What is the Tesla Powerwall?
The Tesla Powerwall is a home solar battery that stores energy for later use. Solar batteries like the Tesla Powerwall allow you to store excess energy to power your home during times when your solar panels aren’t generating enough power. The Tesla Powerwall can also allow you to increase your energy independence and reduce your home’s overall carbon footprint. Since entering the solar energy market, the Tesla Powerwall has become one of the most competitive batteries available today.
Tesla Powerwall cost
The Tesla Powerwall currently costs approximately $10,500. However, consumers currently cannot purchase the Powerwall on its own. Instead, you have to purchase a Tesla solar system in addition to the Powerwall. The average cost of solar panels in 2021 ranges from $15,000 – $25,000, so you would need to factor the price of a solar system from Tesla in with the base price of the Tesla Powerwall.
Price of the Tesla Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall is eligible for many local tax credits, rebates, and incentives, including the federal solar investment tax credit (solar ITC). The solar ITC is currently set at 26 percent in 2021, so consumers who invest in the Tesla Powerwall will receive 26 percent of the total cost back in tax credits.
In addition to the solar ITC, you may be able to benefit from several state and local solar incentives, depending on where you live. There are several states that encourage solar through tax credits and rebates. Find your state’s solar page at the bottom of this article to learn more about solar incentives in your area.
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Tesla Powerwall features and specs
Currently, the Tesla battery for home has two models: the Powerwall and the Powerwall+. The Powerwall+ is a more powerful model that offers higher rates of on-grid and backup power, as far as Tesla Powerwall specs go. Following are some of the most important Tesla Powerwall features and specs to consider.
Tesla Powerwall warranty coverage
The Tesla Powerwall includes a warranty that covers the purchase for up to 10 years. This limited warranty guarantees the Tesla Powerwall battery will be free from defects and keep an energy capacity of 13.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) for 10 years. Tesla will repair, replace, or refund the Tesla Powerwall home battery if it does not meet the requirements of the warranty.
Tesla Powerwall battery capacity
A battery’s capacity is simply how much power the battery holds. Battery capacity is important to factor in because it designates how much power is in reserve before the battery needs to be recharged again. The Tesla Powerwall offers a battery capacity of 13.5 kWh, which is far more than many of its competitors.
Tesla Powerwall continuous power rating
You should also make note of the continuous power rating, which designates the maximum power output that the unit can generate under normal conditions. The Tesla Powerwall offers a maximum continuous power rating of 7.6 kW with full sun and 5.8 kW with no sun on the grid. For consumers who live off the grid, the maximum continuous power rating is 9.6 kW with full sun and 7 kW with no sun.
Tesla Powerwall depth of discharge
Another important spec to take into consideration is the depth of discharge (DoD). The DoD shows how much a battery can discharge relative to the battery’s capacity without impacting its lifespan. The Tesla home battery can reach 100 percent depth of discharge, meaning you can fully deplete the battery before recharge without lowering the Powerwall’s lifespan. Most solar batteries offer a DoD of between 80 and 90 percent, setting the Powerwall apart.
Tesla Powerwall round-trip efficiency
The round-trip efficiency designates the percentage of electricity put into storage that the battery can use later. This is an important specification because it shows how much stored power you have available to use. For the Tesla Powerwall, the round-trip efficiency is set at 90 percent.
Is the Tesla Powerwall worth it?
Solar batteries make home solar panels much more reliable and efficient. They help store solar energy so that you can draw power during nights or when the sun isn’t shining. The Tesla Powerwall might be a smart investment if you can also afford the cost of the entire Tesla home solar system. The Powerwall offers some impressive stats, including a 90 percent round-trip efficiency and a 100 percent depth of discharge. While it’s one of the most expensive solar batteries on the market, the Tesla Powerwall could help you make the most of your solar power system.
However, if you can’t afford the Tesla solar system in addition to the Powerwall or if you already have an existing solar system installed for your home, the Tesla Powerwall may not be the right option for you. If this is the case, there are many other solar batteries on the market that work efficiently for a fraction of the cost.