With the introduction of an Australian-engineered roof solar PV tile, able to produce the same amount of energy as a regular solar panel for a price comparable to more expensive rooftop solar systems, the evolution of the solar roof tile has taken a hopeful new direction.
The roof solar tile, called Volt, was launched globally and announced by Leeson Group, a diverse group of Australian renewable energy companies.
The appointment of La Escandella as its distributor outside of Australia, the largest manufacturer of terracotta roof tiles in the world, the launch of Volt will see new export opportunities for Volt to be sold in 85 countries, including Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Bristile Roofing will serve as Volt’s roofing partner in Australia.
According to Melbourne-based renewable energy business, Leeson Group and a subsidiary of Volt Solar Tile, the Australian-designed building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roof tile has the highest wattage of any solar tile on the global market with a maximum power output of 115 W. The Australian-engineered roof solar product has up to 19.3% solar or energy efficiency.
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Volt solar tile products
The Lodge, designed to fit common flat concrete solar roof tiles, and the Planum, modelled like more expensive terracotta tiles, are the two module styles that Volt Solar Tiles will use to target the new house market in Australia and overseas.
The Planum tile is made to suit terracotta tiles produced by La Escandella, while the Volt Lodge solar tile connects with Bristile’s line of concrete roof tiles.
The Volt Planum and Lodge mono PERC solar tiles are the first in the world, according to Peter Leeson, managing director of Leeson Group and creator and director of Volt Solar Tile, to be able to produce as much electricity as a typical solar PV panel.
The 115W MWT mono PERC Planum module offers a very competitive 18.8% efficiency in generation capacity. In contrast, the Volt Lodge 105W MWT mono PERC module is even better, with a solar efficiency of 19.3%.
The solar tiles include a matte-black glass surface, a black aluminium frame, and a built-in cable containment system that removes the need for live cables in the roof. They are each 1.7 m x 0.44 m and 1.65 m x 0.44 m in size and weigh 10 kg. The solar tiles have their drainage channels and gutters and are made to blend seamlessly with other solar roof tiles.
When placed with its all-black components and a safer built-in interlocking cable containment system, Volt solar tiles produce a seamless appearance on rooftops by utilising a special Metal Wrap Through (MWT) cell technology and a busbar-free design to boost the efficiency of solar cells.
Volt solar tiles are half that of other solar tile systems and a quarter of the price of integrated solar roofs from its competitors. After small-scale technology certificate (STC) deductions, a 5kW Volt solar tile system costs $12,000 to install.
The solar tiles have already obtained TUV certification, and it is awaiting accreditation from the Clean Energy Council (CEC) for its approved product list. The solar tiles are covered by a 30-year performance warranty and a 15-year product warranty.
“Our energy system is evolving from a centralised carbon emitting system to a renewable, decentralised system; these changes create many technical hurdles that require great minds to solve. Our engineering capabilities, combined with our development and construction experience, allow us to understand better our client’s needs and provide solutions that others can’t,” said Peter Leeson.
“Australian engineered solar technologies are highly regarded around the world and recognised for their innovation and quality. Our partnership with Bristile Roofing and La Escandella will allow us to expand our market share in the solar tile industry. In the future, Volt solar tiles will be Australian-made as we plan to manufacture our solar tiles in Australia and produce them at a competitive price.”
Terracotta tiles vs Concrete tiles
Terracotta and concrete are the two main materials used to design roofs. Both kinds of tiles are practical roofing options for modern buildings.
Terracotta tiles
Terracotta tiles are made from clay moulded after being cooked at a low temperature. Even though terracotta naturally comes in a spectrum of colours from the lightest grey to the darkest reddish black, frequently identify terracotta tiles with the warm brownish-orange colour popular abroad. They are highly dependable and are quite well-liked for their aesthetic value. The materials standards for terracotta tiles are always very high, making them fantastic choices for nearly any home.
The weight element is significant, as terracotta tiles are lighter than concrete. The weight of the heavier concrete tiles on larger roofs might matter structurally.
Additionally, terracotta tiles retain their colour better and longer than concrete tiles.
Concrete tiles
Strong, adaptable, and durable concrete tiles. Concrete is injected into a mould filled with cellulose to provide the basic material for concrete roof tiles. The tile is then removed after it has hardened. That is an important factor, especially in light of continuous maintenance expenses. Modern concrete tiles are available in a huge variety of colours. Although they might not survive as long as terracotta tiles, these colours last a very long time.
More affordable than terracotta tiles are concrete tiles. Considering a sizable investment for your roofing, you should examine the relative costs of concrete and terracotta. Consult your roofing contractor for the best budget choices for these two types of roofing tiles.
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