Your options for building integrated photovoltaic solar roofs have expanded with the the re-birth of POWERHOUSE solar shingles and introduction of Tesla solar tiles to compete with the BIPV solar products currently being installed.
This guide covers the currently available and newly emerging BIPV / roof integrated PV (RIPV) solar shingle options, their costs, availability in specific markets within the US, and pros and cons of each option.
Cost
The table below includes the cost info and availability details for the top four leading RIPV competitors:
| Product | Cost per sq.ft. | Cost per watt* | 2,750 sq.ft. roof |
| CertainTeed Apollo II Shingle | $11.45 – $13.10 | $4.20 – $4.80 | $31,487 – $36,025 |
| CertainTeed Apollo II Tile | $17.40 – $18.25 | $6.38 – $6.69 | $47,850 – $50,187 |
| Dow PowerHouse | $11.00 – $11.85 | Est. $4.15 | $30,025 – $32,587 |
| SunTegra Shingle | $10.35 – $11.60 | $3.80 – $4.25 | $28,462 – $31,900 |
| SunTegra Tile | $16.80 – $17.75 | $6.16 – $6.51 | $46,200 – 48,812 |
| Tesla Solar Tile | $22.00 – $26.00 | $7.85-$9.00 | $60,500 – $71,500 |
Note: Dow PowerHouse 3.0 solar shingles from RGS should be available in Q4 2018, with nationwide rollout expected to occur gradually in 2019-2020.
* With the recent announcement of Tesla laying off 9% of its workforce, there are now some doubts as to how long you may have to wait to get your Tesla solar roof.
Note: the above figures are baseline costs (estimated). The actual costs can, in some cases, be up to 25% higher, depending on the particulars of the jobs including more complex roofs and/or in areas with high cost of living and in major coastal cities.
All costs include what is known as BOS, or balance of system, costs. These include the connectors, wiring and electrical inverter required for installation. They do not factor storage battery costs ($7,500 – $9,000 for most systems).
