Volt Solar Tiles: Accelerating Global Adoption of Solar Through the Design of Affordable and Accessible Solar Tiles

Volt recognised the global need to increase the integration of solar tiles into rooftops. Despite the availability of solar tiles in some markets, their widespread adoption remains limited due to the high cost and the technical challenges associated with their installation. Our design challenge was to develop a solar tile that is highly efficient and available at a lower cost, also suitable for the international market by being adaptable to the unique requirements that different construction methods impose, whilst ensuring that installation was as simple as possible to ensure scalability.

Volt’s design solution centres on creating solar tiles that meet the different electrical and PV standards in different regions. The goal is to provide a simple, one-piece product that can be installed just like standard roof tiles. This simplifies the installation process, reducing cost and allowing scalability in different countries. Additionally, Volt is designed to be compatible with roof tiles in 82+ countries, which minimises the labour and training needed for installation, making it a versatile solution that can be adopted across most countries. Further cost savings came by minimising thermal mass and maintaining solar panel manufacturing principles.

This design approach has led to remarkable commercial success, with over A$1 million in sales within a year of launch and partnerships with 65+ distribution partners across various industries worldwide. Environmentally, Volt systems worldwide have so far avoided 173,000 kilograms of CO2 released into the atmosphere since our first installation in late 2022. With its lower price point, Volt has also made visually appealing solar tiles available to not only high-income earners but also first-home buyers, evidence of this has been through our partnerships with Australian volume builders.

Patent-pending interlock system: Allows Volt to click with each other and its corresponding roof tiles, enabling installation in high-wind regions. Low thermal mass: Result in a lightweight design that simplifies installation Passable above your head to a roof, many products weigh 4 times as much and are not long enough to pass from the ground to a single-story roof. Improved performance, the low thermal mass reduces heat and increases the power output. Lower cost due to less material. Volt tiles weigh only 29% of equivalent roof tiles and standard solar panel systems, minimising the need for additional structural support. Integrated Cable Containment system: Reduces installation time as no cable work is required. Passes the world’s strictest electrical and PV standards by fully encapsulating cables in metal. Eliminates the need for additional cable containment, reducing the system cost MWT cells: Improved aesthetics by removing busbars from the front of solar cells. Increase solar tile efficiency, making Volt the world’s most powerful. Improved temperature coefficient, improving power output in hot conditions. Anodised Aluminium Frame: Encapsulation of solar laminate, improving the durability and longevity of the solar tile. Improve colour performance. Lower cost due to the use of an accessible and durable material.