Solar panels vs. solar shingles: Know the key differences

Solar shingles and solar panels are both viable ways to power your home with solar energy. The solar shingles vs. solar panels debate usually focuses on aesthetics, but you need to consider other factors to make the best choice for your home. For example, solar shingles are more expensive and less efficient than solar panels, but they’re easier to install and less likely to damage your roof.

Here’s how to determine which one is the best for you.

What are solar panels?

Solar panels are what you see on most people’s roofs when they switch to renewable energy. They’re large rectangular panels divided into smaller cells that absorb energy from the sun and convert it into electricity.

One of the most significant differences between solar roof shingles and panels is that panels need to be mounted to a rack that elevates them off the roof. Part of the solar panel installation process involves drilling holes in your roof to attach a rack-mounting system. The rack could damage your roof and cause leaks if it’s not installed correctly. It also gives solar panels a bulky look that many people would prefer to avoid.

Pros and cons of solar panels

Pros

Cons

What are solar shingles?

A solar shingle resembles an ordinary roof shingle but has a built-in solar cell. Solar shingles generate energy by converting sunlight into electricity using technology similar to traditional solar panels. The primary difference between solar shingles and ordinary solar panels is that shingles are much thinner and more flexible, meaning there is less conductive material, which usually leads to reduced efficiency compared to panels.

The small size of solar shingles allows them to lay flat on your roof, making them nearly indistinguishable from regular shingles from a distance. Many people find the sleek profile appealing and opt for solar shingles over panels solely because of how they look.

Pros and cons of solar shingles

Here’s a look at the main advantages and disadvantages of solar shingles:

Pros

Cons

Solar shingles vs. solar panels: Key differences

Solar shingles and solar panels both convert sunlight into usable energy, but there are a few key differences that can help you decide which one is better for your home.

Aesthetics

“Solar shingles are often thought of as more stylish than solar panels to many consumers. This is because they are individual tiles built directly into the roof, as opposed to solar panels that might require a whole roof racking system,” according to Craig Spinner, general manager at Savant Power, a division of Savant Systems, Inc., which provides smart-home integration to homeowners and, recently, smart-power solutions.

Shingles sit flush against your roof, like regular shingles and blend nicely with most dark-colored roofs. Solar shingles don’t detract from your home’s curb appeal and are often indistinguishable from ordinary shingles at a distance.

Solar panels stick out like a sore thumb on all roofs, so they’re not the best choice if you want to maintain your home’s sleek appearance. Rooftop solar arrays require a bulky rack, which will never be as unnoticeable as solar shingles.

Availability

Solar panels are much more widely available than solar shingles, which means you’ll have more choices in terms of manufacturers and solar installation companies. Having more choices also means better prices due to competition. Solar panels are the way to go if you want to convert your home to solar energy quickly and with the least hassle.

Only a few companies make solar shingles. Tesla’s Solar Roof is probably the most famous example, but other companies have entered the solar shingle space in recent years. SunTegra, CertainTeed and Luma Solar all offer solar shingles that compete with the Tesla solar roof.

Composition

Solar shingles use copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) photovoltaic cells, which are slightly different from the monocrystalline silicon cells used in most residential solar panels. The benefit of CIGS cells is that they’re smaller and more flexible than monocrystalline cells, making them easy to use as a shingle. However, they are less efficient.

Cost

The cost of solar shingles vs. solar panels may make them a less attractive option. You should expect to pay between one-and-a-half and six times as much for a solar roof as you would for a solar panel array with a similar capacity.

For example, using a single address in San Jose, California, in Tesla’s solar calculator (a tool that helps customers who are considering a switch to solar estimate costs), the company estimates payments of $150 per month for solar panels and a Powerwall storage battery, while the price for a Solar Roof with a Powerwall is estimated at $850 per month.

Efficiency

The efficiency of solar shingles compared with that of panels also leaves much to be desired. Solar shingles are newer than solar panels, so the latest advancements in photovoltaic technology have yet to be incorporated into the smaller, flexible solar shingle form factor. The difference is pretty significant, about 4 to 5 percentage points, on average.

Spinner noted that “most commercially available solar panels have an efficiency … with an average range of 15% to 20%. Solar shingles have lower efficiency rates of 14% to 18%, primarily due to a lack of airflow, since they’re installed right to the surface (solar power operates best when cool).”

In addition to having better solar cell tech, solar panels also have better efficiency due to increased airflow from being mounted on a rack. Better airflow allows for better cooling, which boosts electrical efficiency.

Assuming your home sees 6 hours of sunlight daily, a 9-kW solar panel array using panels with a standard 20% efficiency rating would produce an average of 10.8 kW hours daily. If you installed SunTegra solar shingles, which have an efficiency of 17.2%, but kept your system size the same, your output would be around 9.18 kW:

Solar panels vs. solar shingles energy output

At the average cost per kWh of 16.19 cents, solar shingles would save you around $0.26 less per day, which comes out to just under $100 less per year. You would also need to consider degradation rates to get accurate numbers, which your installer can help you with.

The bottom line is that between solar shingles and solar panels, a similarly-sized solar roof would reduce your bills less than a solar panel system despite costing more upfront.

Installation

Installing solar shingles is easier than installing solar panels since you don’t need to modify your roof. Solar panels require a roof-mounted rack, which means drilling holes in your roof and attaching the rack directly to it. Solar shingles, on the other hand, get installed like ordinary shingles using covered roofing nails, so there’s much less risk of damaging your roof or creating leaks.

Power generation

Both solar shingles and solar panel systems can be customized to generate enough energy to provide savings on your electric bill. No matter what type of solar energy system you choose, your system’s capacity will be limited by the amount of space on your roof. Solar shingles are more flexible since you can fit them anywhere you’d fit an ordinary shingle.

On the other hand, solar panels come in much larger, fixed sizes, so it’s harder to squeeze in an extra panel to increase your system’s power generation capacity if you don’t have a large roof. However, panels are more efficient, so you typically need to cover less roof space with panels than you would shingles for equal energy production.

Roof condition

One final thing to consider is whether you need a new roof. If your current roof is old and will need to be replaced soon, it could be the perfect time to install solar shingles instead. You can replace your roof even if you are planning to install a rack-mounted solar panel system, but the process is more involved and will cost more due to increased labor requirements.

Solar shingles vs. solar panels: Which is better?

Neither solar shingles nor solar panels are definitely better overall. Which type of solar system is right for you depends on your preferences, budget and the state of your current roof.

Solar panels are more affordable and more efficient, so you’ll save more money initially and in the long run, compared with solar shingles.

If you hate the way solar panels look, you should consider solar shingles instead. They don’t alter your home’s look as much as solar panels. In particular, if you have dark roofing shingles, they should blend in seamlessly. On the other hand, choosing to go with solar shingles instead of traditional solar panels is going to cost you more upfront, so it’s not the best choice if you’re on a tight budget.

Comparing solar shingles vs. solar panels

Here’s a breakdown of the main differences between solar shingles and solar panels:

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)