A guide to solar roof tiles for your home

• Solar roof tiles work the same as solar panels 
• Modern tiles are sleek and subtle, but more expensive than solar panels
• Solar roof tiles have an efficiency rating of between 10% and 23%

Solar energy can cut energy bills by more than 70% and the UK government is investing a large amount financially into improving the UK’s solar capacity. 

A type of solar energy is solar roof tiles, which are slightly different to other types of solar technology as they blend seamlessly with your roof, while providing your home with green electricity. 

This makes them the perfect match for people who want to benefit from cheaper energy bills and renewable energy, but don’t like the look of solar panels.

As solar roof tiles are a more niche product, available in different variations to match your roof, and installing them means re-tiling your roof, they are more expensive to buy and install than solar panels.

But are they as efficient as regular solar panels? That depends. In some instances, solar roof tiles can even outperform solar panels (but more on that later).

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about solar roof tiles, including how much they cost, where you can get them in the UK and the best brands to look out for.

What are solar roof tiles?

Just like solar panels, solar roof tiles convert sunlight into electricity, but they’re made to look just like traditional roof tiles. Some models are actual roof tiles with integrated solar cells.

Because traditional solar panels are quite bulky and need to be mounted directly on top of your existing roof, some people are put off by their appearance. They can also contrast with the colour and texture of existing roofing materials, such as clay tiles or natural slates. That’s where solar roof tiles come in.

As Chris Hall, director of TBS Specialist Products told The Eco Experts, “wherever you can install a roof tile, you can install a solar tile”.

Solar tiles were invented for people who wanted a more subtle solar-powered home – and are prepared to pay more for these products.

However, unlike solar panels, you can’t just swap out a couple of roofing tiles here or there to install a solar tile roof. You need to replace the whole thing.

For this reason, those considering getting solar roof tiles are often advised to wait until your existing roof is at the end of its life. They are also an excellent choice for anyone building their home from scratch.

Since you’re installing a new roof anyway, why not get one that can repay your investment?

Should I buy solar roof tiles?

If you want to benefit from solar power for your home but would love  to preserve the aesthetics of a tiled roof, solar roof tiles might be the way to go. Sometimes called “invisible solar,” solar tiles are also a great option for solar power upgrades to listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas.

They are also fantastic for complex roofs with cross-gables, dormer windows, sloped gables, and other non-standard pitched roofs.

In most cases, using solar tiles allows for much larger solar installations (in terms of area) than traditional solar panels.

With more and more solar tiles coming onto the market, the problem at the moment is that there are far fewer qualified and experienced installers out there than there are for conventional solar panels.

While this shouldn’t put you off, it is important to consider the lead time between an installer providing you with a quote, and your solar roof tiles being up and operational – particularly if you are considering solar tiles as part of a larger renovation project where timing is critical.

Depending on the make and model, solar tiles come in various colours and materials, with suppliers offering options to suit different roof designs.

They are best suited to new home-building projects, or for tiling roofs that are already in need of re-tiling.

If you have a relatively new roof and are looking to make the switch to solar power, conventional solar panels will be more cost-effective.

Chris from TBS says that only about 10% of their installs are retrofits for existing homes, with the other 90% for new builds.

You usually won’t need planning permission for solar tiles.

Your tiles will not protrude more than 20 cm from your roof, so they’ll almost certainly fall under the ‘permitted development’ category of home improvements.

The only exceptions are if your home is a listed building or in a conservation area.

As far as cleaning goes, you won’t need to, unless you live in a particularly dry and dusty environment. The rain will keep solar tiles clean enough to keep operating efficiently, according to most manufacturers.

The one bit of maintenance you should do is make sure to keep your solar tiles clear of any debris, such as branches or leaves. And if you do feel you need to clean them, you should hose your roof down from the ground.

What are the benefits of solar roof tiles?

These are the benefits of installing solar roof tiles: 

• They’re sleek and subtle: The biggest advantage of solar tiles is their stylish appearance. With solar panels on your roof, it’s usually pretty obvious they’re up there – for some people, this is a good thing, but for others, subtlety is key. Solar tiles give you renewable energy without blowing your cover. 
• No glass, no glare: Another benefit of most solar tiles is they produce little to no glare. This is because rather than using glass, they typically have a mineral coating instead. This also enables most of them to continue producing electricity in low light when traditional solar panels can suffer.
• They don’t get too hot: Solar tiles are typically integrated into a regular roof tile, like a concrete tile. These tiles act like heat sinks, meaning PV elements of the tile don’t get excessively hot, and therefore become less efficient, compared to less traditional solar panels. This setup also means birds can’t nest behind the solar tiles, which can be a disadvantage of conventional panels. 
• Ideal for listed buildings and complex roof forms: If you’re lucky enough to live in a listed property, or within a conservation area, you might not be allowed to mess with the appearance of your home. Fortunately, solar tiles are a great way to keep the switch to solar sneaky. But please consult your local authority before proceeding. 
• Smaller unit size: Easier to cover more of the available roof space, especially on complex roof shapes, around dormers or Velux windows, where you would struggle to fit traditional large modules. 
• More durable: Solar tiles are tough as nails – Tesla’s, for example, are up to three times tougher than traditional tiles – so they’ll give your roof strong protection. When the hail gets hard, or the storms, your tiles will face it all with grit and resilience. Tesla even dropped a kettlebell on their solar tile to prove its strength. They are also easier to replace. 

How much do solar roof tiles cost?

An average of 3.5 kW solar roof tile system will cost you £9,500.

Information last updated in March 2025.

By contrast, on average, 3.5kW worth of solar panels will set you back £7,026. But remember, you are also getting a new roof with your solar tiles, so direct price comparison is slightly misleading.

To give you some idea, the average cost to replace a roof in the UK is £5,500. If you’re looking at roofing with solar tiles, you could spend anywhere between £3,000 and £18,000.

But the cost is only part of the story. Remember that solar tiles are effectively little solar panels that will generate electricity and eventually pay for themselves from the savings you’ll make on your energy bills.

How efficient are solar tiles?

Solar tiles typically have an efficiency rating of around 10%-23%, making them, on average, less efficient than typical solar panels, which are 18%-25% efficient. 

There are cases where solar tiles are much more efficient than panels. The first is shading from trees or buildings, which can temporarily dramatically reduce the overall efficiency of traditional solar panel installations. 

This can be an issue for some. Solar tiles need a pitch angle above 14-15 degrees, so they are unsuitable for flat roofs. 

Although solar panels usually have the same limitation because they are typically installed parallel to the existing roof, they can be angled using frames on flat roofs or ground installations. This isn’t possible with solar tiles. 

Solar roof tiles can also last up to 30 years, which is the same lifespan as solar panels. 

Are solar roof tiles available in the UK?

The available materials are: 

• Tyle – Each tile generates 100W and comes with a market-standard product warranty of 10 years and performance warranty of 25 years
• XO Edge – London-based XO Edge says it can install its sleek-looking black and silver tiles on your roof within eight weeks of purchase. Each tile generates 12W and you’ll need around 13 tiles per square metre. You need 6.5 square metres of roof tiles per kW of energy generated, which is approximately 84 tiles. 
• Marley SolarTile – Each tile generates 335W at an efficiency of 20.7% and the company offers a 15-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty. 
• GB-SOL solar tiles – Located in Pontypridd, Wales, GB-SOL solar tiles are lighter than traditional tiles, at 3.5kg per slate, which means you could replace your roof without having to strengthen your property’s structure.
• Solecco Solar – Solecco Solar offers tiles in eight different colours, from smooth grey to terracotta and old English dark red. A 4kW system will cost around £12,000. 
• Edilians solar tiles – Edilians make two types of solar tiles, Solar Max and HP 10 Solar. The Solar Max have an aluminium casing and are larger, fitting two per square metre, while the HP 10 have a clay support and fit five per square metre. Both are available in slate or red colours.
• Ergosun – Ergosun Solar Roof Tiles were designed by an engineer in Derbyshire, they are now installed across three continents. They are large-format roof tiles that can have grey or terracotta colour-matched solar PV modules installed to give the most discreet solar array available. 
• Tesla solar tiles – Tesla tiles are extremely tough (up to three-times stronger than a traditional roof tile), available in four styles (Textured, Smooth, Slate, or Tuscan), and have an ‘infinite’ warranty. If you want them, you just have to wait a while. 

Are Tesla roof tiles available in the UK? 

Tesla solar roof tiles aren’t currently available in the UK, and it’s unclear when, if at all, they will be. 

If Tesla solar roof tiles become available, the company said they will cost $21.85 (£17.23) per square foot. That’s equivalent to $235.12 (£185.37) per square metre. 

Based on this, here are the expected costs of a Tesla solar roof: 

However, Elon Musk admitted in 2021 that the cost to consumers could be up to three times higher than Tesla’ initial estimate, according to Verge. 

Musk is a strong supporter of solar energy, for domestic and commercial purposes, and has attempted to make Tesla an integrated energy company through these rooftop panels and solar battery systems. 

You can find out more about what Musk is doing to improve the environment through our guide: Is Elon Musk good for the planet?

Are solar roof tiles better than ordinary solar panels?

Solar panels are still the better investment overall compared to solar roof tiles. 

Roof tiles are expensive because you are ultimately installing a new roof, and while they look great, they can be less efficient than solar panels. As we’ve mentioned, solar tiles tend to range between 10% and 20%, although some models approach the best solar panels, topping at around 23%. For comparison, traditional solar panels generally achieve 18-25% efficiency. 

You’re also looking at a longer installation time. This is because replacing a whole roof takes far longer than just sticking on a few solar panels. The average time frame is five-to-seven business days, according to Tesla, but this will vary depending on your personal circumstances. 

What’s more, if it’s an existing roof, rather than a new build, the work will include stripping tiles and installing new ones. All of these factors will drive up the cost.

Summary

• Solar energy can cut energy bills by more than 70% and the UK government is investing a large amount financially into improving the UK’s solar capacity
• Solar tiles typically have an efficiency rating of around 10%-23%, making them, on average, less efficient than typical solar panels, which are 18%-25% efficient
• The biggest advantage of solar tiles is their stylish appearance
• As solar roof tiles are a more niche product, available in different variations to match your roof, and installing them means re-tiling your roof, they are more expensive to buy and install than solar panels
• Solar tiles need a pitch angle above 14-15 degrees, so they are unsuitable for flat roofs.

Written by

Christopher McFadden Contributor

Christopher is an Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) specialist with extensive experience advising consumer and trade clients on energy efficiency and sustainability.

With a Master’s in Earth Sciences from Cardiff University, Christopher has attained professional energy and sustainability auditing qualifications and various postgraduate certificates and diplomas. He is a qualified and accredited Level 3 and Level 4 non-domestic and domestic energy assessor, a Green Deal assessor, and a Practitioner member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). He also recently qualified as a level 5 Retrofit coordinator.

In addition to his day job, Christopher has also honed his skills as a STEM writer for several well-known online publishers, sharing his knowledge and passion for science, engineering, and dinosaurs with millions of readers around the world.

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Tamara Birch Senior writer

Tamara is a London-based journalist and has written about environmental topics for more than four years. This includes advising small business owners on cost-effective ways, like solar panels and energy-efficient products, to help them become more sustainable.

She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs.

In addition to adopting sustainable practices in her personal life, Tamara has worked in the retail B2B space to help independent retailers think about their environmental choices and how they can help improve their business. She now uses this knowledge to help consumers do the same.

Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.

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