Elon Musk has unveiled Tesla’s next-generation rooftop solar technology.

Instead of the familiar big black solar panels, Tesla’s new solar roof tiles are made to resemble French slate, Tuscan barrel tile or more conventional roofing materials with a textured or smooth surface. 

“The key is to make solar look good,” Musk said during a product introduction on the old set of the ‘Desperate Housewives’ TV series, where the Wisteria Lane houses have been outfitted with the high-tech tiles.

“If this is done right, all roofs will have solar.”

Tesla hopes that offering consumers a new variety of solar systems will increase uptake of the technology.

The solar roof unveiling included the launch of an upgraded Powerwall - Tesla’s wall-mounted home battery - to store roof-generated solar energy.

“This needs to be an asset to your house,” Musk said.

“It needs to be so good that when it's done you call your neighbours over to show them how proud you are.”

He said the Tesla-SolarCity roof tiles will be available from mid-2017, but would not give any details about cost or efficiency.