How Much Solar Power Can My Roof Generate?

We live in a time where sustainable energy solutions are becoming increasingly popular, as many home and business owners consider protecting our planet by switching to renewable energy sources. But that’s not the only reason why many owners opt for this kind of solution. Apart from saving our planet, renewable energy resources have the ability to produce electricity, which has the added benefit of potentially saving you a considerable amount of money.  One such sustainable option can be solar energy roof shingles.

What Are Solar Roof Shingles?

Did you know there are also solar shingles on the market apart from regular asphalt shingles? Like regular shingles, solar shingles’ will also protect your home as well as produce energy, but if we compare solar shingles and solar panels, solar shingles are more eye-pleasing and imperceptible. This option is great, especially if you don’t prefer those big panels you see on roofs that are usually associated with harnessing solar energy.

Solar roof shingles are made from slim photovoltaic (PV) sheets that absorb sunlight and convert it into usable electricity.

How Do Solar Shingles Work?

As mentioned, solar shingles are made of photovoltaic cells, which are essentially semiconductor devices that convert sunlight into electricity. This process is called the photovoltaic effect. Bear with us, as we’ll need to cover a bit of physics now.

In our universe, there is something called photons, which are subatomic particles that carry electromagnetic force. When these photons strike the surface of the shingles, they have the ability to transfer their energy to electrons within the photovoltaic cells, causing the electrons to become energized. 

When electrons are energized in photovoltaic cells, they will create an electric current as they move within the cell, causing them to generate direct current (DC) electricity, which is then sent to an inverter (the inverter’s main function is to convert DC electricity into AC electricity, i.e., alternating current electricity). 

You might be familiar with AC electricity because this is the standard form of electricity that is used in most households and commercial buildings. This type of electricity can then be used to power electrical appliances and lighting and if the solar shingle system generates more electricity than needed, the rest will be stored for later use via a battery or sent back to your energy company for a refund to you.

Solar Shingles vs Solar Panels

We’ve explained what solar shingles are, so let’s explain the distinction between them and solar panels a bit more in-depth (apart from their size and visual appearance). Solar shingles and panels differ in the following ways: 

• Size
• Materials
• Efficiency
• Durability
• Installation

Size

Regarding size, the standard size of solar panels is about 65 inches long by 39 wide, while solar shingles measure about 86 inches long by 12 inches wide. Since they’re different sizes, their weight is also different – solar panels weigh about 40 pounds each, and solar shingles weigh approximately 13-20 pounds per square foot.

Materials

While solar panels are typically made of many solar or photovoltaic cells, solar shingles are made of copper indium gallium selenide or monocrystalline cells, which gives them thinness and flexibility.

Efficiency 

Another key difference between solar panels and shingles is their output level. Solar panels produce between 250 and 400 W, while solar shingles produce between 13-63 W.

Durability 

There’s no doubt that both of these materials have a long lifespan (between 25-30 years). Due to advancements in technology and efficiency, these materials are able to resist even the harshest weather conditions before they begin to lose their durability. 

Installation

Solar panels should be your first choice if you want to produce solar power fast because they are easier to install than solar shingles. On the other hand, solar roof installation can take more time to install, approximately one week. 

Best Solar Installation Company in New Jersey

If you’re thinking about installing solar shingles on your roof, our skilled technicians at Fortified Roofing are ready to unite your home with a solar shingle system that will decrease your energy payments. Beyond residential solar installations, we’ve expanded our expertise to commercial properties as well so business owners can also enjoy renewable energy resources.  

Do you need assistance? Get in touch with Fortified Roofing, the top solar roof shingles contractor in NJ!