The Tesla Roof and Powerwall are solar panel-based systems designed to help provide power to your home using solar energy. While they are both innovative products that offer plenty of benefits, homeowners are hesitant to invest in them due to their perceived high cost.
In this guide, we will cover the costs of the Tesla Roof and Powerwall in more detail so you know exactly how much you can expect to pay for the products and their installation, in addition to ways you can save on your investment.
How Much Does the Tesla Roof Cost?
The Tesla Roof is a special solar panel system composed of tiles designed to replace your current home’s shingles. Once you are approved for the Tesla roof, a design team will map out your roof’s structure and meticulously plan out how each roof tile will fit within it. An installation team will then come out to your home to begin the renovation.
Tesla offers two different solar panel systems, each with different costs: the Integrated Solar system and the Premium Roof and Solar Panels system.
Integrated Solar System Costs
On average, the Integrated Solar system will run a little over $30,000. This number may vary based on the costs of roof design services, the amount of square footage your roof encompasses, and the price of the solar panels themselves.
The panels will take up about 50% of this cost—or $15,000 in this case, while the installation costs make up the other 50%.
Premium Roof and Solar Panels System
The difference between this system and the previous one mentioned is that the solar panels are slightly lifted off the roof; in other words, instead of replacing the roof entirely, solar panels are simply placed on top of the existing roof.
This system costs a little more than the Integrated Solar System, with about $15,000 for the panels and $28,000 for installation—bringing the total to around $43,000. Again, this number may vary depending on your specific circumstances.
Tesla Roof Installation Costs
As mentioned earlier, the cost of installing a Tesla Roof will be approximately $15,000 to $28,000, depending on the type of solar roof system you choose for your home. These costs cover services from a licensed contractor, who will come out to your home and inspect your existing roof for the following:
- Is there enough sunlight for the Tesla Roof to be effective?
- Where does the sunlight come through the most?
- Is the home or roof structurally sound enough to support a Tesla Roof and its tiles or solar panels?
- Has solar panel installation been approved by the community HOA and/or local government?
The answers to these questions may affect the final cost of installation as well. For example, if your roof will need additional repairs or the solar tiles or panels will need to be placed a particular way for them to work the most effectively, the price may change accordingly.
The number of solar panels you end up needing and the roof design can make the cost increase or decrease, too.
How Much Does the Tesla Powerwall Cost?
The Tesla Powerwall is an advanced battery backup system that stores energy produced through solar panels. You can use the Powerwall for everyday use or allow the device to store power in case of a blackout or other emergency.
The costs of the Tesla Powerwall stem from the price of installation and the Powerwall itself. The Powerwall and its supporting systems are about $7,500, while installation will run between $2,500 to $7,500.
The large range in cost can be attributed to an advanced installation process that may involve rerouting the home’s power source, as well as installing the Powerwall’s other components:
- Inverter – This is the piece that is required for the solar panels to convert the sunlight to electricity and then use that electricity to power the Powerwall and thus the home.
- Battery – This the component that stores electricity and distributes the power to the sources that require it.
- Protective Materials – If the Powerwall is installed outdoors or in places where it could get damaged, certain protective materials can encompass the device and its components to protect them from the elements and other potential dangers.
The cost of the Powerwall will also vary depending on how many Powerwalls you have installed, how big the overall system is, and your location.
How to Save on the Tesla Roof and Powerwall
The Tesla Roof and Powerwall are both great systems to have installed in your home, especially if you want to opt for a renewable power source and eventually save on future energy bills. However, based on these systems’ costs and the price to install them, you may still be hesitant to invest in them.
Fortunately, there are several ways you can save some money from installing either system—including purchasing both as a bundle for a discount!
Does Tesla Offer Discounts on Solar Products?
Tesla solar is already the lowest cost-per-watt solar on the market, but are there any other ways to save money when ordering?
In short, the only way to get a discount on Tesla solar products is by using an existing Tesla owners “referral link” when ordering.
Tesla has did this same “referral program” concept with it’s vehicles and essentially it allows new customers to get a discount on their purchase by using an existing customers personal referral link.
In regards to Tesla solar discounts, using a Tesla referral link when ordering will save you $300 off solar panels or $500 off solar roof.
The referral discounts are typically only available for a limited time before Tesla stops offering the discount, so take advantage of the savings while you can.
Consider Investing in an Older Model
Many people wonder if investing in the newest version really makes a difference with any new technological release. For the Tesla solar systems—particularly the Powerwall—this really is the case.
The initial Powerwall (version 1.0) was first released in 2015, with a 6.4 kWh capacity. What’s notable about this version is that it was available for around $3,000.
The next—current—generation of the Powerwall was released in late 2016. Although this version is bigger and heavier than the original, it has more capacity, with its upgrade from 6.4 kWh to 13.5 kWh. Of course, with that, the cost also increased, from $3,000 to $7,500.
If you are looking to save some money, though, you should weigh the costs and long-term savings and benefits of spending more on the newer version of the Powerwall. It’s also worth considering some of the other methods below that you can use to save on your purchase.
Government Incentives
There are plenty of government (including the local, state, and federal levels) incentives available that can help the owner of a Tesla Roof or Powerwall off-set the costs of the systems and their installation. These are usually in the form of tax credits.
You will need to visit the IRS website to see if your home is eligible to receive a credit after Tesla Roof or Powerwall installation. Energy.gov also offers a guide on the various credits available for solar panel installation.
Local Utility Incentives
Because the Tesla Powerwall can store energy, you could also produce power for your neighborhood if the power goes down in exchange for a credit from your local government or utility company. This is possible since the Powerwall can easily transfer power from your own system to the grid and other homes on it.
Although you will likely see the savings from this after installing your Tesla Roof and/or Powerwall, these credits can likely add up and off-set some of the initial installation costs.
Using Your Systems Efficiently
You can also be strategic in how you use your new solar system. The Powerwall allows you to distribute power throughout your home as you see fit, all through the Tesla app. You can also choose to switch to your Powerwall during high-cost times with your traditional energy company to save money as well.
Final Thoughts
The Tesla Roof and Powerwall are two incredible solar systems that allow you to have complete control over how your home is powered. Although they both have a high cost up-front, there are numerous benefits they bring, and you can use a variety of methods to help off-set the price later.
In other words, once you can get past that initial cost, the systems will start to pay for themselves down the line.