Tesla has solely put in 3,000 Photo voltaic Roof methods within the U.S., far under forecast, research finds

Tesla has solely put in 3,000 of its Photo voltaic Roof methods within the U.S. since touting the know-how seven years in the past, in line with new analysis from Wooden Mackenzie.

That set up charge falls nicely shy of Tesla’s steering and ambitions for what it beforehand known as its “photo voltaic glass” roof tiles. Wooden Mackenzie notes that in late 2019 the corporate stated it was aiming to fabricate 1,000 Photo voltaic Roofs weekly, and to put in 1,000 per week within the first half of 2020.

The report gives the newest glimpse into Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s battle to combine a photo voltaic power enterprise into his electrical automobile firm following the 2016 acquisition of SolarCity, a photo voltaic installer based and run by his cousins Peter and Lyndon Rive along with his assist.

Common weekly Tesla Photo voltaic Roof installations reached simply 21 in 2022, Wooden Mackenzie stated. Tesla hit a excessive of 32 common weekly installations within the U.S. within the first quarter of final yr, in line with the research.

Musk first promoted a shingle-style photo voltaic panel in October 2016, as he was making an attempt to garner shareholder enthusiasm for Tesla’s $2.6 billion buy of SolarCity. The shingle he confirmed at a advertising occasion was not even a working prototype, it was later revealed. Musk had invested important capital in SolarCity, and served as board chairman whereas additionally helming Tesla and SpaceX.

A bunch of Tesla shareholders ultimately sued Tesla and Musk over the deal. Final yr, the Delaware Court docket of Chancery dominated in favor of Musk in a bench trial. However the shareholders’ attorneys on Wednesday made their opening arguments in pursuit of an enchantment in Delaware Supreme Court docket.

Shareholders alleged that Tesla’s SolarCity buy amounted to a bailout and was pushed by Musk as a result of his private wealth and status had been at stake. Musk has denied that he pressured the Tesla board to undergo with the SolarCity deal. Had he misplaced, Musk might have been pressured to pay upwards of $2 billion, CNBC beforehand reported.

Whereas Tesla’s Photo voltaic Roof effort has struggled, the corporate’s conventional photo voltaic panels have seen some improved traction available in the market.

The normal solar-panel installations shrank significantly from 2016 to 2020, however volumes have been on the rise together with broader progress within the residential photo voltaic trade, Mackenzie Wooden researchers informed CNBC in an e-mail. Tesla put in conventional photo voltaic panel methods with an influence producing capability of 156 megawatts in 2021, and 248 megawatts in 2022, the researchers stated.

The three,000 Photo voltaic Roof methods which are put in within the U.S. have an estimated capability of round 30 megawatts.

Whereas Tesla supposed to fabricate all of its photo voltaic roof tiles initially, it has as a substitute procured photovoltaic glass from Chinese language provider, Almaden. Residential roofing firm GAF Power started manufacturing and promoting a competing photo voltaic shingle to residential roofers in 2022.

The Tesla Photo voltaic Roof commanded lower than .03% of the roughly 5 million new rooftops constructed within the U.S. in 2022, in line with Wooden Mackenzie.

After publication of this story, Tesla Photo voltaic tweeted that the research “is wrong by a big margin.”

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