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An interesting passage from the report: "Product innovation could take a variety of forms, such as reduced PV racking and mounting, preassembled PV, and low-co

An interesting passage from the report: "Product innovation could take a variety of forms, such as reduced PV racking and mounting, preassembled PV, and low-cost PV roofing tiles. An integrated PV and roofing product, in particular, could yield significant cost savings, especially if the roof and PV system could be shipped and installed in unison. Although integrated products have low market share today, it is plausible that they could reach the mass market by 2030. For example, several companies have recently introduced or are developing integrated PV products (CertainTeed 2017, GAF 2017, Tesla 2017). Product innovation along these lines could influence the labor, supply chain, and structural BOS cost categories." Which would seem to be good new for Tesla roofs, etc. I hadn't really considered how expensive traditional rooftop solar is in terms of both sales (convincing a homeowner that the should install panels) and installation (people physically going out on the roof). From the report: Panel (module) pricing, Admin Overhead, Sales and Marketing and Physical Installation are all roughly equivalent. PV roofing tiles take a big chunk out the latter 3 which seems really promising.

aidenn0 9y ago
Also, currently solar roofing can be a bit of a tax-code hack (depending on where you live). If you buy a new roof, and then put solar panels on top, only the panels get green-energy tax benefits, but if the roof is the panels, then the total cost of the roof is used for calculating your tax benefits. Larger installs will usually hit caps on the benefits before this matters, but smaller installs in places with high caps can collect more. [edit] Reading other comments, it's apparently also a permit-hack, as panels need to be permitted separately from the roof (and in HOAs may be subject to board approval).
- toomuchtodo 9y ago
  > (and in HOAs may be subject to board approval) Can't speak to other states, but Florida state law specifically overrides HOAs when it relates to solar panels on your roof. They are inhibited from preventing you from installing solar on your roof.
  - aidenn0 9y ago
    This isn't true everywhere, and even where it is, the HOA can make you miserable before you finally get it through. Federal law overrides HOAs with regards to antennas, but I've still seen it take years to be able to put an antenna up.

aidenn0 9y ago

Also, currently solar roofing can be a bit of a tax-code hack (depending on where you live). If you buy a new roof, and then put solar panels on top, only the panels get green-energy tax benefits, but if the roof is the panels, then the total cost of the roof is used for calculating your tax benefits. Larger installs will usually hit caps on the benefits before this matters, but smaller installs in places with high caps can collect more. [edit] Reading other comments, it's apparently also a permit-hack, as panels need to be permitted separately from the roof (and in HOAs may be subject to board approval).

toomuchtodo 9y ago
> (and in HOAs may be subject to board approval) Can't speak to other states, but Florida state law specifically overrides HOAs when it relates to solar panels on your roof. They are inhibited from preventing you from installing solar on your roof.
- aidenn0 9y ago
  This isn't true everywhere, and even where it is, the HOA can make you miserable before you finally get it through. Federal law overrides HOAs with regards to antennas, but I've still seen it take years to be able to put an antenna up.