This is exciting. Tesla's rechargeable lithium-ion battery for the home, Powerwall, looks like the Future. It may be the first viable option for supplying sustainable electricity to remote locations, dwellings during devastating natural disasters, and for those of us looking to unplug. Although only time will tell, combining Tesla's Powerwall with a good solar panel setup, will likely be the best option for anyone who needs electricity but looking to live, or already living untethered.
The battery can provide a number of different benefits to the customer including:
Load shifting – The battery can provide financial savings to its owner by charging during low rate periods when demand for electricity is lower and discharging during more expensive rate periods when electricity demand is higher
Increasing self-consumption of solar power generation – The battery can store surplus solar energy not used at the time it is generated and use that energy later when the sun is not shining
Back-up power – Assures power in the event of an outage
Powerwall specs:
- Mounting: Wall Mounted Indoor/Outdoor
- Inverter: Pairs with growing list of inverters
- Energy: 7 kWh or 10 kWh
- Continuous Power: 2 kW
- Peak Power: 3.3 kW
- Round Trip Efficiency: >92%
- Operating Temperature Range: -20C (-4F) to 43C (110F)
- Warranty: 10 years
- Dimensions: H: 1300mm W: 860mm D:180mm
Via: Tesla
According to the US Energy Information Administration, the average Mid Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA) household consumes an average of 706kWh per month, with an average monthly energy bill of $110.88 USD. Consumption for the average home for the West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) climbs to, 1180kWh per month, with monthly costs of $126.75USD. That's an average consumption of 23.5 kWh per for Mid Atlantic homes and 39 kWh per day for West South Central homes. Of course, depending on electronics in each home, that number can vary significantly. Tesla states that per day, the average refrigerator consumes about 4.8kWh, laptops consume about 1.2kWh, flat screen TVs about 2.4 kWh, and lighting per room about 2.4kWh. That's about 13.2 kWh per day with all devices I just mentioned going, plus lighting for an additional room.
With just about all consumer electronics manufacturers becoming increasingly energy conscious, 2 Tesla 10kWh Powerwalls may just do the trick for most households - perhaps even less if you reside outside the United States.
