This article lays down the prices and benefits of the popular Tesla Powerwall battery, including strategies to save on your purchase.
Tesla’s Powerwall is one of the most widely used solar batteries. It is supported by one of the leading solar businesses and saves surplus energy generated by your solar system for usage at night, during power outages, or to balance excessive electricity bills. However, it comes with a hefty price tag of $11,500.
The This Old House Reviews Team has examined the Powerwall’s essential features and characteristics to decide whether or not it is worth the price. This book also includes money-saving installation techniques.
How Much Does the Tesla Powerwall Cost?
The Tesla Powerwall battery costs $11,500–$80,500, depending on the number of batteries installed. Below is a breakdown of the Powerwall costs:
| Number of Powerwalls Installed | Total Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $11,500 |
| 2 | $18,500 |
| 3 | $25,500 |
| 4 | $32,500 |
| 5 | $40,500 |
| 6 | $48,500 |
| 7 | $56,500 |
| 8 | $64,500 |
| 9 | $72,500 |
| 10 | $80,500 |
The price of individual Powerwalls drops as more batteries are added to the system. The cost of a single Powerwall battery is $11,500. Two Powerwalls are now available for $18,500, or $9,250 per battery. This price structure continues to the greatest conceivable configuration: 10 Powerwalls for $80,500.
Notably, Tesla does not offer the Powerwall individually. You must purchase a complete Tesla solar power system in addition to the Powerwall. You may instal either a conventional solar panel system or a Tesla solar roof. Solar panels will cost an extra $20,000 or more on top of the cost of these services, which vary in price.
Tesla also has lengthy installation wait periods for solar panels. It may take many months until your solar system and Powerwall batteries are deployed. Ordering through a third-party merchant will result in significantly lengthier delivery times, since they must obtain the goods from Tesla.
What Is the Tesla Powerwall?
The Powerwall was released in 2015 to supplement Tesla’s expanding solar technology advancements. Since then, it has become one of the leading domestic solar batteries.
There are two Powerwall models: the Powerwall 2 and the Powerwall+. Both batteries are capable of storing extra solar energy for later use, including during low-sun days, overnight, and during a power outage. A battery storage system delivers energy independence from your power grid and further home energy savings by allowing you to utilise all of the energy your system generates.
Both models are accessible through Tesla’s website or sales division. The Tesla Powerwall is available for purchase via third-party solar suppliers and authorised Tesla installers.
Tesla Powerwall Specs and Features
The Powerwall 2 and Powerwall+ models have a number of similar characteristics, but are designed for various solar systems. Listed below are the primary distinctions between the models.
Storage Capacity
Both Powerwall models have a potential to store 13.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, but their storage capacities vary on how much sunshine your solar panels get on an average day. During gloomy or snowy days, the Powerwall can offer a full day of battery backup power. On bright days or throughout the summer, its capacity increases to 2.5 days. When two batteries are installed, the capacity increases to 1.5 days in overcast situations and to more than seven days in direct sunlight.
You may add up to ten batteries to your house, but one to two batteries should suffice for the majority of homeowners. To go completely off-grid, two or more Powerwall batteries are required.
Chemistry
The Tesla Powerwall is a lithium-ion battery that utilises lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) technology. NMC batteries are the most prevalent solar battery type. They have a good lifespan of 10–12 years and a high energy storage capacity, indicating that despite their little size, they can store a substantial quantity of energy.
Intensity of Discharge
Solar batteries are designed to be charged and refilled, but their performance degrades as they are depleted. Depth of discharge (DoD) indicates the amount of power that may be extracted from a battery before its lifespan is compromised.
Numerous battery manufacturers restrict DoD to prolong battery life. The industry norm ranges from 80 to 100 percent. Both Tesla Powerwall versions have a DoD of 100%, meaning the batteries can always be charged to their maximum capacity.
Power Output
The power output of the Powerwall devices varies dependent on optimum weather conditions. The Powerwall 2 produces continuous power of 5.8 kW and peak power of 10 kW. Under no-sun situations, the Powerwall+ generates the same amount of energy that it does under full sun conditions: 7.6 kW continuous power and 22 kW peak power.
Continuous power estimates the amount of energy that can be extracted from a solar battery over a certain length of time. Typically, batteries operate at a lesser capacity to last longer. Peak power is the maximum amount of energy a battery is capable of producing, such as during a blackout. A battery with a high peak output can rapidly release a considerable quantity of energy.
Round-trip Productivity
A little amount of energy is required to run the battery, so you will not always be able to access the entire supply. After a full charge, the round-trip efficiency measures the quantity of power that may be utilised. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the round-trip efficiency of a typical solar battery is 80%. With an above-average round-trip efficiency of 90%, the Tesla Powerwall is an effective storage option.
System Interoperability
The Powerwall 2 is designed to operate with current solar systems that use solar inverters from a third party. An inverter transforms the direct current (DC) electricity from the sun into alternating current (AC) power for use in the home. The Powerwall 2 is compatible with a variety of inverter brands, including Enphase, SolarEdge, and SMA. On its website, Tesla provides a comprehensive list of compatible inverters.
The Powerwall+ has a dedicated inverter, making it the ideal option for a new solar system.
Warranty
Both Powerwall versions come with the typical 10-year guarantee offered by the industry. Tesla’s four-year craftsmanship guarantee covers replacements or repairs necessitated by shoddy installation. This includes the cost of shipping any necessary replacement components. Tesla claims that the Powerwall’s end-of-warranty capacity will be 70 percent of its 13.5 kWh capacity. A typical end-of-warranty capacity is around 60%.