Image: TeslaWhen it launched into Australia late last year, Tesla's Powerwall home battery energy storage system got a lot of people thinking about switching to solar power and off-grid storage. One year on, the second version of the Powerwall — smaller and with double the energy storage — is finally on sale in Australia.
Tesla's Powerwall Battery
You can place an order for the Powerwall 2 online on Tesla's website, where a rough calculator will give you a guide to how many Powerwall 2 batteries you might need to store and supply energy to your home. A Powerwall 2 has 15kWh of energy capacity and should be enough to supply a 3-bedroom house's basic energy needs for a day.
For larger houses, or for an entire day's energy backup including lights, fridge, power outlets and ancillaries, Tesla recommends a second Powerwall 2 battery be installed. Each battery is $8000 but requires around $2200 of supporting hardware and installation costs to connect to your house's internal circuits and the national energy grid. Installations of the new battery through Tesla's suppliers start from February next year.
This is how Tesla describes the Powerwall 2 and explains its use case:
Powerwall 2 is a battery for homes and small businesses that stores the sun’s energy and delivers clean, reliable electricity when the sun isn’t shining. With double the energy of our first generation battery, the cost per kWh makes it the most affordable battery on the market. With 14kWh, it covers a high percentage of the average Australian household consumption and when paired with solar can reduce grid reliance.
Most homes use only a fraction of the solar energy they generate, with owners currently using the benefits of the feed-in tariffs to gain the value from their asset. Powerwall 2 allows home owners to use more of their solar, storing the energy to use at any time rather than sending the excess energy back into the grid for the low return that is about to begin.
Tesla says it's an apposite time to launch the Powerwall 2 in Australia, with the reduction in energy feed-in tariffs happening at the end of the year affecting New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Lower feed-in tariffs mean you'll get a smaller payment for the energy your solar panels feed back to the national energy grid, but traditionally tariffs are locked in once applied for until the scheme changes. [Tesla]
Comments
So are the batteries cost effective versus grid yet? Last I heard, the warranty on batteries only lasted long enough for the batteries to *almost* pay themselves off.
While cost effectiveness would be great, the point is the environmental factor rather than getting a return on investment. The reality is that even with a move to 100% renewables, it will never push costs below their current rate.
Don't want to throw a spanner in the works but the benefits of Saltwater based batteries over Lion make them cheaper, longer lasting and more beneficial to the environment I'd say for home power storage, the Salt Water Battery is a far better way to go and they are available in Australia now.
Last edited 24/11/16 11:51 amOh, and no, I don't work for the company, but I am going to update my current Solar power setup as soon as I can afford it. Sorry if I'm raining on your parade Campbell, but the Saltwater system is far superior.
You're not raining on anything! I don't have experience of that kind of setup but it sounds interesting -- I'll watch the video.
The technology allows for near 100% drain without damage and a lifespan far greater than the Powerwall. Just on those specs alone, they are better.
They'll never work if someone can't make a truck load of money out of them. Marketing beats science every time... sadly
They're selling them now.
Sony sold beta max video cassette players for a while too. I'm hoping you're right as it looks like a good solution.
Maybe Tesla will try and trademark salt water if it does go well!!!
That 48M looks great and well priced. Only problem is packaging. The Tesla product looks heaps more slimmer and can sit in the side of houses with narrow spaces between wall and fence.
I'm planning on putting them under the house, maybe if there's no room outside they could put them in a laundry or utility room. They are not prone to causing fires or outgassing as far as I know, so they should be safe inside.
I don't wish to rain on your parade, but unless you only want to boil the occasional kettle/ Salt water battery's are not a viable option yet. The can only pump out a max of 2kw and unless you have a shed the size of a small house, we will have to wait until they work on the technology
They are stackable, so for say 5Kw you would need around 12 batteries. You can stack them in groups if you have a low space or in a tower if you have the height.
Last edited 25/11/16 9:28 amnice! Here's some more from Phys.org on the salt battery
http://phys.org/news/2012-08-salt-based-battery-green-energy.html
from the 2012 article : "Dr Minakshi tested various metals and phosphates, eventually finding success with manganese dioxide as the cathode and a novel olivine sodium phosphate as the anode. The result is a safe, cost-effective battery with high energy density."
Hey, I'd really love for solar, whether PV or other thermal systems, to succeed and storage batteries are integral to this happening .. even though my venting on Gizmodo would suggest otherwise. But just as I rallied against CF lighting before LED had matured and taken over, I will continue to rail against techs that promise but do not or cannot deliver.. this system appears from a chemistry perspective to deliver .
Anyone know if this works with an existing SMA inverter or would I need to upgrade my whole solar setup to use this?
I inquired about this not too long ago and the salesman/rep basically told me that these are more suited to those who want to be early adopters of the technology, basically for enthusiasts as the long term costs and return($) are not really that great - at the moment that is.
Last edited 24/11/16 6:20 pmJoin the discussion!
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