The overall $50+ billion US solar market continues to expand rapidly, however, the solar rooftop residential market has grown at drastically slower pace vs the commercial and utility solar market. Unappealing aesthetics have been cited as a key factor in surveys in a homeownerâs decision not to invest in a solar roof, despite potential cost savings from increased energy efficiency. Current designs also bring installation challenges that further reduce demand. The objective of our 3âtab solar shingle project is to complete the research and development required to transform a laboratory prototype into a preproduction product ready for industry certification. The project approach is focussed on achieving the following specific outputs: Comparable aesthetics, shape, size, and weight of standard nonâsolar commercial asphalt shingles. Installed and repaired using standard well accepted shingle installation techniques and tooling with minimal new skills required of the roofers. When fully commercialized has an installed cost comparable to solar roofing competitors. Offers a choice of colors similar to asphalt shingle options. An electricty conversion efficiency comparable or better to competitive solar roof products. Building upon six years of development work that led to a laboratory solar shingle prototype, this project will transform the laboratory prototype into a preproduction prototype that is suitable for industry certification. The project will revalidate laboratory test results, optimize material selection for cost and performance based on current materials, finalize cell size and type, and manufacture sufficient units for testing to industry standards at an independent laboratory. Special attention will be focused on aesthetics features of shape, color, and texture to match as best possible widely used asphalt shingles. Seven percent of existing homes have a roof replacement every year and 5 million singleâfamily homes are built each year. The adoption of the SunShingleTM has the potential to move solar roofing from a minor curiosity largely for the wealthy to a mainstream solar solution. Dramatic cuts in CO2 emissions will be achieved by substituting distributed generated solar generated electricity for central station fossil fueled power stations. Furthermore, this project will open up solar roofing potential to households with median incomes not just the top wage earners thus providing the average householder with significant savings. Both residential and commercial buildings with owners that care about aesthetics that typically use asphalt roofing and will benefit from this re
