Tesla Solar Roof Deutschland Installations Explained


Tesla Solar Roof Deutschland Installations Explained

The world has come a long way in environmental awareness and conservation. From self-sustaining gardens to solar panels, technology has taken the strides necessary to promote a healthier Earth. The newest leap for environmentally friendly technology comes from none other than Tesla in the form of Tesla’s Solar Roof.

Installations of Tesla’s Solar Roof in Deutschland have come to a halt before they even began. A tweet sent out in 2019 by Elon Musk himself boasted the start of installations in Germany starting at the end of 2019. Over two years later and we still have not seen theTesla Solar Roof in Europe.

Not a lot has been said about why installations of Tesla’s Solar Roof have met roadblocks in Germany, with Musk and Tesla having stayed quiet on the subject of theTesla Solar Roof in Deutschland. In this article, you will learn about everything out there on the Tesla Solar Roof in Deutschland.

Is the Tesla Solar Roof Being Installed in Deutschland?

As of this year, little information has been released as to whether or not the installation of theTesla Solar Roof is available internationally. However, a tweet put out by Elon Musk in February 2020 stated that they were focusing on expanding within the United States but were looking at making the technology available internationally later in the year.

As of now, it appears this is still in the works, so if you live internationally, you may be waiting longer than first anticipated to get your hands on this technology.

It has been over two years since pre-orders were announced in the UK alone. Yet production has not even begun. Covid-19 could be partially to blame. However, Tesla’s track record with installations in the US could be an accurate timeline for Europe.

Why Has the Tesla Solar Roof Not Been Installed In Deutschland?

Tesla’s original goal was to have their Tesla Solar Roof available in Germany by the end of 2019. However, it is now 2021, and there still has not been a release of this technology in Germany. A few have speculated that this could be due to the lack of demand for new solar companies within Germany.

GigaFactory is already established in Germany, but they mainly deal with Tesla vehicles. So why are they not branching out to the Solar Roof already? There are a few things that could have considerable weight when it comes to answering this, such as:

  • Germany is a country with few actual sunshine hours
  • They are a leader in solar energy
  • Their market is flooded with companies who specialize in this technology
  • Musk is trying to introduce a new product in an “if it is not broke” culture

Germany has been using solar panels for years. Musk and Tesla will have to convince Germany and the rest of Europe that this technology is sustainable, cost-effective, and worth the change. But we still have no updates on when it will even be available in Germany.

Installations of the Tesla Solar Roof in Deutschland — How to Schedule Your Solar Roof Installation

While installations are happening in the United States, there is no sign of theTesla Solar Roof hitting Europe anytime soon. The UK was just able to start pre-orders in 2019, almost 2 years after the original date given of 2018. Just like with the United States, pre-orders will require a $1,000 deposit.

Musk has commented on the process when it comes to the installation of a solar roof. Though some have said, he has been overly optimistic about the number of customers they can serve within a few months. And he has surely been overly optimistic when it came to the release date in Europe.

There are a few steps to the installation process of a Tesla solar panel roof:

  • Place your order
  • Schedule a home energy assessment
  • Schedule your installation
  • Installation takes about a week

Placing an order is actually one of the easiest steps to the installation process. Check out the ordering form at Solar Roof Installation. A home energy assessment is needed in order to identify any home improvements needed and the hardware. While installation takes about a week, this also depends on the Sq ft of roofing needed.

How Much Does a Tesla Solar Roof Cost?

When we look at the pricing of a solar roof through Tesla, we first have to look at the cost of solar panels in general. A normal solar panel is around 50 cents per watt. Then you have to factor in the cost of all the hardware, which is around 25 cents per watt. Installation is then around 50 cents per watt, depending on the overall system size.

Tesla is looking at taking these individual panels and turning them into actual roofing tiles, so the pricing here can be tricky. Tesla has shown that they spend about $2.00 a watt when it comes to the hardware. It is about $7.65 per sq ft making the average roof around $22 per sq ft.

Does Tesla Offer Discounts on Solar?

Tesla solar panels are already the lowest price solar panels 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 panels is by using an existing Tesla owners “referral link” when ordering your Tesla solar panels.

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.

tesla solar panel discount

How Does This Technology Look V. Normal Solar Panels?

In 2019, the solar roof version 3.0 with smaller tiles than its sister technology was confirmed for deployment. These tiles look exactly the same regardless of the angle you may be looking at them from. These new tiles should allow for rapid completion of the installation process.

After viewing pictures of the 3.0 tiles, there are very few differences visibly between an average roof and the solar one, though this new roofing system is by far the more stylish choice. They currently have four designs of the roof.

  • Tuscan Glass Tile
  • Slate Glass Tile
  • Textured Glass Tile
  • Smooth Glass Tile

The variety paired with the technology has the capacity of launching Musk into not only Solar engineering but also the roofing industry as well. Colors are a bit limited at this time, but we should see a change in that if the patent is approved for coloring to be added to the panels.

Not only can you be environmentally conscientious, but you can also have a modern and stylish roof at the same time. Consider that your original roof will have to be removed down to the decking to install the new Tesla Solar Roof.

Where Is theTesla Solar Roof Available?

So far, the Tesla Solar Roof is available in a few select states. Arizona and California were among the first to receive access to the roofing technology, with Washington being one of the last states. Musk boasted that 2,000 sq ft of roofing would only take a day. However, the jury is still out on this one.

Multiple sources have quoted installation time as taking 8-21 days, while others have stated the minimum is four days. Yet again, Tesla reported that as of March of 2020, 400,000 homes had been remodeled with theTesla Solar Roof through their company.

Judging by the outreach, we could see an increase in these numbers by the middle of this year. How this will translate to overseas installations, such as in Deutschland, is still to be seen.

How Many Solar Roofs Have Been Installed?

Since the announcement was released in 2016, the exact number of roofs installed seemed to fluctuate. Some reports stated that around 12 had been installed on employees’ homes. Since then, future reports have been made stating numbers as high as 400,000 though there has been little to no proof of these numbers being accurate.

If we look at the larger number, that is equivalent to 10 million traditional panels. Which actually is quite a lot. And if we consider what it takes to install the solar roof, it is pretty impressive work regardless of the amount installed. So what exactly goes into installing these roofs?

  • Removal of the original roof done by a subcontractor
  • Padding is installed
  • Panels are installed
  • Hardware is hooked up

Leaving room for intermittent weather, it takes around 4 days for the entire installation and setup to be complete. However, Tesla reported the usual construction time is between 8-21 days overall. So be ready for a little under a month’s stay in a hotel.

Is There a Wait List? How Many Are on the List?

There is an extensive waitlist when it comes to theTesla Solar Roof technology. As to how many are on the waitlist, that has yet to be reported on. Reports were made that when the technology was announced in 2016, they started allowing pre-orders in 2017 with a $1,000 deposit.

The roofing itself was not released until the end of 2019, so some customers had been waiting almost 3 years for their upgrade.

While there may not be an actual count of how many are on the waitlist, it was reported in June of last year that Tesla had started canceling some orders. Whether this was due to having too many to complete in a short amount of time, lack of resources, or just availability in that given area, the world may never have a definitive answer on this.

Given that many of the canceled orders were handed to pre-ordering customers, it is no surprise that Tesla acquired a bit of backlash due to requiring a $1,000 deposit, and it took 3 years to realize it was not going to happen.

Who Installs Tesla’s Solar Roof in the United States?

While Tesla has their own install company for their Solar Roof, they have started to branch out by acquiring other contractors around the United States. Pricing and time for installation differ depending on the contractor you choose.

  • GigaFactory (New York/Berlin)
  • Good Faith Energy (Texas)
  • SunPro (Southern USA)
  • Weedle & Sons

Installation is limited to the contractors and their locations at this time, which could be a huge factor in why there have been many cancelations made by Tesla to consumers nationwide. Tesla has been reaching out to more contractors to make the installation process available to those interested in the solar roof.

The real question here is if there is a Tesla-owned company in Berlin, how come theTesla Solar Roof is not even on Germany’s market? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Deutschland’s market for solar power is swamped. And while Musk’s technology is appealing, it is not exactly in high demand there.

Can You Self-Install?

Self-installing can oftentimes cut your wait time and cost by half. However, when it comes to installing theTesla Solar Roof, the capability just is not there. With all the hardware required and the knowledge of the technology needed, it is best to obtain an installation through a licensed contractor.

TheTesla Solar Roof is made up of smaller forms of solar panels that form tiles. Panels are applied to the original roof with little to no knowledge needed. A solar roof, however, is like taking a picture and turning it into a whole puzzle. Now you need to know how to put it together and have the time to do so.

Consider that even if self-installation is possible, it may not include installing the Powerwall 2 if you want your home to be completely battery operated.

Certified Installers

Weedle & Son’s is one of the few contractors recruited to install theTesla Solar Roof technology. Contractors have to go through special certification courses through Tesla to be able to install them. Finding a certified installer will not be as easy as some would think.

Not only is this sensitive technology that requires a lot of patience and knowledge in regards to the hardware used to make it work, but it is also a pricey material should anything happen. Installers and contractors can apply on the Tesla site to obtain their certification in certain states.

  • Massachusetts
  • Delaware
  • Hawaii
  • Maryland

The above states are currently looking to hire individuals for the installation process and provide the proper certifications to those who are accepted on the team.

How Long Does Installation Take?

Installation differs from project to project. 1,000 sq ft home can take anywhere to 4-8 days. However, some installers have been known to do larger projects in shorter amounts of time. Weedle & Son’s was one to complete a 4,000 sq ft in Kansas in 4 days.

Everything from cable management to layout has to be factored in when looking at the installation time frame. Individual installers and subcontractors may quote more or less time, depending on their scheduling demands and overall capability. Weedle & Son’s used a full team to complete the above project in that specific time frame.

Take a look at the installation process for yourself at PV Magazine. This specific video shows the process completed by Weedle & Son’s in a 4 day period. They have said they will continue to make introductory videos for the process as they continue completing projects.

Does the Overall Cost of Tesla’s Solar Roof Include Installation?

The answer to this question will fluctuate depending on the subcontractor or installer you choose to use. Weedle & Son offers a quote right on their site as long as you can give them all the information. Their quote includes the price of installation. Their pricing goes up and down depending on the desired wattage of your new solar roof.

Meanwhile, Good Faith Energy offers quotes for different types of installation and walks you through their installation process. They also offer Tesla’s Powerwall, which is an extension that allows you to run your entire home off a mega battery that is powered by solar energy.

If you choose to install a Powerwall 2 with your solar roof purchase, it will add about $6,000 to the overall price, including installation for both products.

You can check out their installation process at Good Faith Energy. No matter who you decide to go with, it is best to make sure they are certified in Tesla technology to ensure your money will be in safe hands. Price hunting and finding their time frame is beneficial since you may not be able to stay in the home during installation.

There are incentives that you can include, which will change the overall price. At the time of writing this, no reports have been made as to whether or not these incentives will exclude the cost of installation or not.

Conclusion

Even though the technology was announced in  2016, it is still a fairly new technology. Solar energy has and continues to come a long way from its starting point. Putting aside the wait times involved on top of the locations that installation can take place, it appears as though Musk is ahead of the game when it comes to green energy.

This technology is definitely one to keep your eye on, especially since there is talk of it going worldwide soon enough. Tesla has made great strides in providing sleek and sexy technology available for a reasonable price to households nationwide.

Given time and the given growing outsource capabilities, we could see theTesla Solar Roof on homes all over the United States within the next few years. However, the likelihood that you will find Tesla’s Solar Roof in Deutschland anytime soon is still yet to be seen.

Solar Discounts:

 

Greg

The articles here on ThatTeslaChannel.com are created by Greg, a Tesla vehicle and Tesla solar expert with nearly half a decade of hands-on experience. The information on this site is fact-checked and tested in-person to ensure the best possible level of accuracy.

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