Tractile Features

The returns from investing in a Tractile Solar Roof comprise both quantitative and qualitative returns. Quantitative returns are most directly impacted by factors including system size and cost, rebates and incentives, financing terms, and cost of alternate energy. Qualitative returns deliver value, such as: energy independence and being able to live off-grid, safety in extreme weather events, enjoyment of the look and feel of the home, less maintenance, and future resale value. Good design will maximise the financial returns.

As a guide, for a typical house the savings on energy costs alone provide payback periods of 5-7 years for residential properties generating power for domestic consumption (no feedback to grid) and 3-4 years for residential properties generating power for domestic consumption and to charge an electric car.

After the payback period is complete the Tractile Solar Roof provides free energy.

Integrating photovoltaics into the roof tile delivers an improved look of the roof, and also delivers a number of functional benefits:

• Increasing the electricity produced by the photovoltaic modules – the cooling effect reduces thermal resistance.
• Cooling the photovoltaic cells reduces degradation – reducing long-term heat exposure results in longer lasting efficiency.
• Increase overall energy efficiency – Photovoltaic cells are generally 20% efficient, so rather than waste the remaining 80% we use the thermal to harvest more of this energy, increasing efficiency per square metre.
• Energy storage – Heated water is a store of energy and in a typical household around 40% of energy consumption is used to heat water.
• Insulation – Reducing heat load on the house as heat is captured in the skin of the building and piped away so less air conditioning is needed for cooling.

Tractile is offered with several different coatings options to meet the requirements and/or requests of customers. All coatings are considered safe. At this time if rainwater from the roof is intended to be collected for drinking water, we recommend DULUX paints who provide several paint systems formulated for potable drinking water. 

Maintenance is kept to a minimum as a Tractile roof is resistant to corrosion from salt spray and air pollution. As with any photovoltaic surface, if you live in dry and dusty areas you may want to rinse the solar tiles occasionally to improve their performance.

Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal (BIPV-T) is an emerging and innovative solution to maximise the functionality of your building, to not only protect the home from the elements but also harvest renewable energy.

Other solar roof tiles can suffer from overheating which reduces performance. Tractile solar roof tiles pipe water through the system to increase the electricity output and heat household water in the process. This has the added effect of better insulating the home than other common roofing materials.