Tesla is a very rich company (in more ways than one). They have their hands in so many tech ventures it can be hard to keep track of them all. From electric cars to launching people to Mars, Tesla and its founder Elon Musk have big plans for our future. But perhaps the most important innovation to come out of Tesla is the Powerwall.
What is the Tesla Powerwall?
The Tesla Powerwall is a home battery system that allows users to store excess energy generated by their existing solar panels. Once that power has been transferred to the rechargeable batteries, you can use it to do just about anything you want. Including power your entire home. This a perfect opportunity to decrease the amount of electricity you draw from the local power grid. Moreover, it’s a perfect chance to reduce your own utility costs at the exact same time.
How Did We Get Here?
Tesla began ramping up development of the first Powerwall back in 2012, with prototypes being installed for select industrial customers. Almost immediately, the results were overwhelming. Some of those customers saved as much as 20% on their overall electrical bill. The product was announced for the public on 30th April 2015 and eventually saw release the following year. The first Tesla Powerwall had a 6.4kWh capacity for daily cycle applications. A year later, the Powerwall 2 was released – this time more than doubling the overall capacity to 13.5kWh. It is capable of offering power at up to 7kW at its peak and 5kW on a continuous basis.
Where the Tesla Powerwall Stands Today
Flash forward to today and the Tesla Powerwall isn’t just cheaper than regular electricity – it’s almost astoundingly so. Earlier this year the South Australian Government announced a plan to install 50,000 Powerwall 2’s in homes statewide. While the state government would own them, the homeowners themselves would pay just 27 cents per kWh– which is incredibly cheap compared to the average price of 42.4 cents.
What the Tesla Powerwall Means for the Future
Because of this, it’s easy to see why a future containing Tesla Powerwalls is such a bright one (absolutely no pun intended). The Powerwall works with pre-existing solar systems, so you don’t need Tesla technology already in your home to use them. This creates something of a perfect storm. A situation where at a certain point, it would be financially irresponsible NOT to have a series of Powerwalls running your operations.
At that point, people will be drawing less energy from the grid, and they’ll be paying less for what they do draw. This will mean people are getting the power they need while using fewer resources. A huge win for the environment. When that day arrives – and it’s already close – it will be a massive step in the right direction. We’ll be moving towards creating the more sustainable, more fulfilling future that we all so eagerly hope for.
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