Solar Battery Storage FAQs

On average, a regular solar battery lasts between 5 to 15 years depending on how well you maintain and take care of them. Other factors that affect the lifespan of the batteries are:

• The Brand or Manufacturer. A Tesla Powerwall has a 10-year limited warranty although it lasts for 5 or more years beyond its warranty without a rapid decline in its storage capacity. The Tesla Powerwall lifespan has proven to be longer and more reliable than other brands.
• Proper Maintenance. Although solar batteries do not have high maintenance requirements, units that are properly cared for and maintained last longer.
• Temperature. Extreme temperatures have a significant effect on the lifespan of solar batteries. Protect your solar batteries from freezing or sweltering temperatures to increase its lifespan. Solar batteries with a temperature moderator are more effective and will last longer. Tesla Powerwalls are equipped with temperature moderator so when it drops below -1C or go beyond 32C, your battery will not be stressed.

Solar batteries allow you to store excess solar electricity at your home or send it back to the grid in exchange for a small rebate. When your solar panels generate more energy than you are actually using for the day, the excess is used to charge the solar batteries, working as storage so you can use this energy at a later time. The higher the capacity of your batteries, the more solar energy you can store.

A Tesla Powerwall is a stationary rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is considered the most reliable form of home energy storage today. It stores electricity from solar energy for self-consumption, load shifting, off-the-grid use and backup power. It is available on-demand, can sufficiently power your home, can be used during the night, or can be used as back up power during power outages and emergencies. The Tesla Powerwall has a built-in battery inverter which makes it compact and easy to integrate into your home.

The Tesla Powerwall system is made up of at least one Powerwall battery and one backup Gateway. They work together in gathering, storing, managing, and monitoring the energy levels. It is optimised for daily cyclings like load shifting, among other functions.

The Powerwall is charged through solar energy during the day. It then stores the solar energy into the Powerwall energy storage unit until it is needed for consumption. It is usually during the night when solar energy cannot be collected, that the stored energy is used. It is also used for emergencies like power outages or when the grid is offline.

The first thing you should ask is how much electricity do you use on an average day and night? As a rule of thumb, one solar panel can charge a 12-Volt battery. The number of solar panels you will need depends on how much electricity you consume, your roof space and your budget.

• A small household of 1-2 people will need an average of around 2 kW or 8 solar panels.
• A medium household of 2-3 people will need an average of around 4 kW or 14 solar panels.
• A large household of 4 or more might need more than 5 kW or over 24 solar panels.

On average, a solar panel is about 200W – 400W. Assuming a panel of 300W rating, you will need around 18 solar panels to charge your Tesla Powerwall in a single day. This should be enough for your home backup. You can always add more panels for better storage capacity as your need for more energy storage and electricity consumption increase.

For more information about solar battery storage and Tesla Powerwalls, click here! Or give us a call on 07 4194 2753 to book an appointment or a free in-home consultation now. Start saving on your electricity bills and start saving the environment.