01 May 2015

Tesla Powerwall - Energy Storage

Tesla have launched their new internet-enabled energy storage solution, Powerwall.  Aimed at domestic customers, at launch in the US, there is a 10 kWh version for $3,500, or a 7 kWh model for $3,000 (costs exclude the inverter and installation).

*June 10th 2015 update* Tesla have announced that the continuous power from the batteries will be increased from 2.0kW to 5kW, with peak increased from 3.3kW to 7kW. Additionally, it is reported that 38,000 orders were taken within the first week of launch for the Powerwall.

Tesla's $5bn Gigafactory in Nevada, which is aiming to produce 500,000 batteries a year by 2020 means the production facility scale will be there to support the expected demand.  And with Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, as Chairman of his cousin’s business SolarCity (the leading full-service solar company in the US), there's a natural route to market.

Tesla Powerwall (two batteries installed together)

The solution is also scalable for enterprise and network applications. This is called the Powerpack, and is scalable in 100kWh blocks, up to 10MWh.

Energy storage can help smooth the inherent intermittency of solar energy generation, so has the potential to offer a proposition which could make households effectively become self-sufficient for energy (off-grid).  


The importance of storage to balance solar energy supply and demand (image by Tesla)

It should also encourage the uptake of electric vehicles and electrification of heat, helping decarbonise society's energy use.

Tesla Model S with Powerwall