🎬 Multilingual subtitles
✍️ By: Team BC1.NL
What is a solar cell roof tile?
It's a roof tile that generates electricity of its own and doesn't look like a solar panel. The busbar, the conductor you see running as a line across an ordinary panel, is finished in black and colour-matched to the tile, so it's barely noticeable from the street. The house in this film has a roof just like that, quietly generating energy without anyone being able to tell.
ZEP from Urk makes the roof tile with solar cells
Discreet it certainly is. From the street, you have to look very closely at the roofs to spot whether this solar cell roof tile has been used, which means a house keeps its aesthetic appeal entirely intact.
ZEP BV from Urk is the first company in the world to bring a roof tile like this to market, putting them ahead of even Elon Musk and Tesla.
Why do people ask for this?
Because nobody finds panels attractive, says Jan Bakker of Zep BV. According to the makers, builders are hearing the question more and more often. Isn't there another way? Can't we build energy-efficiently without panels on the roof? It's the private customer who nudges the builder or architect, while developers look on with interest.
Is a roof tile as good as a solar panel?
That depends on the roof, and the makers are upfront about it. On a simple, uncomplicated roof, an ordinary solar panel comes out on top. But plenty of roofs aren't simple, with a roof vent in the way or a dormer breaking things up. The more obstacles there are, the greater the advantage of the roof tile, since it ultimately lets you fit more capacity onto that kind of roof.
What is the hybrid tile?
It's a tile still in development that captures heat for use in the home alongside generating electricity. For now, one type of roof tile is available in several colours, with two more models due this year. There's a choice at panel level too, a silver or black line, or simply red.
Optimisers lower the voltage, making it safer for the fire service
Because optimisers are used, the voltage of the entire system can be brought down. That carries a major benefit, firefighters face far less risk when tackling a blaze. With traditional solar panels, the voltage sometimes can't be lowered at all, which can bring considerable dangers with it.
A solution for listed buildings and older houses
Another added benefit is that this solar cell roof tile can also be used when renovating listed buildings, opening the door for those properties to harness solar energy as well.
