Chances are that you saw the term ‘Sole Power Tiles’ online recently. They were launched earlier this year at the American Institute of Architects 2009 National Convention and Design and has been a major topic of conversation since. The Sole Power Tiles were designed by SRS Energy and is the first building-integrated photovoltaic roofing product. It has been specially designed for curved roofing systems.

SRS Energy in unison with the American recyclable tile manufacturing company, US Tile came up with the Sole Power Tiles in the first month of 2009. The products made by the two companies come in various attractive styles and are made of materials that blend perfectly with curved roofing tiles. These tiles are fantastic replacements for the old solar panels that you might have been using for a long time. Sole Power tiles ride high on style and save you a lot of money. They generate electricity by making use of the solar energy much more effectively than any solar panel in the past.

The tiles make use of flexible solar-cell by Uni-Solar to generate as much as 500 watts of electricity per 100 square feet when used on 25% of the roof area. Sole power tiles come installed with traditional clay tile products and the tiles are lighter as compared to the orthodox ceramic tiles.

The failure of one solar tile does not mean that all solar tiles would fail to function. Other tiles continue to function even if one particular tile stops functioning. Dimensions of the tiles are 33 by 18 inches and these tiles come with a full warranty. Currently the tiles are available in blue color but you can expect a wide range of colors to hit the stores in the near future.

Similarly Lumenta’s Solar S tiles are being manufactured for profiled tile roof systems. The Solar flat tiles form a great mélange with the traditional clay and concrete products and are manufactured for flat roofs.

Source: http://www.solarfeeds.com/energy-boom/8756-stylish-roof-solar-panels-are-coming.html