Are you aware of the new hot topics on energy efficiency industry and which companies are committed to it by launching new products?
What is Tesla Powerwall?
The Tesla Powerwall is a big home battery made of lithium ion and charges on solar energy. Tesla launched two variants of batteries. One is capable of storing 7 kwh of energy and the other one stores 10 kwh, costing $3.000 and $3.500, respectively.
This battery seems to have several advantages with respect to existing batteries, which can be very expensive, difficult to integrate and combine with your current appliances. Moreover, they have a poor lifetime, they are not as efficient and sometimes seen unreliable. On the other hand, Tesla’s product will be used as another appliance at home, hanging on the wall, looking fairly attractive for being a energy battery.
What problem does it solve?
The batteries are primed for home use, where typically more electricity is consumed during peak hours in the morning and evening. By storing the electricity generated during the day, the peak hour demand can be met with ease.
The idea is to create an easy, efficient way to store energy generated by your home’s solar panels during the day. This energy stored can then be used at night or even during emergency scenarios if you have the 10 kwh battery, when for example you don’t have access to energy because there has been a storm causing a cut on utility services. This solution is a win-win: households save money during peak hours and electric companies see the electricity demand reduced at night.
The Powerwall will only be available in the U.S. initially, but Tesla hopes the battery will scale globally, allowing people in developing countries without a strong electrical infrastructure to get electricity quickly without relying on power lines.
Solar power works if panels and batteries are affordable. The cost of panels are already falling. If battery prices are also on the way down, we can expect this renewable source to be enhanced to a better sustainable world.
Other Tesla’s projects
- For larger businesses and utilities, there’s a bigger version of the battery known as the Powerpack, and this is where Tesla’s vision zooms ahead to a future where energy is generated by renewable resources and stored for future use in giant batteries. This huge battery can store up to 100 kWh.
- Tesla Gigafactory will produce and supply lithium ion batteries to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable transportation. They will do that by producing electric vehicles.
