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GAF Energy, a supplier of solar roofing products in North America, has announced the launch of Timberline Solar, which it describes as the world’s first nailable solar shingle.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, the Timberline Solar Energy Shingle is set to receive three awards, including its highest honor, the Best of Innovation award for “Smart Cities.” The product was also named as an Innovation Award honoree in both the “Smart Cities” and “Smart Home” categories. What sets it apart from other solar shingles like Tesla’s, for example, is that the roof system directly integrates solar technology into traditional roofing processes and materials, according to GAF Energy.
The shingles will be assembled domestically at its facility in San Jose, California, which was constructed last year after the company moved manufacturing out of South Korea. At the time, the facility was expected to be able to produce 50 MW of solar panels per year, and provide jobs to about 400 people in manufacturing, engineering and RD.
In an interview with pv magazine, Martin DeBono, GAF Energy’s president, said that RD teams will be a short stroll away from the production line. And while California and Silicon Valley are not known for their low costs, the company chose San Jose for its proximity to a talent pool that is used to innovating for companies such as Apple and Google.
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GAF Energy says that Timberline Solar shingles are water-shedding, strong and warranted to withstand wind speeds of up to 130 mph. Rack-mounted solar installations require the drilling of dozens of holes into the roof membrane. Any resulting damage related to those holes is not typically covered by roof warranties.
GAF Energy is the sister company of GAF, a leading roofing and waterproofing company. With access to GAF’s national contractor network, GAF Energy is uniquely positioned to bring residential solar to the mass market.
“Solar roofs are the future of clean energy, and Timberline Solar is the game-changing innovation that will get us there,” said Martin DeBono, president of GAF Energy.
The Timberline Solar design has secured UL 7103 certification, which authorizes GAF Energy to install the systems on residential rooftops as a roofing product and a solar energy product, making it the first of its kind to be recognized as both. In addition, GAF Energy has worked with Sandia National Laboratories, a U.S. Department of Energy RD lab, to verify the strength, durability and overall market-readiness of the product.
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Anne Fischer is a senior editor at pv magazine USA. Anne is a seasoned writer, editor, and journalist.
GAF Energy’s “Nailable” Timberline Solar Shingles
US company GAF Energy unveiled its Timberline Solar roof shingle product yesterday, and it’s created a fair bit of buzz.
GAF Energy’s sister company GAF seems to know a thing or two about roofing. The company claims that of the five million new roofs installed across the USA each year, a quarter of those come from GAF – so its move into developing a Building-Integrated PV (BIPV) product isn’t suprising.
“Solar roofs are the future of clean energy, and Timberline Solar is the game-changing innovation that will get us there,” said Martin DeBono. president of GAF Energy.
The shingles come in long strips with connectors on the front face, which are protected by conduit when installed. All that’s needed for installation in terms of tools is a nail gun, wielded by a GAF certified installer.
This isn’t a retrofit solution – it’s for new roofs or for full roof replacements.
The nailable Timberline Solar shingles are warranted to withstand winds up to 130 mph (around 210 kph). Just on warranty, there’s 25 years of coverage against manufacturing defects that cause leaks, 15 years against wind damage caused by winds up to 130 mph and 25 years of coverage for performance. I didn’t see mention of a specific product warranty, but that’s assumed to be covered under performance 1. There are also extended warranties that can be purchased.
Show Me The Money (And Specifications)
GAF Energy did a bang-up job of getting attention for the Timberline Solar launch, but is vague in its promo on a lot of the nitty-gritty (and the not-so). This isn’t uncommon when new solar products are launched, but disappointing nonetheless.
There wasn’t any mention of cost, but if it comes in well under the very pricey Tesla Solar Roof (not yet available in Australia) and assuming it’s a solid product; it could go gangbusters in the USA. Rumour has it Timberline will be around half the cost of Tesla Solar Roof.
To GAF Energy’s credit, they haven’t over-hyped the potential financial benefits – stating it “may” pay for itself over time:
You’d want it to – otherwise, there’s not a lot of point aside from the emissions reduction benefits and aesthetics – and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I couldn’t find a spec sheet for the solar shingle product on GAF Energy’s web site, but I was able to glean specifications for Timberline Solar elsewhere:
- Dimensions: 1,632 x 435 x 26mm
- Weight: 4.58kg
- Avg. ambient temperature range:.40°C – 50°C
- Capacity: 45W
- Cell type: Monocrystalline PERC
- Temperature Coefficient (Voc).0.30%/°C
- Temperature Coefficient (Pmax)-0.39%/°C
The solar roof shingles are to be assembled at GAF Energy’s manufacturing and RD facility in San Jose, California.
Timberline Solar certainly impressed judges at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, taking out the Best of Innovation (Smart Cities) award, and was named an honoree in Best of Innovation (Smart Home).
Will Timberline Solar Be Available In Australia?
GAF Energy hasn’t said. While shingle roofs aren’t all that common in Australia, I noticed a company in Victoria installing them that is the exclusive distributor of GAF roofing products locally. So, GAF gear is here, and perhaps the Timberline Solar shingle product will follow.
“You can’t get energy from every roof unless everyone can choose a solar roof,” says GAF Energy. “With our breakthrough technology and commitment to roofing excellence, we’re working hard to make that happen, as quickly as possible.”
But I’m not sure if they had Australians in mind as Americans can have odd interpretations of the term “everyone”.
Footnotes
- Solar panels usually come with two warranties – product, which warrants against defects in workmanship, and performance, which warrants power output over X years – commonly 25. The relationship between product and performance warranties is a bit fuzzy, but the product warranty is the most important one. ↩
Straight from the source: roofers react to Timberline Solar™
With a GAF Energy solar roof, you’ll not only get a roof that’s durable and has curb appeal, it’s also financially Smart, since you can save on your energy bills over time.
“With Resnick Roofing and GAF Energy, we had a clear sense that we would be working with good teams. It made the jump to solar easy when we needed a new roof.”
We’ve got you covered
A GAF Energy solar roof makes it easy for you to choose a cutting-edge roofing option, one that is also reliable, certified by key testing agencies like UL to meet the highest standards.
Working with a GAF-certified roofer, too, means you’re working with those who know roofing best–and you have the option to be covered under an industry-leading warranty.
This warranty is backed by our partnership with GAF, a company that has been in business for more than 100 years.
“The overall cost of my roof with the solar was surprisingly affordable and the financing they offered was very competitive. Having the same installer for both the shingles and solar simplified the installation process and eliminated the need for contacting multiple parties if any issues arise.”
Solar Shingles
Are you interested in offsetting your energy bills and creating clean energy—but also deterred by bulky, rack-mounted solar panels? If so, you’ll love the sleek, modern design of GAF Timberline ® Solar!
Christian Brothers Roofing has partnered as an exclusive roofing company with GAF ® —the leading roofing brand in North America—to bring the company’s cutting-edge, sleek, watertight solar shingles to homeowners in Kansas City.
What Is GAF Timberline Solar?
GAF Timberline Solar is a new, award-winning advancement in solar technology. Unlike cumbersome rack-mounted solar panels of the past, these solar shingles shield your home from the elements just like a traditional roofing system—but they generate clean energy too!
We’re proud to be the highest-certified roofing company with GAF in Kansas City. We’ve earned the Master Elite Certification and the GAF President’s Club Award for our commitment to performance, reliability, and service!
Why Are Solar Shingles Superior to Solar Panels Traditional Roofing Systems?
Sleek Appearance
Traditional solar panels are bulky, unattractive eyesores that are just unsightly enough to steer style-conscious homeowners away.
GAF Timberline Solar offers the perfect solution. These solar shingles are installed flush to the roof (as opposed to 6–10 inches above) to provide an aesthetically-pleasing alternative to traditional solar panels. Plus, GAF Timberline roofing shingles without solar capabilities are designed to match the size, shape, and color of solar shingles for a seamless appearance.
Durable Performance
Rack-mounted solar panels require dozens of penetrations through the roof for the solar panel footings to be attached—creating vulnerabilities and opportunities for moisture damage. Plus, after panels are installed, they make a perfect hiding place for rodents, pests, and debris.
GAF Timberline Solar guarantees a waterproof roofing system for 25 years, and since the solar system is flush with your roofing shingles, you won’t have to worry about pest damage.
Affordable Price
GAF Timberline Solar installation costs about the same as a complete roof replacement or solar panel installation. Christian Brothers Roofing offers financing plans that can nearly match the current monthly payment on your electric bill. GAF Timberline Solar also has a great return on investment—most homeowners make their money back in 6–10 years. Plus, with a 25-year power output warranty, you’re guaranteed to earn back your investment (and save even more!) throughout your solar roof’s lifespan.