Tesla is a company you’ll know for its electric vehicles, but it has also made strides into the renewable tech space. This isn’t too surprising. After all, electric vehicles are powered by batteries, which are also highly compatible with solar panels when it comes to creating a more sustainable home.
When it comes to their renewable tech, Tesla has dipped its toe into the UK market, but they haven’t gone all in yet. Although the Powerwall battery storage solution is available in the UK, their solar panels are currently unavailable.
This guide will take a look at Tesla solar panels, the details behind them and potential integration with other Tesla products.
Basics of solar panels
To give a quick recap, solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells, usually made from silicon. These cells absorb photons from sunlight, which initiates an electric current that can be sent into your home.
This clean, renewable energy source offers many benefits to homeowners, including reduced electricity bills and a decreased carbon footprint. In the UK, it’s thought that solar PV can save anywhere from £200-£800 on your annual electricity bill. Solar panels can also add value onto your property (around 4%), as well as earning you money thanks to any excess solar exported to the grid.
Solar panels have been around for a little while now, but they have become more advanced in terms of efficiency and affordability, although customer prices have risen slightly in the last couple of years.
Tesla solar panels
Tesla entered the solar market in 2016 when they acquired SolarCity, a big solar player in America. This was a strategic acquisition to align Tesla with their vision of creating an ecosystem of sustainable energy products, covering customers from energy generation to storage and then usage with their EVs.
The solar panels Tesla use are designed with both aesthetics and performance in mind. They feature a slick, all-black design that blends into most roofs. They’re made using a black aluminium alloy frame, black backsheet and glass. The mounting system is designed for a low-profile installation, requiring approximately 30% fewer anchor points compared to traditional setups.
Tesla actually use a partner brand to supply their solar panels. All Tesla solar panels are manufactured by Hanwha Q Cells. It’s possible to get these solar panels separately in the UK without going through Tesla.
Tesla solar panel power and efficiency
Each Tesla solar panel generates up to 405 watts of power. The company offers system sizes ranging from small 4.8kW setups to large 19.2kW arrays to suit different energy needs.
The solar system can be configured with different sized inverters ranging from 3.8kW to 7.6kW. Inverter size all depends on your energy needs and how many solar panels you install.
The smart inverter used by Tesla converts the DC power into usable AC power and has both Wifi and cellular connectivity to link up with the Tesla app and Powerwall battery storage. This gives customers the ability to monitor and manage the solar setup remotely. The inverter has a high 98% efficiency rating and incorporates important safety features such as rapid shutdown capabilities, arc fault protection and ground fault protection.
In terms of performance, Tesla’s solar panels have an efficiency rating between 19.3% and 20.6%. This is decent efficiency, putting them in line with average residential solar panels that tend to fall somewhere between 17% to 21% efficiency.
Tesla’s solar panels come with a 25-year performance guarantee, ensuring they’ll maintain at least 80% of their total capacity over this period. Additionally, in the US the entire solar system is covered by a 10-year warranty. If the panels do come to the UK, you’d expect similar warranties.
Solar panel management
Tesla’s solar systems are managed primarily through their mobile app. The app provides real-time data on energy production, consumption and grid interaction, allowing users to track their system’s performance closely.
Users can view historical data and set up alerts for system issues or unusual energy patterns. For homes equipped with a Powerwall, the app offers additional features like setting backup reserve levels and choosing between different operating modes.
The monitoring system also generates detailed reports on daily, weekly and monthly performance, offering valuable insights into energy trends and system efficiency. This data can help homeowners optimise their energy usage and maximise the benefits of their solar installation.
Tesla’s solar roof
Although not available in the UK, it’s worth mentioning Tesla’s innovative solar roof.
This product takes solar integration a step further by replacing traditional roofing materials with solar tiles. The idea is that you replace your whole roof with these solar tiles.
These tempered glass tiles are designed to be three times stronger than standard roofing tiles and are available in different styles. They do look good!
Linking up solar panels with the Tesla Powerwall
Tesla solar offerings might not be available in the UK yet, but they do have an energy-based product that has been on the UK market for a number of years – the Powerwall battery.
For most homes with solar panels, you’ll want to think about battery storage too in order to create a comprehensive, self-standing home energy solution. Battery storage allows you to store excess solar energy for use during non-sunlight hours. There are plenty of benefits to solar battery storage, including reduced energy bills, more energy independence and gaining the most efficiency from your solar setup – this is because solar is the cheapest form of energy you can currently get.
The most up-to-date version available in the UK is the Powerwall 2. This has a 13.5kWh capacity and 100% depth of discharge, meaning you can use the lithium-ion NMC battery to its full storage capability without damaging the battery itself. The Powerwall 2 can deliver 5kW of continuous power, with peak output reaching 7kW.
A capacity of 13.5kWh is more than enough for most homes, but for businesses and others, the Powerwall is highly scalable with it possible to connect up to ten units. The prices for the Powerwall 2 start from around £6,000, not including installation costs, which is reasonable. The Powerwall 2 is one of our best battery storage systems.
For homes with solar and battery storage, it’s more than possible to power and charge high energy devices, such as electric vehicles, overnight. This all depends on system sizes and energy use.
Wrap up on Tesla solar panels
Although the Tesla solar panels aren’t currently available in the UK, the company’s influence on the household renewable tech industry is undeniable. It’s likely that Tesla solar panels and possibly even the solar roofs will be accessible in the UK in the coming years.
For UK homeowners interested in renewable energy, products like the Powerwall offer a taste of Tesla’s capabilities and can be integrated with other solar panel brands. As the renewable energy landscape continues to evolve, Tesla’s approach to energy generation, storage and management provides an exciting glimpse into the future of home energy solutions.
