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Tesla Powerwall 2 Solar Storage Battery

by | Jan 12, 2017 | Tesla Powerwall

Tesla officially unveiled the Powerwall 2 at the end of October 2016, the new battery pack is potentially a game changer for the solar and battery storage market.  With the new UK price point of £5400 (plus install & VAT), and twice the energy capacity (13.5kWh) the unit also has an integrated inverter. It will be available from February 2017 but orders are being taken now.

What is a Tesla Powerwall 2?

Essentially, a battery that provides the ability to store unused solar energy that can be harnessed in the evenings or at other times when the sun isn’t shining. The new unit is sleeker and smaller with double the energy storage capacity at nearly half the cost per kWh of its predecessor.

Tech Spec
The battery’s lithium-ion setup remains the same but it now incorporates an inverter which is Tesla’s own offspring. This simultaneously answers one of the previous criticisms and cuts the cost and complexity of installation significantly.
Performance is listed as 90 per cent, the peak power rating is 7kW, and 5kW continuously.  On the Tesla website, it mentions that one battery pack could power an average 2-bed home for an entire day.  I use about 10kWh per day, so I’d agree with this and I have a 3-bed home.  Some solar homes have the potential to use very little energy from the grid at all in the brighter months.  Down here in Dorset where on average we receive more sunlight than most, the Powerwall 2 is likely to perform very well and cut bills significantly.

Off-Grid & Power Cuts?

A couple of new features are the ability to provide energy in a power cut and work off-grid.  I personally think these are particularly attractive due to the low cost per kW.  But, how likely are power cuts and should we be worried?  According to this Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/25/britain-heading-for-power-cuts-next-winter-say-60-local-authorities: ‘Five plants, including Longannet, Ferrybridge, and Rugeley, representing 7,000 MW of electricity-generating capacity, are not fully functional, the group said ‘“The problem – and it is a problem for every electricity consumer in the country – is that if all these closures go ahead, there won’t be enough generating capacity to keep the lights on next winter,” said the ICA in a briefing document entitled Lights Out!  It continued: “Beyond the five power stations under threat, there are five more coal-fired power stations left on the grid – Aberthaw, Cottam, Drax, Ratcliffe and West Burton. How long before they too are proposed for closure?”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his company “expects to sell more Powerwalls than cars,” which just shows how important this product is for the car maker.

If you are interested to find out more please contact us, we can install the Powerwall 2 in Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire and Devon.