Solar shingles or solar roofs are an attractive option for many homeowners because they allow you to get solar power without the bulky and unsightly solar panels. Other models on the market include the Tesla Solar Roof, which CNET has reviewed, Luma, Timberline and others.
The latest addition to the market comes from Jackery. Unveiled at CES 2025, its new solar roof stands out (or rather, it doesn’t) because it’s almost indistinguishable from a regular roof. With curved roof tile panels that come with a dark obsidian and terra-cotta options (more to follow), the Jackery Solar Roof can be added on top of your existing roof tiles, blending into the rest of your architecture. Each roof tile weighs about 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms).
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Jackery says its solar roof has a 25% cell conversion efficiency, putting it on the high end of solar panel efficiency. Lab testing on the Maxeon 7, the best currently on the market, shows 24.9% cell conversion efficiency and real-world efficiency at 24.1%. If the Jackery solar roof can actually hit 25% in real-world usage, that’s an impressive feat, and it would make it one of the most efficient solar cells on the market.
In terms of other specs, the rooftop system can generate 170 watts per square meter, with each tile 38W. The tiles come with a 30-year warranty and they’re designed to handle extreme weather conditions, including hail and high winds, along with temperatures ranging from -40 degrees to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. The Solar Roof is expected to cost $7,000 to $20,000 on average, with installation costs estimated at $5,000 to $7,000 in the US. Jackery hasn’t revealed when exactly the solar roof will be ready for sale yet, but expect it to be released sometime in 2025.
Jackery says the solar roof is compatible with smart energy management systems, Jackery’s own solar generators and battery systems like the Jackery 5000 Plus and the HomePower EnergySystem the company is launching later this year. The HomePower is particularly interesting because it’s a modular energy system that can be scaled up with stacks ranging from 7.7 kilowatt-hours to 15.4kWh. You can get a total system capacity of 123.2kWh per inverter. The setup consists of battery units, a hybrid inverter that can operate on or off-grid and a hub to manage loads.
Also revealed at CES, Jackery has the new Solar Generator 5000 Plus kit and Solar Generator 3000v2. The 5000 Plus is a larger LFP system that can deliver up to 14,400W of power with two units paired with the Jackery Smart Transfer Switch. With all the modular extensions, the full ecosystem can reach 60kWh.
Jackery says the 3000v2 is the smallest and lightest solar generator and power station, with a 3600W output and 0 millisecond UPS switchover functionality. It hooks up to solar panels to keep devices and appliances running during a blackout and it’s resistant to bumpy roads, dust and temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. It should be available later this year. It’s expected to cost $2,499.
Last but not least, there’s a new DC-DC car charger. Once installed, it provides 600W rapid charging, five times faster than the standard 12V car outlet charger. It can work with solar panels on your vehicle or RV and pairs with the Solar Generator 1000 Plus, which is designed for campers.