How much does the Tesla Powerwall cost?
The Tesla Powerwall in 2022 costs $11,050, but there’s a catch. You also will need to purchase the Tesla solar battery supporting hardware, which adds another $1,700, giving you a total Tesla Powerwall price of $12,750.
Additionally, the Powerwall is not sold separately. The Tesla solar battery is only available as part of a full home solar system. So, how much does a Tesla solar battery cost? Because you can’t buy the Powerwall as a standalone product, you’ll have to factor in the cost of the entire solar system.
To find out how much your Tesla solar system may cost, we looked at the average monthly electricity bill in the U.S., which is currently $126.09. Based on this energy consumption, Tesla recommends a 4.8 kW solar panel system with one Powerwall battery, which equals $20,628. Keep in mind that the price of a solar system can vary depending on your energy needs, so you may end up paying more or less for your complete Tesla solar system in 2022.
Alternatively, Tesla also offers a solar roof compatible with the Powerwall battery. Solar roof shingles are smaller than traditional solar panels, but they typically cost more. For example, the estimate from Tesla.com for a home with the average U.S. electricity bill for a Tesla Powerwall battery with a Tesla solar roof would cost between $44,000–$51,000.
The good news is there are a few ways to offset the cost of a Tesla Powerwall in 2022. One way to reduce your costs considerably is to claim the 26% federal solar tax credit (ITC) that runs through 2022. Using the 4.8 kW solar panel system in the example above, you could save over $5,300 in federal tax incentives, which would lower your total cost to around $15,300. However, the ITC is applicable only if you purchase or finance your system, but not if you decide to lease your solar system or enter a solar power purchase agreement (PPA). Other state and local incentives may be available in your area as well. Another aspect that can help with the cost of a solar panel system is net metering, which is a process available in some states where you can sell excess energy back to the power grid.
About the Tesla Powerwall home battery
The Tesla Powerwall is an integrated battery system that can store your solar energy. Since it became available, the Tesla Powerwall has become one of the best solar batteries with a top solar warranty.
If you live in a high solar-producing state, it’s nice to have a solar battery to store excess energy, although it is not a prerequisite to owning a home solar panel system. Once your solar panels have absorbed energy from the sun and your system has converted it into usable energy, your solar battery allows you to store that electricity.
The size of your home and the number of appliances you are running will affect how long the Tesla Powerwall battery can maintain power in your home during a power outage. The Tesla Powerwall can store up to 13.5 kWh of backup power. According to Tesla, “An average home uses approximately 25 kWh of energy per day. A small home may use as little as 10 kWh and a large home may use 40 kWh or more per day.” Using the Tesla app to prioritize and track your power usage can help prolong the Powerwall’s energy output.
Tesla is known for its electric vehicles, but the company also creates other renewable energy systems, including monocrystalline solar panels, solar inverters, and solar batteries. The Powerwall battery can help reduce your dependence on the traditional electricity grid and give you coverage for power outages in 2022 and beyond.
Tesla Powerwall tax credits and incentives in 2022
Your purchase of a Tesla residential solar system is eligible for the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Using this tax credit, a consumer can currently receive 26% of their solar system purchase back through credits on their annual taxes. This tax credit can apply to your entire Tesla solar system purchase in 2022, including the Powerwall. Given the price of Tesla’s systems, you could expect to save more than $9,000 with the tax credit.
In addition to the federal tax credit, some state and local governments also have incentives in place to help people lower the total cost of a solar panel purchase. You can learn more about tax incentives in your state by visiting your state’s solar page at the bottom of this guide.
Key specs and features of the 2022 Tesla Powerwall
When you purchase your Tesla home solar panel system, you’ll be able to choose between two different Powerwall models: the Powerwall and the Powerwall+. According to Tesla.com, “A Powerwall+ contains additional features focusing on solar integration that enable cleaner installations with less equipment.” You can also combine multiple Powerwalls for additional solar energy storage. While the Powerwall is compatible with other solar systems.
In this section, we’ll cover the specs of the two batteries and some important features.
- Battery capacity: Both the Powerwall and Powerwall+ have an energy capacity of 13.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh). This capacity is above average for a solar battery, which means it allows you to store more energy than many of its competitors. This factor is important, as it means you’ll be able to better power your home when the sun isn’t shining.
- Warranty: Most solar batteries come with a warranty that guarantees their effectiveness for a certain number of years. Both the Powerwall warranty and Powerwall+ have a 10-year warranty. During that time, Tesla promises that your battery will be free from defects and will maintain no less than 70% of its 13.5 kWh energy capacity. If there’s a problem, Tesla will either repair, replace, or refund your Powerwall.
- Depth of discharge (DoD): The DoD of a solar battery refers to the amount of energy you can draw before impacting its lifespan. In most solar batteries, the DoD is less than 100%. But the Powerwall and Powerwall+ both have an impressive 100% DoD, meaning you can use the full amount of stored energy without shortening your battery’s lifespan.
- Round trip efficiency: The round trip efficiency of a battery describes how efficiently it runs during one cycle. Round trip efficiency is a percentage that describes how much of the power in the battery you can draw versus how much is needed to run the battery. The average solar battery efficiency is between 70–80%, but the Powerwall has an efficiency of 90%, meaning you can use more of the stored energy.
- Battery type: There are several types of solar batteries on the market, including lead-acid, lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, deep-cycle, saltwater, and solar gel. The Tesla Powerwall is a lithium-ion battery, which is a newer type of battery that often has a longer DoD, longer lifespan, and lower maintenance.
- Compatibility: The Powerwall (not the Powerwall+) is compatible with several existing solar systems, including the “SMA, SolarEdge, Fronius, Enphase micro inverter, Delta, and ABB,” according to Tesla. Tesla does not sell the Powerwall or Powerwall+ separately, however, you can purchase a Powerwall from a third-party retailer.
Should you buy the Tesla Powerwall in 2022?
The Tesla Powerwall is one of the top solar batteries on the market, and it’s easy to see why. It has plenty of advantages over the average solar battery. But despite its advantages, the Powerwall also has some downsides. Let’s take a look at the Tesla solar battery’s pros and cons.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Long lifespan with a 10-year warranty | Not sold separately by Tesla |
| High efficiency (90%) and DoD (100%) | More expensive than other solar batteries |
| Can add more than one Powerwall for additional energy storage | May take longer to see a return on your investment (ROI) |
When you’re deciding whether the Tesla Powerwall is right for you, there’s a lot to consider. The Tesla Powerwall can help you maintain power to your home regardless of power outages or winter weather. However, the Powerwall has a price tag of $11,050, and other solar batteries are available for half of that cost. But the most important factor is whether the Powerwall is compatible with your solar system.
