How Good Are Tesla Solar Panels
Tesla currently installs Hanwha Q CELLS Peak Duo Black solar panels more specifically, the Q.Peak Duo Blk-G6+ modules which are not exclusive to Tesla.
This specific model has an up to 19.5% efficiency rating a pretty average figure, which doesnt quite match some of the best solar panels on the market, which have efficiency ratings of around 22%.
However, if youre searching for aesthetically pleasing panels, Hanwha might be the way to go. The panels sleek black body has no visible gridlines, and its concealed edges make it blend into the roof nicely.
Plus, Teslas mounting hardware uses 30% fewer anchor points on the roof, compared to a traditional installation, making the solar panels less prominent.
An additional feature that many solar panel owners will find useful is Teslas smart solar inverter, which has Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity. This means it can easily integrate with Tesla Powerwall and the Tesla app, and users can manage their solar system from anywhere in the world.
Specifications Of Tesla Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall released in 2016 has an excellent power storage capacity and comes with an advanced battery inverter/charger. It gives the device greater efficiency and flexibility to store and stabilize the generated power.
Teslas latest edition, the Tesla Powerwall +, brings you all the key features of the Powerwall 2 with an integrated inverter and better backup capabilities.
These qualities make Powerwall + a comprehensive residential storage system to power your home. Let us check out the key features of both energy storage systems to understand them better.
Tesla Powerwall 2: Key Specifications
- It has a storage capacity of 13.5kWh and offers a 100% depth of discharge
- A continuous on-grid power rating of 5.8 kW and a 7kW peak output rating
- It is compatible with all grid-tied solar inverters
- It comes with an advanced liquid cooling system
- It is an AC-coupled battery having an integrated charger/inverter
- Tesla offers a warranty of 10 years
Tesla Powerwall +: Key Specifications
- It has a usable capacity of 13.5kWh and offers a 100% depth of discharge
- A continuous on-grid power rating of 5.8 kW and a 7.6 kW peak output rating
- It is compatible with integrated solar consisting of 4 MPPT devices
- It comes with an advanced liquid cooling system
- It is an AC coupled battery having an integrated charger/inverter along with another solar inverter
- This device also offers you a warranty of 10 years.
How Long Do Tesla Solar Panels Last
Solar panels usually last between 25-30 years.
Tesla provides warranty coverage on both the workmanship and performance of its solar panels and Solar Roof. You can expect a 10-year comprehensive cover and a 25-year panel performance warranty though the panels might last a little longer than this, just at a less efficient rate.
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Does The Tesla Powerwall 2 Still Work If There’s A Power Cut
Yes, the Tesla Powerall now comes with a back-up gateway. The gateway sits on the incoming electricity supply to the house, and if it detects a problem on the grid, a relay trips and your house is physically disconnected from the grid. Once you are physically disconnected like this, your battery can discharge to run the loads in your home, without causing a safety risk to workmen fixing the power cut on the grid. It provides you with extra security, knowing you’ll always have power in your home.
In this 2019 episode of Fully Charged, Dr Chris Jardine explains how the back-up gateway works, showcasing the installation we have done with Robert Llewellyn.
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The Tesla Powerwall 2 For Businesses
We are seeing an increased demand from businesses looking to incorporate solar arrays and Tesla Powerwalls to reduce their electricity bills. Implementing battery storage solutions for businesses can be complicated, and we’d only recommend it in certain circumstances. We don’t want to sell you a battery storage system that won’t be fully utilised. Solar PV combined with Tesla Powerwalls are great for businesses where:
- Evening consumption is greater than the daytime, such as hotels, or if you are the owner/operator of housing blocks. This means there’s lots of unused power in the day which can then be used at night.
- Where the solar array generates a large excess of power . This ensures there’s excess electricity that can be captured all year round
- Or where there’s a big difference between the day and night price of electricity. This allows cheap night-time electricity to be stored and used to offset expensive imported electricity.
We do not recommend installing solar PV combined with Tesla Powerwalls for businesses where:
- Daytime load is high, and/or solar generation is low. You’d capture some solar at midday on the sunniest days of the year, but for the rest of the year there wouldn’t be enough excess solar to charge the batteries.
Our engineers can model this for you to see if this is a viable option for your property. Contact our commercial design team to find out more.
Thamesweys Microgrid
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Tesla Lithium Nmc Battery Cells
The lithium cells used in the Powerwall are produced in the enormous Tesla manufacturing facility known as the Gigafactory in Nevada. The Powerwall uses lithium NMC battery cells developed in collaboration with Panasonic which are similar to the Lithium NCA cells used in the Tesla electric vehicles. The original Powerwall 1 used the smaller, more common 18650 size cells while the Powerwall 2, reviewed here, uses the larger 21-70 cells which have a 21mm diameter and are 70mm long. The larger cells have several advantages including a greater energy density and a longer runtime.
Compared to the first Powerwall, the Powerwall 2 was designed to be more compact, easier to handle and simpler to install. Gone are the sleek curves of the first Powerwall, giving way to a more practical rectangular shape with venting either side for cooling and a bright green LED strip. Interestingly it also has a simple on/off switch on one side. Still weighing in at 120kg it is definitely not light, although thankfully it can now be ground-mounted as well as wall-mounted. The IP rating remains high at IP56, although it still should be installed in a sheltered location, such as a carport or garage, and out of direct sunlight if possible. Heat and batteries just don’t go well together.
How Much Is A Tesla Powerwall
The Powerwall is eligible for the 26% federal solar tax credit as well as several other state incentives, depending on your state and region. Installing a Powerwall and a solar system also makes you eligible for net metering programs in states that offer this. This allows you to sell back unused energy to your utility company, and when you have a home solar battery youll have the option of storing that extra energy for future use What this all means is dramatically reduced electricity bill, or in some cases a negative balance that carries you through the high use times of the year.
By the way, the federal tax incentive is only through 2022, so talk to a Solar Sales Specialist sooner rather than later if youre considering it.
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Teslas Customer Service Comes Up Short
Its true that youll probably get the lowest price for going solar when you go with Tesla. But the price of solar also includes the cost of the long-term relationship that you get with your solar installer, and that seems to be where Tesla cuts costs.
Unfortunately, Tesla has historically been known for having pretty shoddy long-term customer service – which you can read about in customer reviews here on SolarReviews. Because they are such a large company, they don’t have the ability to give you the type of one-on-one service that you need when going solar.
Teslas customers have reported that its hard to get ahold of them if theres a problem with their system, and it can take even longer to get someone out to check on the issues. This can actually cause you to lose a substantial amount of money.
If your solar panels arent producing energy properly, you have less electricity to power your home, and thus a higher electric bill. The longer it takes for someone to fix your system, the more money you lose.
The Tesla Powerwall And Going Solar
Having a battery backup is a great idea if you have solar panels. Right now, the only way to store and retrieve excess energy is by relying on the grid, which basically acts as a huge battery for solar consumers through the net metering process. While some could argue that theres no real reason to install a battery unless youre worried about power outages, you should know that some utility companies are desperately trying to get rid of net metering with the deceptive Amendment 1 . Battery solutions such as the Tesla Powerwall enable solar consumers to produce and store a lot of their energy, without having to deal with power companies and their net metering shenanigans.
So does the battery live up to the hype? For those who know what theyre getting into, or who have solar, it absolutely does. For the people who arent as informed they might be a little disappointed. The Tesla Powerwall Battery is certainly a step in the right direction towards off-grid living, but theres definitely room for improvement. If youd like to learn more about the Tesla Powerwall Battery, or some of the other up and coming options in the market, talk to us today at 407.331.9077. Well help you figure out if investing in the battery is right for you.
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Maine Solar Solutions A Tesla Solar Panel And Powerwall Certified Installer
Tesla is by far the most requested battery brand on the market. The Tesla Powerwall offers seamless backup power as well as phone app monitoring.
With various customizable run modes, you can choose when and how you draw from your battery to keep things in your home running when you need them the most. Whether you want to go off the grid, are new to battery backup, or looking to add energy storage to your existing solar array, our team will guide you on what energy storage options work best for your property with a free assessment.
How Does The Powerwall Work
The Powerwall works with or without solar. Although its popular for homeowners with solar panels, the Powerwall also provides advantages to homeowners with no solar energy systems.
Heres how the Powerwall works with solar:
When the sun rises, your solar panels begin to power your home. If your home needs additional power, then it pulls power from the utility grid. If your home produces excess power, then that power is sent to the Powerwall.
The Powerwall stores that energy until the home needs it. Once the sun is down, or if the utility grid goes offline, the Powerwall begins powering your home.
Heres how the Powerwall works without solar
The Powerwall can be useful even if you dont use solar energy or have solar panels. You can set your Powerwall to cost savings mode automatically. The Powerwall charges itself from the utility grid when electricity costs are low . Then, the Powerwall discharges energy when rates are high .
The Powerwall also keeps your homes energy stable during power outages. Your Powerwall can pull energy from the utility grid and store it for later use. If the Powerwall detects a power outage, then the Powerwall becomes your homes main power source.
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The Future Is Virtual
Virtual power plants are the coming thing. Owners of solar power generating systems in houses and businesses will be able to link together to create the equivalent of todays massive, centralized power plants while creating no pollution in the process.
A Powerwall will enable you to manage your portion of the communitys virtual power plant efficiently.
Tesla Powerwall Warranty Coverage
- Guaranteed end of warranty capacity: 70%
- Check out this article for our in depth review of the Tesla Powerwall warranty.
In most cases, homes with a Tesla battery will charge and discharge their battery every day. So, how long do the Powerwall batteries last? The Powerwall comes with a 10-year warranty, and Tesla guarantees that the battery will maintain at least 70 percent of its capacity to hold a charge during that time period.
Teslas battery technology is similar to other rechargeable batteries both large and small: as time goes on, the battery loses some of its ability to hold a charge. Think of how the battery life of a brand-new smartphone compares to one that is a few years old. As you continually charge and drain your phones battery, it starts to lose some of its ability to hold a charge.
The battery life of your Powerwall battery will deteriorate in the same way. That isnt an indicator of a product flaw all batteries lose some of their ability to hold a charge over time after extended usage, whether its an electric vehicle battery, a home energy battery, or a rechargeable AA battery. This is why Tesla offers a warranty that guarantees a certain percentage of storage capacity ten years in the future.
If you want to compare individual battery models side-by-side, our battery Buyers Guide lets you select products and compare them based on efficiency, capacity, power, and more.
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Resetting Your Tesla Powerwall:
In the event of an outage, your Powerwall is designed to provide electricity to certain parts of your home. The system should automatically start providing power within a fraction of a second after a power outage. If you arent receiving power, check the LED on the right side of Powerwall to determine its status:
If the Gateway and Powerwall are both unresponsive, it may be necessary to turn off or power cycle the system. Note that power cycling the system must be done in the proper sequence as defined below.
WARNING: On Powerwall systems with interconnected solar, always turn off the solar inverter or disconnect the solar source before turning off the Powerwall unit.
Performance And Life Cycle
Like the Tesla Powerwall, most lithium battery systems have a 10-year warranty which guarantees the battery will retain at least 70% of its original capacity either after a 10-year period or after a certain amount of energy throughput – a specific amount of energy charged and discharged – which is 37.8MWh for the Powerwall.
Since most lithium batteries have only been on the market for 3 to 4 years the real-world performance and rate of cell degradation over time is very difficult to determine. Cell degradation is dependent on a number of factors including operating temperature, depth of discharge, total cycles, and rate of charge. Fortunately, the independent ITP renewables lithium battery test centre in Canberra, Australia has been conducting accelerated testing on a wide range of batteries including the Tesla Powerwall with some very interesting results.
The latest Powerwall battery performance results from the ITP renewables Battery test centre.
Note, the ITP test cycles the battery to a fully discharged state during every cycle which is not common in a real-world situation where the minimum state of charge can vary from day to day depending on the amount of solar generation and the daily energy consumption which may not discharge the battery fully, such as during weekends or holiday periods.
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Do You Need Solar Panels In Order To Use A Powerwall
Tesla Powerwalls can operate without solar panels and just collect power from the grid to be used as backup power during a grid outage. However, Tesla no longer sells Powerwalls individually, so in order to get a Powerwall directly from Tesla you must also order a Tesla solar panel or solar roof system.
If you want to buy a Powerwall without also paying for and installing a full solar power system, you wont be able to get the battery directly from Tesla. Instead, youd have to purchase a Powerwall for individual sale through a certified Tesla Powerwall installer.
But as we said earlier, using a Tesla partner tends to mean longer wait times, and it can be hard to find an installer who will install a battery on its own without solar, as its not as profitable for the installer. So it can be done, it could just be difficult to locate one – and youd have to be prepared for a longer wait time.
Otherwise, to get a Powerwall straight from Tesla in a timely fashion, you need to order a solar system through the Tesla website.
Why Consider A Home Solar Backup System
A home solar backup system is a solar backup battery that stores converted solar energy into a system with both on-grid and off-grid capabilities.
This means that you can still get electricity from the grid if you need it while at the same time being independent of the grid for your supply of electricity.
For example, suppose your household consumes more electricity than it produces. In that case, your household can make up for this energy deficit by drawing energy from the grid.
Meanwhile, at the same time, if the grid were to go out, your homes solar backup battery wouldnt be affected. So essentially, home solar backup systems are energy system options that get the best of both on-grid and off-grid solar systems.
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