Tesla’s solar roof is dead — here’s what went wrong

Nearly a decade ago, Tesla unveiled its solar roof, essentially a miniature power plant disguised as high-end shingles, terra-cotta tiles, or sleek slate slabs. Now, the solar roof is dead; Tesla has removed all public references to the product from its website. The solar roof URL now leads to the company's general solar landing page, and all support pages have redirected as well. Electrek initially reported the product's disappearance.

However, like several other Tesla projects, the solar roof might still have a future beyond the company. Two solar installers told TechCrunch that their businesses were still selling the solar roof, but one noted the availability would depend on the project timeline, suggesting Tesla is trying to sell off any remaining inventory. The extent of this inventory could determine how long the solar roof remains available.

Tesla had grand ambitions for the product, targeting 1,000 installations per week. Yet, as of 2022, production had slowed to between 20 and 40 installations per week. From the outset, the solar roof was positioned as a luxury item, with costs surpassing those of standard solar panels plus roof replacement. Even with factoring in roof replacement, the product's price could be prohibitively high, with quotes reaching up to $200,000.

Despite advancements in silicon-based technology, the solar roof remained an outlier. Regular panels became more affordable due to their mass production and standardization, whereas the solar roof's unique tiles necessitated bespoke manufacturing equipment. As sales did not meet expectations, the cost of this equipment increased.

Physics posed additional challenges to the project. Solar panels exposed to full sunlight must contend with heat, and early reports indicated the solar roof's non-solar components warping and roof underlayment melting. More concerning for Tesla were reports of underperformance. The system was not generating as much electricity as Tesla claimed.

While the root cause remains unclear, heat is a likely contributor. Like most electronic devices, solar panels perform optimally in cooler conditions — voltage typically decreases by about half a percent for every degree Celsius. Tesla's solar roof incorporated a smaller gap between the panels and the roof to enhance efficiency.

However, this smaller gap may have resulted in higher temperatures, reducing the efficiency of the solar cells. With Tesla now promoting traditional solar panels, does this signal the end of integrated solar roofs? For now, it is uncertain. Other manufacturers like GAF and Merlin Solar continue to pursue the market. Given the specific aesthetic preferences of some buyers, companies are likely to remain interested.

Nevertheless, Tesla's decision might deal a significant blow to the concept of a solar roof. If a global tech giant cannot make it work, it raises questions about the viability of the entire concept. Alternatively, it could be seen as a challenge to any aspiring entrepreneur daring to prove Elon Musk wrong.