Energy/Industry Renewable Solar Energy Storage

Tesla’s Home Battery About to Become a Reality

April 28, 2015

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April 28, 2015 – Tesla Motors‘ next product doesn’t go on wheels. It is an in-home battery that can harness the excess energy generated from photovoltaic rooftop panels and store it for use when the Sun goes down. It can even send surplus energy back to the grid or make a home grid independent.

Testing has been going on at 230 homes in California and 100 others in other states. According to advanced leaks on the technology, it comes in 10 and 15 kilowatt versions, has a form factor 0.9 x 0.76 meters (3 x 2.5 feet), can be installed in an open space like a garage and requires no maintenance.

The battery comes with a smartphone app that allows you to monitor it continuously. It accepts a charge not just from solar arrays but also from a feed in from the grid or from generators.

Cost for the 10 kilowatt model is approximately $13,000 US according to the scuttlebutt and rumor mill. Tesla intends to make the battery available to purchasers through monthly installments.

We will know if any or all of the above is accurate on April 30th when the company formally announces.

According to Bloomberg, Tesla has already signed up customers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and Cargill Inc. In the case of Wal-Mart they may be both a user and distributor. Cargill has not indicated how they intend to use Tesla batteries at their Fresno, California plant.

There is also a hint that a third model, a large utility battery, will be part of the announcement. No pricing for the big battery is mentioned.