Alps Electrical are proud to install Tesla Powerwalls.
At Alps Electrical, we are passionate about being the very best, providing the best customer service, the best workmanship, and of course, the very best in technology. It was our goal to become a Tesla Installer Partner, and we are proud to make it a reality.
How does Battery Storage work, and why do I need it?
Battery storage in your home or workplace is a great way to save on your energy bills. It can work with solar panels and EV chargers, or you can have battery storage.
For those customers who do not wish to have solar panels, battery storage can still work well alongside a variable rate energy tariff from one of the energy providers that offer cheap nighttime electricity, such as Octopus Energy.
When writing this blog, Octopus Energy offers a nighttime tariff called 'Intelligent Octopus', which offers rates as low as 7.5p per kWh from 11:30 pm - 5:50 am. Currently, the average cost per kWh in the UK is around 0.32p, so utilising that cheaper tariff will save you money.
Energy companies are offering cheaper evening rates to ease demand at peak times on the national grid.
The Powerwall has a usable storage capacity of 13.5kwh. The average daily usage in the UK is between 8.5kwh - 10.5kwh. Therefore if you use less than 13.5kwh of electricity, then a fully charged Powerwall charged at just 7.5p per kWh will provide you with your electrical energy needs the next day at a much cheaper cost, saving you money.
Not only are you saving money with a Tesla Powerwall, but you are also helping the demand on the National Grid, which in turn is helping the planet. It is a win-win situation for all.
If you already have Solar PV or are considering it alongside the Powerwall, this is a great combination that will see some fantastic savings on your energy usage.
When your solar panels are generating electricity, and you are not using that energy, it will be directed to the Powerwall for later use, until the Powerwall is full. Once the Powerwall is at 100% capacity, the excess energy is returned to the grid, which the energy company will pay you for. This is called a 'feed-in tariff'. It isn't a huge amount at around 5p per kWh, but it is better than nothing.
If, for example, you return home and your batteries are fully charged, and you put your washing machine and the oven on, then the energy will come from the batteries, rather than the grid, which you just charged from the sun - for free! How amazing is that?
If you have an EV charger such as the Myenergi Zappi, this will also work seamlessly with the whole setup, and the system will determine where best to send the excess energy. If your vehicle is plugged in and you are not using much or any electricity in the home, your batteries are full; then the excess will go to the car. Now you are charging your EV from the sun - for free! It just gets better!
There is also another way you can utilise the excess energy, and that is called the Myenergi Eddie device. If you have a hot water cylinder, this can also be incorporated to heat your water when you get home. Imagine you are out at work all day, and it is nice and sunny; your solar panels generate 3-4kwh of electricity, your batteries are filling up to 100%, and your water is heated. You return home to full batteries, which you can then use that evening, and have a nice hot bath paid for by the sun - for free! Oh, come on now, this is just getting silly!
The Powerwall is so clever that it can determine the weather the following day, and how the solar panels may perform. If the weather is not good, the Powerwall can be set to take charge of the cheap nighttime tariff we discussed earlier. Therefore you will wake up with full batteries and a full charge on your EV.
Independent of the grid.
The Tesla Powerwall also boasts the ability to work independently of the grid. In the event of a power cut, the Powerwall will instantaneously switch to 'Island Mode', providing power to your home from the stored energy in the batteries. In this instance, the homeowner would still be able to use their appliances and lighting/power exactly as before but would need to be aware that high-drawing appliances such as ovens, hobs, and electric showers would quickly deplete the battery. So selective energy usage would be advisable. Imagine how envious and confused your neighbours would be when their homes are dark, and yours are still lit up.
The Tesla Powerwall is an incredibly sophisticated piece of engineering that also looks beautiful. It is fully waterproof and can be installed inside or outside your home. The preferred location would be an outside wall. Therefore you do not have to sacrifice any space in your home; you can pretend it is not even there until you see your energy bills come down!
Whichever way you look at it, the Powerwall is an excellent choice.
Call Alps Electrical today for a free no obligation quotation and site survey.
