With well over 100,000 Powerwalls installed to date, Tesla has rapidly changed the home solar power industry, increasing efficiency and energy savings for many homeowners.
On the back of the growth of renewable energies and an increasingly attractive brand image, Tesla dominates the media associated with domestic solar storage.
But what is a Powerwall and do you need one?
What is the Tesla Powerwall?
In its purest form, the Tesla Powerwall is a rechargeable battery designed to work in conjunction with solar panels for home use. It stores power during the day, which would otherwise be distributed on the energy grid, for use during the night or even power outages.
It greatly increases the efficiency of owning solar panels, extending their use from the daytime and into the nighttime, combatting the need to buy energy during non-productive hours.
The Powerwall 1 was released by Tesla in 2015, with the current version, the Powerwall 2, being announced a year later. The Powerwall 2 marked a significant improvement from its predecessor with over double the capacity and triple the power output from a battery significantly smaller than the Powerwall 1. The current Powerwall uses lithium NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) battery cells.
By April 2020 Tesla had installed 100,000 Powerwalls.
The Powerwall is a key development in the race for renewable energy, giving individual homeowners the power to be self-sufficient on solar energy.
The primary function of the Powerwall is to extend the use of solar energy into the night, roughly doubling the amount of energy that you can use from your solar panels.
With 13.5kWh of energy capacity, the Powerwall can sustain your home in the instance of a power outage. If used in conjunction with an effective solar power system it can supply your home with power indefinitely. Keeping the lights on long after you would have been plunged into darkness.
Following a similar theory to pumped-storage hydroelectricity, you can use your Powerwall to directly shrink your energy bill. Provided your utility provider operates a load-shifting scheme you can charge your battery from the grid when power is at its cheapest, typically during the night, and then use it when prices are at their peak, dramatically reducing your overall energy costs.
So whether you'd prefer to save your energy for an emergency or use it for powering your home after sunset, you can control the consumption settings of your Powerwall on the specific app.
As is typical with game-changing tech, the Powerwall is not a small investment, we’ve broken down the pricing so you can decide whether it’s worth it:
This cost doesn’t include a solar power system, with a Medium system from Tesla costing $11,840 ($16,000 without Federal Tax Credits).
Tesla only offers the Powerwall with a capacity of 13.5kWh, limiting the options for those who live in smaller, more energy-efficient households.
While 13.5kWh is enough to power the average UK home for roughly 2 days, many homeowners will question the need for such capacity when blackouts are few and far between, and typically do not last more than a few hours.
Yet for those who live in larger households, charge electric vehicles, or generally have higher energy needs you can combine up to 10 Powerwalls, which would provide an enormous 135kWh storage. However, Tesla recommends just one Powerwall for the average home.
Also, those who will see the most benefits are those who live in areas with high energy prices, as they will recoup their costs far faster than those with access to cheaper energy.
Some estimates place the payback period (how long it takes to equal the cost in savings) between 8-10 years, however, the cheaper the energy prices the longer this payback period will be, potentially pushing it far beyond Powerwall’s 10-year warranty.
You can reserve and order a Powerwall on Tesla’s website, which provides a customised estimate based on your power requirements.
At present, you can only purchase a Powerwall directly from Tesla, who has been struggling to match supply with increasing demand. However, the company has partnered with local professionals, accrediting them as Tesla Certified Installers, to increase the speed at which you can get a Powerwall into your home.
Tesla has also provided a service to find accredited installers near to where you live.
Tesla’s Powerwall is by no means the only power storage option available, with LG, Sonnen, and Powervault all offering comparable products with a variety of capacities and price ranges. While Tesla is making waves in the industry it is important to remember that they are not the only, or indeed the best, option.
Tesla’s Powerwall is a potential game-changer for homeowners with solar power systems, extending usability throughout the night and providing a backup power source in the case of a blackout.
With the potential to save on electricity bills and reduce carbon emissions they can make a wise investment in a time with increasing energy costs and the rising risks associated with climate change.
However, a Powerwall isn’t cheap, setting buyers back well over $10,000, and therefore should not be purchased on a whim. It is important to consider energy prices and other options on the market, as there are many.
Yet, there is a great potential associated with Tesla’s Powerwall, which may receive new features in future years with Tesla regularly providing software updates.
The number of Powerwalls needed to power your home largely depends on the amount of power required. Smaller homes can get by with 1 Powerwall, whilst homes with larger appliances may require 2-3.
In optimal conditions (around 8kW of solar power) and no loads, the Powerwall could be charged in under 2 hours. Charging times vary depending on the weather conditions and if the Powerwall is being used at the same time.
The Tesla Powerwall 2 battery is a Lithium NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) and has double the capacity and triple the power output of its predecessor in the Powerwall 1.
Number of solar panels required is worked out on a case by case basis.
In some instances, only one solar panel is required but for the majority it is around 20.
The short answer: yes. The long answer: is it really a good idea? Whilst it is possible to go off-grid with the Powerwall, the costs associated may put some people off. In most cases, it is more cost-effective to remain on the grid with your own solar and battery solution.
Tesla currently has no plans to develop or produce a Powerwall 3. Demands for Powerwall 2 are already high that waitlists have been formed.
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