How is a Solar Roof Different from traditional solar panels?

Tesla’s Solar Roof is an innovative system of specially engineered roofing tiles or shingles. Unlike conventional solar PV panels mounted onto an existing roof, a solar roof is a direct replacement for existing roof coverings.

Tesla’s Solar Roof consists of two main types of textured glass tile shingles. The first is purely decorative and is termed “inactive.” These look exactly the same as the second kind, called “Active”, to ensure a uniform look of the finished roof. The “Active” shingles are effectively small, shingle-sized solar panels that are integrated into the main roof surface strategically to maximize their efficiency. In most cases, most of the south or west-facing areas of a roof will consist of “Active” shingles, with the rest of the surface consisting of visually similar “Inactive” shingles.

Tesla’s Solar Roof tiles are tempered glass and as a result, are three times stronger than conventional roofing materials. One of the benefits of this material is its fire resistance, which makes it an ideal choice for homes located in wildfire-prone areas, but also provides peace of mind for homeowners all over the world. Tempered glass, when heated, can form small cracks that relieve stress and prevent the glass from shattering into thousands of pieces.