Tesla solar roof (1 Viewer)

[joffer]

It definitely doesn't makes sense if you don't have net metering.  In Texas, I get full credit up until the point I go net negative for the month (put more back on the grid than I took).  At that point I only get about $.05 per kW-hr credit.

Can you sell any excess power to the energy company if you produce more than you use with this system?

if you're state/power company has net-metering, yes.

 

[Jayded]

There is a calculator on the site, and I got something similar ($90 generation of energy per month with $150/month cost for roof resulting in a net cost of $60/month).

What I don't understand is how this connects with my cost for electricity. Do I pay for my power and then am I netted the $90/month? If for some reason I spend less than that do I get a credit? My current charges are about $150/month - especially now in the hot DC summer. So would I pay for $300 with a 'savings' of $90 so I'm paying $210 for the electricity and the roof? :whoosh:

This was how my traditional solar was supposed to work:

If I used $45/mo and generated $40/mo, I would get a bill from them for $5 for that month. So the power company was effectively handling the netting.

What I ran into an issue with them, being very early on to adopt for our power company, was that the meter they installed couldn't handle the up and down uses separately. They were supposed to pay at separate rates on both ends with separate scales (Ex. First X kw generated = X dollars per, Next Y kw generated = Y dollars per, etc.) and all they could ever do was net the two together as if they were both always on the same scale.

What I don't yet understand about what Tesla also adds to the equation is the battery backup. I would presume you can tell the unit how much to store and effectively eat the cost in the net bill, but can't say that without knowing how their system works.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

dot

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

We have a great deal of sunshine here in Colorado.  We also have what is here referred to as reverse metering, other places as net metering. We get full value up to our total bill, and a lesser value if we generate beyond that.  It is tempting.  We also get a boatload of hail.  I have replaced my roof 3 times in 17 years.  If their durability claims hold true this might be a good deal, depending on rebates, credit, tax incentives and whatnot.  Currently my HOA does not allow, though that is likely to change.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

Following closely. Want to wait for the technology to shake out a little, will probably jump in with v2. 

 

[Mr. Ected]

There is a calculator on the site, and I got something similar ($90 generation of energy per month with $150/month cost for roof resulting in a net cost of $60/month).

What I don't understand is how this connects with my cost for electricity. Do I pay for my power and then am I netted the $90/month? If for some reason I spend less than that do I get a credit? My current charges are about $150/month - especially now in the hot DC summer. So would I pay for $300 with a 'savings' of $90 so I'm paying $210 for the electricity and the roof? :whoosh:

This was how my traditional solar was supposed to work:

If I used $45/mo and generated $40/mo, I would get a bill from them for $5 for that month. So the power company was effectively handling the netting.

What I ran into an issue with them, being very early on to adopt for our power company, was that the meter they installed couldn't handle the up and down uses separately. They were supposed to pay at separate rates on both ends with separate scales (Ex. First X kw generated = X dollars per, Next Y kw generated = Y dollars per, etc.) and all they could ever do was net the two together as if they were both always on the same scale.

What I don't yet understand about what Tesla also adds to the equation is the battery backup. I would presume you can tell the unit how much to store and effectively eat the cost in the net bill, but can't say that without knowing how their system works.

That makes sense.

I wonder if the battery works on a system where the energy that you provide to the network is what you send once you are past filling the battery. Thinking if you needed 100x to fill the battery and you produce 125x you would just get the value of 25x that month. I would think over time it would net out because if  you were using the battery you wouldn't be using the network power.

If I had to replace my roof, I might think about it. I don't think I'd rush out to do it before then, I just don't generate enough energy to net the cost. On the other hand, my house is nearing it's 20th b-day, so I may be in the market in the not too distant future.

 

[Foosball God]

Maybe the powerwall is only necessary if you are going off the electrical grid, otherwise optional.  The battery to cover you at night when the sun goes down?

 

[joffer]

Maybe the powerwall is only necessary if you are going off the electrical grid, otherwise optional.  The battery to cover you at night when the sun goes down?

You definitely need battery storage to go off-grid.  But that's very rare these days.  

I just can't imagine that Tesla would only sell solar roof along with a required Powerwall.  

 

[squidrope]

I am in the side that has serious concerns about TESLA's financial standing.  It's capital investments going forward are substantial and I believe it's bank financing poses limits on its ability to issue any more material debt.  They originally came out saying that the cost to build a roof would not be materially greater than existing roofs.  That is no feasible. 

Buyer beware.

A warranty is only as good as the company that writes it.  If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. 

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Power warranty
30 years

Weatherization warranty
30 years

 

Unfortunately that likely is an infinite warranty for me.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Unless it's like some hacienda or villa or something, I can't remember ever noticing what a roof looks like.  I mean, what's the last time you saw a Cape Cod or Craftsman home and said, "what a great roof!"

Most of us, especially the OY's, live in palatial mansions, guy.  We would heat our cribs by burning twenty dollar bills if it wasn't such a hassle. No, we like the look of these and love Mother Earth.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Unfortunately that likely is an infinite warranty for me.

I suspect it is beyond infinite for Tesla, but that's another story.

 

[joffer]

This is infinity here.  It could be infinity. We don't really don't know. But it could be. It has to be something -- but it could be infinity, right?

 

[rascal]

We have a great deal of sunshine here in Colorado.  We also have what is here referred to as reverse metering, other places as net metering. We get full value up to our total bill, and a lesser value if we generate beyond that.  It is tempting.  We also get a boatload of hail.  I have replaced my roof 3 times in 17 years.  If their durability claims hold true this might be a good deal, depending on rebates, credit, tax incentives and whatnot.  Currently my HOA does not allow, though that is likely to change.

Ditto here in Oklahoma.  Replace my room every 5-7 years.  No reason to do this until they can prove it will last 

 

[tommyGunZ]

A big key to understand is that the economics of any residential solar system depends a lot on whether your state has "net metering" and what the rules are for the price the utility is required to pay the homeowner for the excess power that a solar home generates.

In most states, the utility must pay the homeowner the full retail rate for any excess power the home generates. In a handful of states, the utility is only required to pay a much lower generation cost based rate.

This issue still has many turns to come.  What happens when enough folks opt for solar and use that to essentially run their bill to $0?  The shrinking non-solar user base is then responsible for costs to maintain the grid. And contracts for electricity generation are genearlly long term, for lots of reasons. How do utilities continue to pay for contracts based on electricity generation that is no longer necessary?

Very complicated.  The likely solution is solar users having to ante up in some ways to spread the pain as the grid changes. 

 

[squidrope]

oops  wrong thread 

 

[Otis]

Haven't looked into it in detail but the Powerwall should be optional upgrade.  It would be kind of ridiculous if it wasn't.

I think the Powerwall is just a big battery.  Unless you don't want access to electricity at night, seems like a non-ridiculous addition to me.

 

[joffer]

I think the Powerwall is just a big battery.  Unless you don't want access to electricity at night, seems like a non-ridiculous addition to me.

Not ridiculous to offer it.  Ridiculous to not offer just the solar roof without the Powerwall.  And I don't know if that's the case.

 

[Uncle CornCob]

don't know why anyone would get a tesla roof without the powerwall       

 

[NutterButter]

don't know why anyone would get a tesla roof without the powerwall       

If you rarely lose power why do you need the power wall when you can just sell excess back to the electrical folks

 

[Otis]

If you rarely lose power why do you need the power wall when you can just sell excess back to the electrical folks

Because nighttime. 

 

[NutterButter]

Because nighttime. 

Sure but if you're selling back dollar for dollar, you're not losing anything and you don't need to drop $5k on a powerwall that just needs to be replaced in a handful of years.