Tesla’s Powerwall

Tesla’s Powerwall is a fully-integrated AC battery system for residential and light commercial use. It consists of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, which provides storage capacity for solar energy or grid-purchased energy.

Powerwall detects grid outages and automatically becomes the house’s main energy source. The product can be integrated with solar to store excess energy generated during the day.

For varying utility energy prices within the day, the Powerwall can be set in Time-Based Control to maximize savings. The product also learns patterns of energy usage and solar generation, using stored energy to avoid purchasing electricity in high-cost hours.

The physical dimensions of the product are 1150mm x 755mm x 147mm, weight 114 kg. The available mounting options are on the floor or wall-mounted.

Technical support is provided by Tesla’s customer support in each country.

Tesla’s Powerwall has an estimated lifespan of 3 -10 years. Tesla provides a warranty of 10 years.

The economic benefit of a Tesla’s Powerwall system was assessed in a study conducted by the Institute for Electrical Energy Storage Technology, of the Technical University of Munich. Based on the Return of Investment calculation for different scenarios increasing electricity prices, they found that, for average single-family houses in Germany, the system is economically favorable for an annual load larger than 3,000 kWh and a PV-system of at least 3 kWp.

Tesla claims the following safety features about this product: It is child and pet friendly with no exposed wires or hot vents (touch-safe), water-resistant and dustproof for indoor or outdoor installation (weatherproof).

About the safety concerns, Tesla informs that:

1. The Powerwall installation and service requires knowledge of high voltage electricity and should only be performed by Tesla Certified Installers.
2. A battery can present a risk of electrical shock, fire, or explosion from vented gases.
3. Users can never open the case of the battery, otherwise, there exists the risk of exposure to chemical compounds including Cobaltum and Lithium.
4. As the system is heavy (around 100 kg), the use of lift equipment is recommended.
5. Do not insert foreign objects into any part of the Powerwall.
6. Do not expose Powerwall or its components to a flame. Do not immerse Powerwall or its components into water or other fluids.
7. Do not install Powerwall near to heating equipment.
8. Do not use cleaning solvents, nor expose the system to flammable or harsh chemicals or vapors.
9. Do not place Powerwall in storage condition, or permit the electrical feed to be served for more than one month without following Tesla’s specifications for storage.
10. Do not connect the Powerwall directly to photovoltaic solar wiring.
11. Operate the battery within the specified temperature range (-30-60°C), otherwise, there exists a risk of damage.