Solar panels that also act as roofing tiles have been unveiled by Elon Musk, chief executive of energy storage and car company Tesla.
Musk, the chief executive of Tesla Motors and chairman of SolarCity, showcased a line of high-design solar roof tiles that would replace clunky solar panels and tie into an upgraded version of the Tesla wall-mounted battery for those times when the sun doesn’t shine.
The glass solar shingles resemble French slate, Tuscan barrel tile or more conventional roofing materials with a textured or smooth surface.
The tiles are intended to be an attractive, simple and cost effective option for consumers moving to solar energy.
“The key is it needs to be beautiful, affordable, and seamlessly integrated,” said Mr Musk said at the unveiling, which took place on a former set of television programme Desperate Housewives.
He continued: “If all those things are true, why would you go in any other direction?”
They will also be stronger than traditional tiling and “should last longer than the house” they are on, according to Mr Musk.
Close up of the solar roof pic.twitter.com/kDsSqtTWK7
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 29, 2016
A price was not released for the product but Musk said it would be cheaper than fitting a normal roof and solar panels.
The products will be rolled out in 2017.
by 