With the release of the first-generation Powerwall almost 7 years ago Tesla Energy made a big impact in the solar world and pushed home energy storage into the mainstream. Released in 2016, the current Powerwall 2has been designed to be more compact, easier to handle, and simpler to install than the first Powerwall.
Features:
- AC-Coupled Battery System with Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
- 13.5kWh Storage Capacity
- 10-year Warranty
- Automatic, Virtual System Updates
- Child & Pet Friendly, with No Wires or Hot Vents
- Quiet Operation
- Can be Retrofitted to Your Existing Solar System
- Easily Stackable for System Flexibility
Powerwall 2 comes with rectangular curves, venting on either side for cooling, a bright green LED strip, a simple on/off switch IP56 rating and can be ground-mounted and wall-mounted. The Powerwall 2 uses Lithium NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) Battery Cells similar to the Lithium NCA cells used in the Tesla electric vehicles, which are developed by Tesla in collaboration withPanasonic.
Tesla Powerwall 2 hasan integrated AC to DC inverter-charger; hence, it can be easily retrofitted to homes with an existing solar installation. To function together with a solar array, the Powerwall system requires a separate solar inverter. However, it is compatible with ‘almost’ any model of inverter since it operates independently of the Powerwall.
Management System:
Tesla Powerwall 2 is equipped with a Liquid Thermal Management System that enables it to operate in a wide range of temperatures from -20 to +50°C and is still the only battery in the market with that technology. The Powerwall is likely to derate or reduce its power output at ambient temperatures above 40°C, as power derating is very common among most lithium-ion-based batteries. However, theliquid thermal management system helps it by expelling more heat under high loads and during rapid charging, which can provide a longer life span and better performance at higher temperatures. Another advantage of that system is that it enables the Powerwall to charge at temperaturesbelow freezing becausewhen the temperature is below freezing, preconditioning turns on and heats the Powerwall to improve charging performance. Whereas, many other lithium batteries suffer from severely reduced charge rates in such situations, as Lithium battery cells cannot charge properly below 5°C due to reduced diffusion rates on the anode.
Storage Capacity:
The Powerwall 2 comes with a large 13.5kWh storage capacity.For more storage capacity, it can be installed up to 3 modules per phase, which can provide an impressive 40.5kWh of total storage capacity per phase and more than enough for most standard households. Hence, on a 3-phase configuration, one can go up to nine units of Powerwall linked together.
Tesla Powerwall 2 isOff-Grid Capable provided it is installed in a protected location with an adequately sized solar array, plus a backup generator is required in most colder locations with short winter days. But for such a setup, more than one Powerwall is required as its charge rating is limited to a maximum of 5kW of solar (solar inverter size).
The Tesla App is easy to interface with and common to all Tesla products. It provides a seamless interface between EV control, solar generation and energy storage. It also offers real-time monitoring of grid energy usage, battery state of charge, solar generation historical data and useful statistics. It provides 4 different control modes.
- Self-Powered mode – Increases self-consumption of solar by storing excess generation.
- Time-based control – Prioritises energy storage or consumption based on your electricity usage tariffs to reduce bills and save money.
- Storm watch – Automatically charges the Powerwall in the event of a major storm or blackout.
- Vehicle charging during a power outage – Enables the Powerwall to Tesla EVA to dynamically adjust the charge rate to prevent overloading the system during a power outage.
