Tesla Powerwall Home Battery

Auto maker and technology and design company with an energy innovation focus, Tesla Motors has taken it’s proven automotive battery technology and created a product designed for residential use. The Tesla Powerwall home battery charges using electricity from solar panels, or from the power grid when rates are at their lowest.  This smart home trend offers a sustainable energy source to homeowners in Redwood City and beyond.

Tesla Powerwall was launched in April 2015 and is designed to bridge the gap between peak solar (daytime) and peak electrical demand (evenings). This lithium ion battery has a 7 kWh energy capacity, ample enough to power an entire home or specific appliances with an uninterrupted electrical supply. For increased storage, multiple batteries can be utilized for homes that require above the typical 7 kWh requirement.

Powerwall can be connected to solar panels to generate and store electricity, allowing you to achieve a Net Zero energy rating. This means your home produces as much energy as it consumes yet still accesses the utility grid during peak demand periods. The battery will also store energy when utility rates are low, allowing you to power your home for less in the evenings when rates increase. In addition to independence from the utility grid, Powerwall also offers a backup power source during outages.

Powerwall is automated and compact, powering your home safely and efficiently. Requiring no maintenance, it is simple to install but does require a trained technician to properly connect to your home’s solar and/or utility grid.

How it works:

A typical Powerwall installation includes solar panels, power inverter, a meter for measuring the battery’s charge, connection to the electrical panel and, for backup use, the installation of secondary circuits to power specific appliances. Installation does vary based on the individual use of the homeowner.

Powerwall is charged by solar generated electricity and stores it for later use. Without solar panels, Powerwall saves you money by charging during non-peak hours and making that electricity available during the evening. The inverter converts direct current electricity from solar panels, the utility grid and Powerwall into alternating current, which is used by lighting, appliances and other home devices. The electrical panel plays a role for homes without solar, charging Powerwall during off-peak hours. A backup panel and switch may be installed in some instances to connect vital appliances during times of power outages. The switch automatically activates the backup panel if an outage occurs.  When installed in conjunction with solar, the switch allows for continuous solar energy production during a power outage.

If you reside in Redwood City or anywhere in the Silicon Valley and are looking to store the energy your solar panels generate, or if you want to stockpile lower rate energy from the utility grid for backup use during outages or off-peak hours, Tesla Motors Powerwall home battery is a viable, sustainable home technology option.

For more details on installation and how the battery works as well as product specs, visit the Tesla Motors Powerwall site.