New Ceramic Solar Tile Could Revolutionize Roofing Around the World
It’s not written in stone that roofs have to be covered the way they are now: wood shingles, or composite, or clay tiles. What if a material was completely impervious to rain, insulated so well that it cut energy costs up to 40% and generated solar electricity at the same time, wouldn’t that be what we should roof our homes with in the future?
In Spain, a high end ceramic tile company and a solar company have combined forces in the creation of a revolutionary – potentially world-changing – roofing material that could cut the cost of solar power around the globe.
Yet the inventors, Butech (the subsidiary of high fashion Porcelanosa that develops new materials) and Onyx Solar are inexplicably marketing their tough and extremely useful invention as a “pavement” material, for its walk-ability.
But it makes a lot more sense as a new roofing material to replace the traditional composite, wood shingles or tiles, that are so unsatisfactory and duplicative now.
These solar ceramic tile roofs would be durable and waterproof. By replacing the need for no longer needed roofing material under solar panels, this invention could greatly speed solar adoption, by cutting its costs.
Why is it a good thing that you are able to walk on this solar panel? Firemen do need to be able to access roofs in an emergency. Rules about preserving fire access cut into the amount of coverage solar panels are allowed on roofs now.
Source: Technology For Life
4 Comments so far to “New Ceramic Solar Tile Could Revolutionize Roofing Around the World”
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May 1st, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Dear Ms. Kraemer:
You are again writing about things you don't understand. Onyx Solar is a fraud. They have no "solar tile" – only a nice looking brochure to get uninformed people excited and part with their money. Do you even understand how PV solar works? Don't you think the tiles need to have some electrical contacts to get connected? And what about the general underperformance issues associated with any rooftop or facade BIPV – suboptimal tilt, overheating due to lack of ventilation, and high system cost per Watt (2x)?
May 5th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Thanks, but disagree.
'what about the general underperformance issues associated with any rooftop or facade BIPV – suboptimal tilt,'
Solved by designing roof angle for optimal tilt.
'overheating due to lack of ventilation'
Ceramic was good enough for the shuttle, ideal for heat
'and high system cost per Watt (2x)'
BIPV cost varies, plus subtract cost of normal roofing material and installation
Here's another company that produces BIPV (and of course I know that BIPV includes the electrical requirements in back)
http://www.homedesignfind.com/.....m-germany/
May 23rd, 2010 at 1:32 am
Interesting product, but the story is missing some key details:
When and where will the product reach market? How much will it cost? Are there any special installation requirements?
These questions are important, and even if they can't be answered entirely, they should be addressed in some way.. For example, the reporter could write something like, "The manufacturer has tested successfully its pre-production samples, and will begin regular production later this year."
Would that be so hard?
February 18th, 2012 at 1:24 am
we are interested in solar energy and found your web site which make our attention attractive .
pls send us more details