Tesla introduced its Powerwall product for energy storage, Tesla Energy, which has already started working on the first phase of United States’ home installations. This unit of 6.4 kilowatt hours functions in storing electricity derived from a solar system, as well as providing backup in cases of power outages. It comprises of a lithium-ion battery, stands at 4-feet tall and weighs about 214 pounds, with a single unit retailing for approximately $3,000. Tesla started the installation process focusing only on specific pilot customers then gradually advanced to regular home installations. It also ramped up its production volume as the general reception increased. North America was one of the initial markets to get the Powerwalls alongside Germany and Australia.
The Powerwalls and Powerpacks that Tesla applies in utilities and businesses are manufactured at the Gigafactory used for battery production. This factory is located close to Reno, Nevada. These two products are a part of the energy production unit of Tesla. In this year’s first quarter, Powerwalls exceeding 2,500 were delivered by Tesla Energy. About 100 Powerpacks were produced in Asia, North America, Africa, and Europe, according to a letter that Tesla addressed to its shareholders. The Chief Technology Officer, JB Straubel said that things are beginning to ramp up during an interview conducted at the Gigafactory. He further added that the installations are gradually spreading to different regions across the globe.
It is essential for Powerwalls to be hooked up and installed by trained and qualified technicians. This is to ensure that all the regulations set by the municipal councils are met. It is possible for the costs to quickly add up, which has led to fueling of a certain degree of skepticism regarding the viability of clients that buy these Powerwalls. A trend that has played a huge role in enhancing Powerwalls’ economic appeal is the fact that some states are starting to phase out net metering. This act of phasing out increases the attractiveness of energy storage. On the other hand, the appeal in many other states has gone down because of net-metering policies. Such policies allow solar customers from the residential areas to market the extra solar energy back to the utilities.
According to Bloomberg New Energy analyst, Yayoi Sekine, the picture is gradually changing across numerous markets. Changes are slowly being made to net-metering regulations, as well as implementation of the time-of-use rates. Such changes will result in improvement of energy storage systems among residents not only now, but also in the future.