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Tesla will now only sell its solar panels and solar roof together with its Powerwall battery from next week.
- Musk noted that this would enable simple install and circumvent challenges faced by customers regarding utility approval.
According to a statement by CEO Elon Musk, Tesla will now only sell its solar panels and solar roof together with its Powerwall battery from next week. In a series of tweets, Musk stated that the solar energy from Tesla panels would feed exclusively to Powerwall. “Powerwall will interface only between utility meter & house main breaker panel, enabling super simple install & seamless whole house backup during utility dropouts,” Musk said.
Musk made this known in response to a tweet from a customer who stated that his solar system installed by Tesla since January “hasn’t generated a single watt-hour” as his utility company is yet to approve the connection.
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Did you buy a Powerwall? Utility permission is required for flowing electricity back to grid, but usually not if stored in our battery. This also enables 24/7 electricity security for your home.
Utility permission is still needed for when Powerwall is full & can stabilize grid.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 21, 2021
Musk noted that while utility permission is required for grid-connected systems, it is not required for systems where excess energy is stored in a battery.
Consumers could previously pair solar systems from other producers with a Tesla Powerwall, but this new policy would mean that consumers would have to procure a Tesla manufactured solar panel to be able to buy the powerwall.
Tesla will now only sell its home energy products as a bundle; energy generation (solar roof and panels) and energy storage (Powerwall). While Tesla is known for its battery-powered electric vehicles, it has expanded into delivering off-grid solar energy systems and energy storage options for stand-alone home systems and grid balancing in recent years.