Tesla Powerwall: Market Price and kWh Capacity

Just two decades ago, when climate change became apparent and solar panels made their debut on the retail scene, the need for electricity stored in a cheap and efficient way became apparent as well. As solar panels started appearing on more roofs, solar energy became a prominent contributor to the energy sector. Rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology became cheaper, and the way was paved for large-scale storage capacity. 

What Is Tesla Powerwall?

Tesla Powerwall is the result of the changes in the use of electricity. Solar panels became cheaper thanks to mass production, and the same thing happened with solutions for stored energy. The opening of the Tesla Giga Nevada in 2016 represented a huge milestone in the field, as it provided a means for stored energy that was standardized, scalable, and affordable. Solar batteries, such as Tesla Powerwall, Tesla Powerwall 2, and Tesla Powerwall+, became a reality. 

Tesla Powerwall Price

Tesla Powerwall price has been changing since the Tesla Powerwall 1 was introduced. At first, it cost $3,000 for 6.4 kWh. Later on, Tesla Powerwall 2 was introduced. It came with two price tags; $6,500 and later on, $7,500 for 13.5 kWh of storage capacity. The latest model, Tesla Powerwall+, comes with 13.5 kWh of storage capacity and at an initial price tag of $8,500. 

Currently, the price for the same model is $10,500, and it comes only with a Tesla solar panel system. Purchasing the Tesla Powerwall as a separate device is still possible, but only through a certified Tesla Powerwall installer. Even then, you may have to wait up to a year to get your device since Tesla has a backlog of almost 80,000 batteries yet to be made. 

Tesla Powerwall Settings

Your Tesla Powerwall has settings or modes that enable you to utilize the stored energy in the best possible way. To use all the benefits of a Tesla Powerwall, you should combine it with solar panels or a Tesla solar roof. Tesla solar panels seem to work the best with Tesla solar batteries, as the devices are fine-tuned to work in tandem. Here are the Tesla Powerwall settings: 

Solar Self-Consumption 

Solar self-consumption mode enables you to use your solar panel system even at night and in regions where there is no net metering. During the day, your solar panels produce electricity that your appliances use. Any excess energy is stored in your Tesla battery to be used at night. 

Backup Power

Your Tesla battery can be used for backup only. In this case, the battery will charge and wait until there are power outages to start using stored energy. It can charge either from the grid or your solar system. 

Time-Based Control

Time-based control allows you to reap the benefits of having electricity rates that change throughout the day. Speak with your energy provider and see when the electricity is the cheapest. Your Tesla Powerwall will charge during this time and release the energy during times of high energy prices. 

Storm Watch

The storm watch function will monitor the data from the weather service station and charge up before a major storm hits your area. In the case that there is a power outage, your Tesla battery will detach itself from the grid and power your house until there is no more juice in it. 

Preconditioning

A rechargeable lithium-ion battery cannot be charged to 100% in cold weather. To prevent this from happening and enable you to always use 100% of your storage capacity, Tesla energy has made sure that the battery can heat itself to operating temperature to store more energy during the coldest periods of the year. 

Benefits of Buying Tesla Powerwall

There are many benefits of buying a Tesla Powerwall. With this device, you will be able to use more renewable energy and, depending on how many solar panels and solar battery devices you have, go completely off-grid. The Tesla Powerwall+ also has a built-in solar inverter so that you can think of one less device. 

Self-Powered Home

Nothing says off-grid as a pack of 13.5 kWh of stored energy in your garage or basement. Lithium-ion batteries allow you to have a self-powered home even in remote areas and provide power even during blackouts. Depending on the energy use and usable electricity of your Tesla Powerwall 2 or + version, you will be able to pay $0 for your electricity for at least ten years. 

Home Energy Control

Your Tesla Powerwall 2 comes with a handy Tesla app that lets you monitor and control your energy needs and energy storage levels in real-time. The app is intuitive and easy to use and shows how much energy your solar panels produce and home consume. This can help you bring future informed decisions on your new appliances or a solar system. 

Backup Power

Having a source of backup power can help you in times of need. Your battery can serve as an emergency energy source and can even communicate with your local weather service and anticipate upcoming storms. In this case, the battery charges itself up and provides electricity in the case of an outage. 

Energy Savings

If you have a variable-rate energy plan or your energy provider allows for a time-of-use plan, you can reap the benefits of low rates all day long. When the rates are low, your Tesla Powerwall 2 charges itself. When the rates are high, the Powerwall releases the energy so that you can enjoy low tariffs even during peak time. 

AC-Coupled

Unlike Tesla Powerwall 2, Tesla Powerwall+ is AC-coupled. This means that the device already has an integrated solar inverter. This reduces the price of your entire solar system, which makes it really easy to connect your battery storage to your existing solar installations. 

How Does Tesla Powerwall Work?

Both Tesla Powerwall 2 and Tesla Powerwall+ give you the ability to store power. Based on how much electricity you use, you may even go for 2-3 Powerwalls to meet your energy needs. The system that controls the Powerwall batteries learns about your energy use and pricing and adapts itself to offer the most benefits. 

With Solar

Your Tesla Powerwall 2 works in tandem with solar to ensure you use most of the renewable energy you produce. During the day, your solar panels produce solar power to run your appliances. Any excess electricity is sent to Tesla batteries for energy storage and later use. This system effectively allows you to go off-grid, especially with additional powerwall units. 

Without Solar

Your Tesla Powerwall 2 can also work without solar. In this case, your battery storage starts to store electricity from your utility grid when the prices are the lowest. The energy storage releases that same power when electricity prices are at their lowest. This allows you to save money by offering you reduced prices during peak demand times. 

Key Features Tesla Powerwall

When considering any battery or a solar battery to extend your solar panel array, it is a good rule of thumb to compare their key specs. The most important features of any battery are listed below. Together, they can influence the price and the performance of your power storage system.

Battery Capacity

Your Tesla Powerwall 2 battery has a capacity of 13.5 kWh. Older models, such as the Tesla Powerwall (1), had a capacity of 6.4 kWh. The newer model can run an average American household for 12 hours, which is more than enough, especially when coupled with solar power. 

Battery Type

Tesla Powerwall contains 21-70 types of batteries. Their production began on January 1st in 2017. The benefits of these batteries are that they are around 20% more energy-dense and around 9% cheaper than the previous 18-65 model. 

Power Rating

Power Rating is another very important spec that you should pay attention to before purchasing a power storage unit. Power rating tells you about how many appliances you can run and for how long. It also tells you about the maximum power output of a battery, even if for a short time.

Continuous Power Rating

The continuous power rating of your Tesla Powerwall tells you how many appliances you can run all at the same time. The power rating depends on your Powerwall system and how many batteries are connected to the home. Continuous power rating is important during the normal day-to-day use of appliances. 

With a Powerwall 2 maximum power rating of 7.6 kWh when the sun is shining, it can run your oven, hotplate, TV, fridge, freezer, and lights simultaneously. It can run even more appliances during outages as it can release a maximum power rating of 9.6 kWh during a blackout. A higher power rating means that you can use more appliances at the same time. 

Peak Power Rating

Your peak power rating is the maximum power rating that your Powerwall 2 can release in a short period of time, usually a couple of seconds. This peak rating is needed when the devices you use start themselves or during peak operating times. Tesla Powerwall 2 has a peak of 10 kWh with no sun and 22 kWh during sunshine. 

Depth of Discharge (DoD)

Depth of discharge is another important factor to consider when choosing your home or solar battery storage. This percentage shows how much of the energy capacity of your Tesla’s Powerwall you can actually use. The higher the percentage, the more electricity you can use from your home battery. The maximum amount of the Powerwall 2 you can draw is 100%, meaning you can discharge 13.5 kWh from it. 

Round Trip Efficiency

During the charging time, some electricity is lost. The same happens when the battery is discharged. The total energy in the cycle minus the energy losses in both steps gives you the round-trip efficiency. Your Tesla battery storage has a round trip efficiency of 90%. 

Warranty

All Tesla Powerwall devices come with a ten-year warranty. The warranty says that the device will retain 70% of its usable capacity at the end of the 10-year period. This is better than some other devices that store electricity, but Tesla’s customer support is known to be very laggy and unprofessional for existing customers.  

Best Place to Buy Tesla Powerwall

The best place to buy your Tesla Powerwall is on the Tesla website. This way, you can get your battery storage in as little as a few months and connect it to your utility grid. The most significant benefit of buying directly from the manufacturer is that Tesla will install your Tesla battery. Installation costs are included in the prices on their website. 

The next best place to buy a Tesla Powerwall is a certified Tesla Powerwall installer and seller. You can find information on Tesla Powerwall certified installers and sellers on Electricrate. This way, you will wait longer (up to a year) but will know that a certified body is doing the purchase, delivery, and installation. There is no difference in the performance of the battery itself.

Incentives or Rebates: Does Tesla Powerwall Qualify?

Your Tesla Powerwall qualifies for solar rebates only if it is coupled with a solar panel system. Considering that Tesla sells their Powerpacks in combination with a solar panel system, an average home can get the incentives or rebates for the Powerwall as well. On the other hand, if you purchase your Tesla Powerwall through a Tesla Certified installer, you may not be eligible for rebates and incentives. 

Federal Tax Credit – ITC

If you install your battery storage at the same time as your solar panel system, you will be eligible for the 26% Federal Tax Credit. Under this incentive, you can deduct 26% of your Tesla Powerwall off your owed Federal Taxes. Any unused tax credit can be rolled over for up to 10 years. 

California SGIP 

Your Tesla Powerwall can also be eligible for California SGIP Self Generation Incentive Program. Under this program, your Powerwall can receive a significant rebate. However, since the program operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, there is no guarantee that your investment will receive a rebate. If you want to apply, you have to connect your Powerwall to a solar system and cycle the battery. You cannot use it as a backup power source. 

FAQs

Conclusion

Tesla Powerwall is the next best thing after solar panels. This amazing electricity storage solution allows you to use electricity stored during a power outage or during periods when there is no sun. Stacking 2-3 powerwalls will easily allow you to store enough energy for a full day. Combining a Tesla Powerwall with a solar roof or solar panels will help you use the solar energy you produce fully and save you more money than a powerwall on its own. 

Updated on 04-10-23