solar tiles.
Plus, there is a 25-year warranty on the tiles themselves, the Powerwall battery, and weatherisation (if the tiles get damaged by weather over the years). That said, Solar Roof tiles are pretty durable, since they’re over three times stronger than standard roofing tiles.
Unfortunately, Tesla has not released exact data on the efficiency of the Solar Roof, which makes it difficult to compare against the company’s panels.
Tech website Electrek interviewed homeowners that had recently installed a Tesla Solar Roof, costing a grand total of $83,000 (£60,503), and found that the installation saved them over $400 (£291) during the first few months.
Solar panels
On the other hand, you’ve got Tesla’s solar panels. Whilst they won’t blend in completely with your roof, they still look great on a modern home.
The sleek stretch of panels can be installed on top of existing roofs, and they’re significantly cheaper than Tesla’s Solar Roof – though still expensive, compared to other solar panels on the market.
So, how much energy can these panels generate? Well, their power rating is 425 watts, though their actual output will depend on how much sunlight your panels receive, your roof’s angle, and which way it faces, among other factors.
But on average, a west-facing house in Birmingham will generate 322 kWh per year, according to European Commission data and our calculations.
That means with just one solar panel, you could fully charge a Kia Niro five times.
Similar to Tesla’s solar tiles, the solar panels come with a 25-year warranty, and the inverter has a 12.5-year warranty.
Generally, solar panels are the better option out of the two, since they generate more energy. They’re also more cost-effective, and take up less roof space.
A close up of Tesla’s solar tiles. Photos courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
How long do Tesla solar panels last?
Solar panels usually last between 25-30 years.
Tesla provides warranty coverage on both the workmanship and performance of its solar panels and Solar Roof. You can expect a 10-year comprehensive cover and a 25-year panel performance warranty from Tesla– though the panels might last a little longer than this, just at a less efficient rate.
How much do Tesla solar panels cost?
Tesla doesn’t publish prices on their website, but you can get a cost estimate by going to their website and filling in their quotes form with your address and monthly electricity bill.
According to MarketWatch, a 4.8 kilowatt (kW) solar panel system from Tesla cost around $14,909 (£11,934). This means that Tesla solar panels are more expensive than the average UK cost of solar panels, which is £11,005 for a similar sized system.As for Tesla’s solar tiles, they’ll set you back even more.
Size (in square feet) | Number of floors | kW | Energy storage | Total estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1,000 | Single story | 6.31 | 1 Powerwall | $46,425 (£33,841) |
2,000 | Two-story | 12.57 | 2 Powerwalls | $64,193 (£46,793) |
3,000 | Three-story | 18.83 | 3 Powerwalls | $81,961 (£59,745) |
Data from Forbes, 2021
Clearly, not everyone can afford these solar tiles.
Readers should also bear in mind that these are cost estimates – the real price might be even higher. For example, the New York Times spoke to one customer who received an initial estimate of $60,000 (£43,737) for their roof, but then received a final quote of $112,000 (£81,642).
However, Elon Musk – Tesla’s CEO – states that these prices will pay off in the long run. And since the tiles are three times stronger than normal tiles, you shouldn’t have to deal with many repairs.
To help with the initial cost, users can also look into Tesla’s solar loan system, where they can make monthly loan payments.
A view of Tesla’s sleek solars panels. Photos courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Are Tesla solar panels available in the UK?
Solar Roof and Tesla Solar are currently unavailable in the UK.
Elon Musk tweeted in spring 2019 that Tesla’s solar roofs would reach the UK in summer 2019, but it’s almost 2024 and nothing’s happened yet.
Do you need solar panels before buying a Tesla Powerwall?
Powerwall, the company’s compact battery system, can now be purchased as a standalone product.
Tesla gives customers the option to pair a Powerwall with solar panels, but doesn’t make it mandatory. It does, however, require customers to buy a Powerwall when they purchase its solar tiles. This is particularly useful for when the grid goes down, or if you’re simply generating too much energy to use during the day.
Tesla Powerwall has a 10-year warranty, but this can be reduced if your Powerwall disconnects from the internet for a long period of time, or if you do not register it.
You can also buy additional Powerwall units – but it’ll cost you. The price of a Powerwall (including installation) is around £11,000.
Tesla is keen to point out that its Powerwall has a child and pet-friendly design, with no exposed wires or hot vents, and is water-resistant.
Next steps
Tesla certainly is paving the way into sustainable tech – but the initial price is simply out of reach for many people.
We hope that, over time, Elon will consider more affordable options, and make Tesla’s solar panels and tiles more widely available outside the US.
In the meantime, if you’re after more affordable (and just as efficient, if not more efficient) solar panels, we’re here to help – and there’s never been a better moment to go solar.
You can save hundreds of pounds per year on your energy bills, and 69% of people told our latest National Home Energy Survey that they’d buy a house with solar panels.
You can use our easy comparison tool to receive free solar panel quotes. All you have to do is fill out a few simple questions about your property, and we’ll get you in touch with our suppliers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge my car with Tesla solar?
Yes, you can use a Tesla solar panel system and Powerwall storage battery to charge your electric vehicle (EV). If you have a Tesla EV, it’s easy to create an integrated charging system, since you can use the Tesla app to set charging preferences for your EV.
