Sven Lindström, CEO of solar tech company Midsummer, says that he finds Tesla?s and SolarCity?s launch of multiple styled solar roof tiles replicating original tile aesthetics very encouraging. Midsummer is the leading technology provider of equipment for cost-effective manufacturing of flexible CIGS thin film solar cells.
?This is great news and exactly what the solar energy, roofing and building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) industries need,” he said. “As Musk points out, it’s not that complicated. Tiles with integrated PV have been around for years and may now finally take off in a big way.? 
Electric vehicles maker Tesla Motors Inc. recently presented a solar roof product developed with SolarCity. The shingles are made from quartz glass and solar cells. The solution will cost less than a traditional roof when the expected utility bill savings are taken into account, the company says. In Elon Musk’s plan, the solar roof is not a lonely product. The solar tiles are one element of a three-part solution, including also energy storage and electric cars. In Sven Lindström?s recent analysis ?Solar on houses needed for 2020 target?, he says the future of urban solar energy lies in integrating PV into roofing materials and facades already at the factory. Commenting on the Tesla-SolarCity tiles, he said, ?Starting with Tesla and the electric cars: Most major car companies has had concept cars with more or less success, but never really launche...