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Tesla Powerwall Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Tesla Powerwall 2.0 battery?
As listed on the Tesla website, a single unit Tesla Powerwall 2.0 is £6,650.00, with the supporting hardware being priced at an additional £1,700.00. The total cost amounting to £8,350.00 for you to buy directly from Tesla. Tesla also typically advise installation costs to range between £950.00 and £2,800.00. This cost, alongside the unit and hardware, are all tax inclusive with higher end estimates. All in all, this price will be upwards of £11,150.00.
UK Alternative Energy would recommend that you contract with a Tesla Accredited Installer to supply and install the Powerwall 2.0 (PW2). The reason for this, is that you need permission from the National Grid to connect the PW2 to your house.
If you order direct from Tesla and are subsequently approached by an accredited installer afterwards, there is a significant chance that you will not receive the National Grids approval; leaving you with an expensive system that can’t even be connected.
Here at UK Alternative Energy, we take care of the National Grid application and commissioning paperwork along with supply and install Tesla Powerwall 2.0 between £8,000 and £10,000 (these price ranges are for a single PW2 and depending on the supporting hardware required i.e. backup or non-backup).
Contact us to discuss your requirements on 01522 803854.
How long do Tesla Powerwall batteries last?
The lifespan of a Tesla PW2 battery can vary depending on the amount of use it receives on a regular basis. Tesla’s battery technology is similar to other rechargeable batteries, utilising Lithium-ion batteries which will experience an inherent level of capacity decay over time, whether it is used frequently or not.
This should not be seen as a product flaw, however, as all batteries will lose some of their ability to hold charge over time. Daily use will speed the process up of course and would result in a shorter lifespan. Conversely, if the battery is only used as an Emergency Power Supply unit then it can last a lifetime.
Tesla provides an unlimited 10-year warranty for its Powerwall units, with its original warranty guaranteeing at least 80% charge retention of its nominal storage capacity.
Can you use a Tesla Powerwall without solar panels?
It is possible for a Tesla PW2 to be charged and store power without the use of solar panels. By utilising the Tesla App, you will be able to choose the manner in which the Powerwall 2 is charged. The available options to charge are supplied either by solar panels or through the National Grid, dependent on what power source is available at a specified time.
This allows for this battery to be charged in the night-time, through the grid, when electric prices can decrease through potential reductions in electric tariff’s, and resupplying that power back to your house in the daytime avoiding peak prices.
It is also important to account for the 90% round trip efficiency which occurs during the charge and supply cycle.
Can a Tesla Powerwall power a home?
The short answer is yes, they can. This answer, however, should be readjusted to focus on how long a single Tesla Powerwall can power a house before depleting a full charge. There are numerous subjective factors which need to be accounted for when calculating just how long a Tesla battery can supply a house with power.
The UK’s average yearly power usage is approximately 3,600 kWh, which when divided into daily portions would total 9.86 kWh electricity consumption per day on average. The Tesla Powerwall’s current usable energy capacity being 13.5 kWh, would result in an average household being able to go about their daily routine unhindered for over a period of 24 hours.
This duration could drastically increase or decrease depending on the energy consumption habits of a battery’s owner. If an owner is conservative and only uses power where necessary a single charge could power multiple days, whereas, a heavy electrical user could consume the majority of a Pw2’s charge in a shorter period than this if they switched on numerous high-energy demanding appliances and left them on for a significant period of time.
What is the Tesla Backup Gateway 2?
The PW2 Backup Gateway 2 provides energy management and monitoring for solar self-consumption, time-based control and the potential for backup operation.
When a PW2 is set to Backup mode, the Gateway 2 will control the batteries connection to the National Grid, automatically detecting potential power outages and providing a seamless transition to backup power.
It is possible to communicate directly with the PW2 through the Gateway 2, allowing you to monitor and review your energy usage and manage backup energy reserves from any mobile device with the Tesla app installed.
