Tesla Powerwall $3,500 home battery stores up to 10kWh

Car maker Tesla previewed Powerwall, one of the first products of the company's Tesla Energy lineup. Powerwall is a wall-mounted rechargeable 400V li-ion battery with liquid thermal control that will be manufactured at the firm's Gigafactory 1 in Nevada.

The product is mainly intended for people with solar panels, it provides a way to store excess renewable energy to solve the mismatch between your solar power generation and electricity consumption. Alternatively, Powerwall can also be used as backup electricity supply and you can also let the battery charge when utility rates are low to avoid peak rates.



In terms of size and shape the Powerwall looks a bit like a gas combi boiler, it measures 130 cm x 86 cm x 18 cm (H x W x D) but weighs almost 100kg. The company is currently taking pre-orders for batteries that should start shipping this summer.

Pricing is $3,000 for a 7kWh model and $3,500 for a 10kWh version. Powerwall is compatible with single-phase and three-phase utility grids and can provide 2.0kW of continuous power and 3.3kW peak power. Tesla claims Powerwall offers 92 percent round-trip DC efficiency. Multiple Powerwall batteries can be linked together and Tesla also intends to launch much larger units for businesses, these units will start at 100kWh.

Powerwall comes with integrated management software and can be connected to the Internet to create smart micro-grids. Each unit comes with ten year warranty and for extra peace of mind you can order an optional ten year extension.

Solar Powered Day and Night
The average home uses more electricity in the morning and evening than during the day when solar energy is plentiful. Without a home battery, excess solar energy is often sold to the power company and purchased back in the evening. This mismatch adds demand on power plants and increases carbon emissions. Powerwall bridges this gap between renewable energy supply and demand by making your home’s solar energy available to you when you need it.

Avoid Paying Peak Rates

Power companies often charge a higher price for electricity during peak evening hours than overnight when demand is low. Powerwall can reduce your power bill by storing electricity when rates are low and powering your home when rates are high.

Energy Security
Powerwall automatically switches to battery power in the event of an electric company outage, bringing peace of mind to those who live in areas prone to storms or unreliable utility grids.