If you’re considering adding a Tesla Powerwall home battery solution to your home, it’s important to understand the true value you’re adding. Solar panels generate energy and send it to your home, but the solar system alone isn’t able to store the excess power it generates. This is where Tesla’s Powerwall comes in. The Powerwall is an advanced lithium-ion battery designed to store the excess power generated by your solar panels, instead of sending it back to the utility grid. It can be installed inside or outside and doesn’t require any maintenance or special attention once it’s set up correctly. Ultimately, your home batteries are an investment in your home and provide peace of mind for your family with protection from outages, blackouts and rising energy costs. The solution and benefits sound great, but the next question is often: how much does it cost?
When it comes to the cost, there’s a few things to keep in mind. First, while home batteries like the Tesla Powerwall can be expensive, some of these costs can be offset through financial incentives and rebates. Secondly, there are many variables that can impact the cost of batteries for homeowners, including how much electricity they use and how many batteries are needed to power their home. As a result, it’s tough to know what your exact overall home battery investment will be without diving into the details.
Here are 3 Factors that Determine How Much a Tesla Powerwall Will Cost:
1. Batteries are Expensive, But the Cost Can Be Reduced
Home battery storage systems can be expensive due to their high quality lithium-ion components and advanced manufacturing process. A five-kilowatt (kW) solar panel system typically costs between $9,000 and $15,000 depending on where you live and which home battery you choose.
Before installation, a single Tesla Powerwall costs $9,200. When you factor in installation costs, a Powerwall generally ranges in price between $13,000 and $18,000 for full system installations (before incentives).
While a Tesla Powerwall is more expensive than other battery storage systems, it also offers high storage capacity and power output – check out our Review of the Technical Details of a Tesla Powerwall to learn more. The price is based on the number of units you order: one Powerwall starts at $9,200, but you’ll save money as you purchase additional units. See additional pricing details below for 2023.
When choosing a backup power source, it’s important to plan for the extra cost of storing enough energy to keep your home operating during an extended power outage. Luckily, you can reduce the cost of your home energy use by taking advantage of tax incentives and benefits.
2. Installation Costs and Other Factors Can Impact the Overall Price of Home Battery Storage
Figuring out the exact cost of installing a home battery isn’t straightforward, since it depends on many factors such as battery size. The baseline home battery price is only one factor in determining the overall cost. Installation costs can vary depending on your electrical setup.
Another factor to consider when installing a solar battery is whether you’re adding the battery to an existing solar panel system or installing both systems simultaneously. In addition to evaluating how many appliances you want powered during an outage, it is important to evaluate your energy needs so that you can determine the appropriate number of batteries for your home.
The overall size of your backup system will vary based on whether you want to back up essentials only or optimized comfort during longer power outages. Your energy consultant will work with you to create a plan that includes the important appliances and systems you’d like to backup in your home.
3. Battery Storage Can be a Wise Investment That Brings Peace of Mind.
If you want to ensure that your family is comfortable and safe from power outages, investing in solar + battery storage storage makes sense. The costs of a battery may be offset by reduced electricity bills, rebates and incentives. Plus, a home battery can bring peace of mind knowing your family will never go without power. Batteries can also help people live comfortably off-grid even if they don’t have access to traditional utility services.
How much does the Tesla Powerwall cost in 2023?
Tesla Powerwall pricing varies depending on where and how you purchase – ranging anywhere from $9,200 to over $18,000.
In the first part of 2023, Tesla launched Powerwall Direct. This would allow you to buy a standalone Powerwall directly on Tesla’s website. While the costs for Powerwalls through Powerwall Direct seem much lower, there are many important things to consider.
Powerwall costs through Powerwall Direct start at:
- One Powerwall – $9,200
- Two Powerwalls – $17,200
- Three Powerwalls – $25,200
Additional fees and details to consider:
- Prices may vary if you are adding to an existing Powerwall system.
- You’ll have a $200 delivery fee.
- Installation costs are not included (these fees often start at $3,000)
- Potential need for electrical panel upgrades – which can add $2,500 to your installation costs.
When it’s all said and done, your cost for a single Powerwall through Powerwall direct, including delivery and installation, will start at $13,000. This process also involves more coordination and planning than it would if you worked with a Powerwall Certified Installer who will handle all the details from start to finish.
While it’s slightly more expensive, you should definitely consider the benefits of purchasing through an installer – often starting around $15,000-$18,000 depending on your location and associated installation costs. Choosing a local installer usually means better customer service and support for the lifetime of the system. This route may also require an electrical panel upgrade depending on your home and the number of Powerwalls you want to install. Unfortunately, the upgrade cost is one that can’t be avoided, regardless of your installation partner.
Does the Tesla Powerwall qualify for tax incentives or rebates in 2023?
Yes, the Tesla Powerwall does qualify for the battery storage incentives available in the U.S.
Current;y, the greatest incentive available to California homeowners, is the federal solar tax credit,. This will reduce the cost of your Powerwall installation by 30%. If you were charged $11,500 for installing a Powerwall, you would then receive a $3,450 tax credit from the federal government.
How the Tesla Powerwall Works
The Powerwall pairs nicely with home solar panel systems, especially if your local utility company (like PG&E in California, for example) charges more for electricity during peak hours or has discontinued net metering. But is the Tesla Powerwall powerful enough to provide energy for your entire home? Yes—if you pair a Tesla Powerwall with a solar energy system, it will supply electricity to your home day and night as long as your panels produce enough power when the sun is shining.
Like many other home batteries, the Tesla Powerwall is sized to power your home on a day-to-day basis and is often paired with solar systems like the SunPower Equinox®. When your solar panels generate more energy than your home needs, instead of sending the extra power into the grid for other people to use, you can store that excess clean energy.
Later, if your panels don’t produce enough electricity to meet your home’s needs (such as at night or on cloudy days), the stored electricity in your battery can be used instead of purchasing power from your utility company.
Conclusion
Whether you want to reduce your reliance on the grid or enjoy peace of mind protection from outages and blackouts, Tesla Powerwall batteries are one of the most advanced and energy-efficient energy storage solutions on the market today.
Powerwalls can be purchased directly from the company or from a Certified Powerwall Installer like Solar Technologies. If you’re ready to change the way you power your home and start saving more with solar, contact us today for a free customized quote.
Article Updated September 2023.
Related Links:
5 FAQs About Solar Home Battery Storage
What You Need to Know About Energy Storage and Solar Batteries