Tesla recently announced Australian pre-orders for its solar roof, with installations starting in 2018. The idea is superb and will make your house hi-tech – replace the roof of your house with solar tiles that look good, generate power and are even more durable than any existing options. But in the real world, is it worth your money?
As of present, Tesla has not announced any specific Australian pricing, aside from the $130 reservation cost. This makes it hard to accurately compare the existing roof market in Australia. What you need to do is use the United States pricing, as well as some reasonable expectations about how the price will change in Australia.
In the United States, Tesla has a calculator that helps homeowners estimate the size and cost of replacing their roof. Australians don’t have access to it, but Tesla has suggested that homeowners can expect to pay around US$21.85/square foot for the solar roof fully installed. Also, there are 2 types of tile, one with solar and ones without. The price also includes 35% of the tiles as the active power generating type.
The tiles are backed by a 30-year warranty, which is more about the solar which degrades in output over time than the panels themselves which are made of tough glass.