Solar Roofs Cost Twice as Much as Traditional Solar Panels

Solar roof tiles can cost twice as much as traditional mounted panels while requiring complex coordination among roofers, electricians, and solar installers. While small manufacturers like the Swiss company Freesuns expand operations and report sales growth between 20% and 30% since 2019, structural hurdles continue to limit wider market adoption.

Custom Designs and Regulations Increase Solar Roof Costs

Solar roof components are typically manufactured in smaller batches, which restricts economies of scale and standardisation. Deborah Learoyd, Freesuns’ CEO and managing director, explained that much of the expense stems from individual architectural differences. A lot of the cost is actually the fact that every roof is a little bit different, Learoyd said, adding that each project requires unique engineering and installation.

Building regulations for integrated solar roofs are significantly more complex than those for standard photovoltaic panels. This added administrative burden impacts contractor schedules. Collardson noted the operational friction, stating that roofing contractors often find the prolonged process economically unviable compared to standard jobs. You try to put a roofer into the equation and they’re going, ‘This is taking forever. I’m losing money. I could have sold 10 roofing jobs in the time that it takes me to sell this one,’ Collardson explained.

Technical Constraints Complicate Solar Shingle Repairs

Repairing damaged solar shingles presents distinct technical hurdles compared to conventional panel arrays. Traditional photovoltaic setups feature accessible electronics on the panels alongside mapping systems that pinpoint exact generation failures. Solar shingles lack space underneath for such electronics, meaning technicians must rely on thermal cameras to locate trouble spots.

Accessing faulty tiles also carries inherent risks of causing further structural damage. Collardson pointed out the physical constraints of array maintenance. You can remove the one in the middle of the array, but you have to walk on the others, and you really shouldn’t walk on them because you’re going to create micro-fractures and that’s going to cause issues down the road, Collardson said. Consequently, repairing solar shingles commands higher service charges than standard photovoltaic maintenance.