Powering Change
Installing since 2010 · 0118 951 4490 · info@spiritenergy.co.uk
Solar tiles are small PV modules designed to resemble regular roofing. When the main barrier to investing in solar is appearance, PV tiles can be the perfect solution. You may also hear them referred to as photovoltaic (PV) tiles, solar shingles or solar slates, as they don’t have the mounting frames in traditional rooftop installations.
It’s unlikely you can integrate solar tiles into existing roofing, so they’re generally suited to newbuilds or renovations. The roof will be a mix of PV roof tiles and dummy tiles, which look the same but don’t generate electricity. These cover unfavourable parts of the roof, like north-facing or shaded surfaces, or to scale the size of the PV system to the electricity demand of the property.
The primary advantage of solar roof tiles is their appearance. They provide a discreet alternative to conventional solar panels, which is particularly valuable in conservation areas or on listed properties where planning restrictions may apply. Solar tiles can also be a practical choice for properties with complex roof designs. Conventional solar panels are often limited by their size, which can make them unsuitable for tight spaces or awkward roof angles, and may result in uneven or unused sections of the roof. By contrast, solar tiles can be laid across the entire roof surface, creating a uniform finish and maximising the usable area for electricity generation.
Large-format solar tiles – Products such as SolarTyle and the Nulok SolacTrix fall into this category. These are effectively slim solar panels that interlock and cascade down the roof in a similar way to standard tiles. Their larger size makes them efficient and means fewer units are required to cover a roof, while still offering a neat, attractive appearance.
Small-format solar tiles – Examples include ErgoSun and GB-Sol. These tiles are designed to closely replicate the look of traditional roofing materials. They are less efficient on a unit-by-unit basis, so more tiles are needed to achieve the same output as larger formats. However, their smaller size provides greater flexibility, making them better suited to complex roof layouts and enabling a more seamless aesthetic.
Spirit Energy is a family-run solar specialist that has been installing solar panels and battery storage systems throughout the South of England since 2010. We pride ourselves on our 100% in-house technical expertise and installation work, as well as our attention to detail, industry-leading design work, customer care, and the quality of our post-install support.
Watch Spirit Energy's YouTube video on everything you need to know about solar tiles in the UK:
Solar roof tiles operate in the same way as conventional solar panels. Each tile contains photovoltaic (PV) cells, which generate electricity when sunlight excites electrons within a semiconductor material. The key distinction lies in their design. While solar panels are optimised for maximum efficiency, solar tiles are shaped and coloured to resemble traditional roof tiles, prioritising aesthetics and blending seamlessly into the roofline.
Like solar panels, solar tiles generate DC electricity and connect together using MC4 connectors on the reverse of each unit. They are wired in series to form a string, which then connects back to a central inverter.
No specialist inverter is required for solar roof tiles. They are compatible with the same inverters used for standard solar panel systems. As with panels, solar tiles can be integrated using either AC or DC coupling. This means they can connect to a standalone inverter, such as a Solis model, or to a hybrid inverter, such as the one built into the Tesla Powerwall 3 or Sigenergy SigenStor.
Most solar tile systems are fixed directly to the roof battens, in much the same way as conventional roof tiles. The mounting method varies between manufacturers, but in most cases each tile is secured using brackets at either end. Larger-format tiles may also require an additional bracket at the base of the module to provide extra stability and reduce the risk of wind uplift.
Solar roof tiles cannot usually be installed right up to the roof edge. To maintain weatherproofing and structural integrity, two to three non-solar or “dummy” tiles are typically fitted between the last solar tile and the roof edge.
Designing a solar tile system is much like designing a solar panel system. In most cases, it makes sense to cover as much of the roof as possible. The biggest costs of an installation are usually scaffolding and labour, not the panels or tiles themselves. So once the scaffolding is up, you get better value by filling the roof and generating as much electricity as you can. This also improves the payback period and overall return on investment.
Solar tiles do cost more than solar panels, but the principle is the same. The more tiles you install, the more free electricity your roof will produce. If you’re re-roofing or building a new home, you’ll need a roof covering anyway. Standard tiles won’t generate any electricity or bring a financial return, so if your budget allows, it usually makes sense to maximise the roof space with solar tiles.
The most obvious time to consider solar tiles is if you’re re-roofing or building a new home. You’ll need to pay for a roof covering anyway, so fitting solar tiles means your roof can also generate electricity and provide a return on investment. In this case, you can think of part of the cost of the solar tile system as replacing what you’d already be spending on tiles or slates, which makes the investment easier to justify.
That said, in-roof solar panel systems such as those from GSE and Viridian are often much cheaper than solar tiles. So you’d usually only choose tiles if they can generate more power for your particular roof, or if appearance is especially important.
Solar tiles also work well for homes with complex roof layouts. Conventional solar panels don’t always fit neatly on multiple roof faces, awkward angles, or tight spaces, which can leave unused areas and an uneven look. Tiles, on the other hand, can be laid across the whole roof for a consistent finish, making use of spaces where panels wouldn’t fit.
Solar roof tiles are also a strong option for situations where aesthetics or planning permission are critical. In conservation areas or on listed buildings, traditional solar panels are sometimes rejected because of how they change the appearance of the property. Solar tiles blend in with the roof, so they can be the only way to benefit from solar power while meeting planning or design requirements.
Below is a list of UK solar tile products that Spirit Energy offers...
SolarTyle manufactures larger-format solar tiles, which are essentially slim modules that cascade down the roof. They currently offer two options: a 95 W all-black module and an 80 W red module, allowing a choice depending on roof design.
Key points:
Roof Tile Compatibility:
At present, SolarTyle is only suitable for installation with concrete roof tiles and is not compatible with slate or rosemary tiles. If re-roofing, it isMounting System:
Each SolarTyle module is fixed with brackets at either end and additional wind fastener brackets further down the tile for stability. They cannot be installed right up to the edge of the roof, and at least one or two rows of standard tiles are required at the roof edge.Inverter Compatibility and Shading:
System Size and Cost:
Warranty:
Key points:
Roof Tile Compatibility:
SolarTrix tiles can only be used with Nulok’s own proprietary roofing system. Instead of a standard felt-and-batten roof, Nulok provides its own battens and vertical channels that hold both the roof tiles and the solar tiles in place. This means the system is only suitable for customers installing a full Nulok roof.
Nulok offers a range of compatible coverings, including slate and ceramic tiles, so there are different design options available. However, it cannot be integrated with other tile types or retrofitted into a standard roof.
Mounting System:
The SolarTrix solar tiles are secured through Nulok’s channel and batten design, creating a flush finish. As with most solar tile systems, they cannot be installed right to the edge of the roof and require a border of standard roof tiles for weatherproofing and stability.
Inverter Compatibility and Shading:
The SolarTrix solar roof tile system is not suitable for microinverters or optimisers and must be connected to a string inverter (e.g. Solis or Tesla Powerwall 3). Each tile includes a bypass diode, which helps mitigate shading. If a tile is shaded, the current bypasses it, preventing the output of the full string from being reduced.
System Size and Cost:
This makes the system roughly 10% more expensive per kWp than comparable solar tile systems, as the lower output per tile means more tiles are required to achieve a given capacity.
Warranty:
Ergosun solar roof tiles closely resemble standard roof tiles, with solar cells bonded directly onto the tile surface. They are available as 17.5 W all-black tiles, with terracotta options also offered at slightly lower efficiency.
Key points:
Design and Appearance:
The system is based on one of the world’s most common roof coverings: flat concrete tiles. By using standard tile bases, the solar tiles blend in seamlessly with non-solar tiles, offering strong camouflage once installed. Each tile has a hole drilled for electrical connectors and overlaps like a normal roof tile, ensuring full weatherproofing.
Mounting System:
As each tile is essentially a roof tile in itself, they are installed in the same way as standard roof tiles, overlapping to create a secure and watertight covering. Male and female MC4 connectors on the reverse allow the tiles to be linked together in series across the roof.
Inverter Compatibility and Shading:
Ergosun tiles are not compatible with microinverters or optimisers, so they must be used with a string inverter (e.g. Solis or Tesla Powerwall 3). Each tile includes a bypass diode, which ensures that shading on one tile does not significantly affect the output of the whole string.
System Size and Cost
Perhaps the most widely recognised brand of solar tiles is Tesla’s Solarglass roof, despite the fact it hasn’t even been released in the UK. We don’t yet know if or when it will be available, but it has seen a limited rollout in the US.
Key points:
Solar tiles are generally more expensive than conventional solar panels, both in terms of equipment and installation. The exact cost depends on the brand of tile, the size of the system, and the complexity of the roof.
As a guide, the following prices are typical for an 8 kW system fully installed, including scaffolding and inverter:
By comparison, a premium in-roof solar panel system such as Viridian costs around £11,500 for the same 8 kW capacity.
It’s important to note that if you are re-roofing or building a new property, you would need to pay for roof tiles anyway. Standard roofing costs in the UK average £60 per m² for concrete tiles and £85 per m² for slate tiles (tiles and labour only). For an 8 kW system covering around 42–46 m², this equates to £2,500–£3,500 of roof cost that can effectively be offset against the solar tile system.
When this offset is factored in, the cost difference between solar tiles and solar panels becomes less stark, though panels are still usually more cost-effective.
Solar panels are still ahead of solar tiles when it comes to efficiency, cost, and payback. Solar tiles trade some of this performance for appearance and planning flexibility. The table below compares three solar tile systems with a premium in-roof solar panel system from Viridian.
|
System |
Unit Size |
Units Needed |
Roof Area (m²) |
Installed Cost |
Payback Period |
Payback with Roof Offset* |
|
Viridian In-Roof |
445 W panel |
18 panels |
42.3 m² |
~£11,500 |
8 years |
6 years |
|
SolarTyle |
95 W tile |
84 tiles |
41.3 m² |
~£16,000 |
10 years |
9 years |
|
SolacTrix |
66 W tile |
121 tiles |
44.5 m² |
~£17,500 |
11 years |
9 years |
|
Ergosun |
17.5 W tile |
457 tiles |
45.7 m² |
~£24,000 |
14 years |
12 years |
*Roof offset accounts for the cost of standard roof tiles that would have been installed anyway, estimated at £2,500–£3,500 for the areas shown.
Tiles are unlikely to be as efficient as other options, such as high performance monocrystalline panels which can reach efficiencies up to 25%. Connecting tile rows in a string could also lead to reduced output if part of the roof is shaded, but this could be mitigated by using dummy panels in shaded areas.
Ultimately we’d only recommend solar tiles in a protected area or where aesthetics are crucial, due to the extra cost and efficiency limits. A nice alternative is in-roof solar panels, which sit flush with the tiles and can look very attractive.
No, solar tiles do not work with microinverters or optimisers, and a string inverter is required when installing solar roof tiles in the UK.
Yes, solar tiles are compatible with all battery storage systems and they can be AC or DC coupled.
You can find out more about domestic solar in our free guide, or give us a call on 0118 951 4490 to discuss your project:
