Tesla Powerwall & Gateway 2 installation in the UK. Is it right for your house?
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- Опубликовано: 7 июл 2024
- We upgraded our solar array and added a Tesla Powerwall 2 and Gateway 2 to our house 4 months ago so this video explains what the setup means and how it works. I'll also talk about the financials so that you can make an educated decision on whether you should consider doing the same.
As you will see, the right electricity tariff makes a HUGE difference to your overall costs so make sure you shop around. I would recommend tariffs from the award-winning Octopus, and, if you also choose to join them, use my referral link to get a credit of £50 added to your account (and a further £50 added to mine|):
share.octopus.energy/red-foal...
Remember, Octopus offers an array of tariffs, not just the GO tariff, and are multiple award-winning suppliers who only provide green energy, derived from sustainable sources, such as solar, hydro, or wind.
Thanks again for watching and please like and subscribe to see more content like this!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:45 How it all works
05:24 Solar tariffs
07:02 Benefits of a battery & the right electricity tariff
09:26 Tesla Energy Plan
10:48 Solar generation
11:41 Battery savings
12:07 The cost
15:08 Break even
16:45 Summary
18:10 Outro 
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I understood all that, made total sense - good work Paul!
Cheers, Ian!
great breakdown, honest and realistic expectations of cost and payback. Thank you so much for doing this video, great work!
Thanks very much for the feedback - appreciate that.
Your videos are great. Thanks for putting a UK version of all this information together!
My pleasure!
You have explain it so well. I have learnt it all now. Thanks
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Excellent summary and very, very helpful. Just what I needed. Thank you.
Great! Happy to help.
Hi Paul, just found your channel and now subscribed. I was lucky enough to fit a 4kWh solar PV system just before the rate decreased 11 years ago. In September 2020 viewing lack of bank interest on any savings, we decided to look at investing in the home. We used most of the 4kWh PV for home use, so I knew that I had to increase to benefit a battery storage use case.
We are an East/West facing roof, so obvious choice was leave existing solar alone due to the feed in tariff and fit a new 4kWh PV on the front part of our roof and add the Tesla Powerwall 2 and Gateway.
You have explained this very well and I use mine in the same way, linked to an ongoing Economy 7 tariff where I pay almost 7p at night for 7 hours. So top up from the grid in the winter and solar in the summer. Electricity payments have reduced to £50 per month and car is about £10 for my trips.
My solar PV, runs the house, then fills up the Powerwall 2, then hot water and then EV before being allowed to go to the grid as an export. I still exported 432kWh last year and ran my home on 30% solar, 35% battery and the final 35% as grid energy. Using the battery to offset the daytime running we managed a 89% night use rate for the past year.
Costs were very similar to yours. For information I did have a separate price for fitting of the Tesla powerwall and gateway. It was a little over £8000. The front solar was then an additional cost as well as updating to an Eddi for our hot water, due to an incompatability from our old Solar Water Heater.
I have also this year swapped from an Audi Q5 to a Kia E Niro and this has saved over £3000 a year including the fuel costs. i then added a Zappi car charger, but I have not had many times in the summer where I could use the excess sun as I was out in the car, or it was already full.
I hope this gives an idea of what you should achieve from your Powerwall 2.
Finally, I am currently looking at an ASHP to replace mny LPG boiler and the increased daily use may make the Tesla Power plan an interesting option. it depends how much day units are used to power it!
I think Tesla are meant to be making some heating/ aircon thing soon as well. I am looking at getting solar for the house but I don't think id ever be able to afford an electric car they are all so expensive.
Brilliantly helpful video helped me understand what I need to do as there’s lots of confusing info out there. I’ll definitely go Solar and PW with a gateway Thanks
Happy to help! Thanks for watching.
I had a 5.2kw PV system, powerwall and gateway2 installed 2 years ago. Its been a great investment, I now have negative electricity bills (about -£25 per month). The system generates about 5500Kwh per year of which I use 3000 and export 2500. Im on the Tesla Energy Plan and Import/Export at 24.7p per Kwh.
Excellent! We’re on the TEP these days too and just managed to get in at the £10.89p import/export rate before it went up. As our usage exceeds our generation right now, that’s worked out brilliantly during winter. I’d rather have your rate once the sun comes back out.
Super helpful! Planning on getting the Powerwall and solar in my next house
Glad I could help, buddy!
Very comprehensive and fair review. We installed our original 3 kw array in 2012 and do get 56p for every kw we produce plus the odd pence for deemed export as it was then termed.
We decided to go for our Powerwall with Gateway 2 in October 2020 for many of the reasons you did. We also added another 1.3 kw of panels which was the maximum we could add to our roof. We are single phase supply so Western Power limited the combined inverters to 3.5 kw.
In 2021 we halved our mains grid pull from the previous full year even though we changed our old Outlander Phev for a Skoda Enyaq 80 in September. We are on the Octopus Go Faster tariff and have just this month finished our original tariff 5.5p off peak, 13.5p peak rate and 25p standing daily charge and changed to, the new rates of 7.5p, 30p, 25p on the new one. That is an increase but as we didn’t draw any peak rate electricity during 2021 it is not really that much of an issue for us. Looking at other tariffs we see some as high as 40p per kw and that’s before the price cap change to come in April.
Octopus want to allow EV drivers to keep using the Go and Go Faster tariffs and that’s why they recently stopped allowing people with just batteries to go onto them. Had we not been able to have off peak electricity to charge the battery in winter, we would still have installed the Powerwall. The Tesla app shows that in 2021 we used 68% of the just over 4000 kw the solar produced. Had we not had the battery 64% of the total production would have gone back to the grid and we would have had to purchase peak rate electricity that was then relatively cheap. We hope to use even more of the solar production this year by putting more of the excess into the Enyaqs larger battery
All in all though one of the best explanations of the Tesla Powerwall 2 and Gateway we have seen. Different people will have individual circumstances so what suits one won’t suit another. Fitting solar without battery is silly and adding a battery to solar is in our view essential to use what you produce.
Great video and good pace thanks for the information
Thanks for watching and the positive feedback - much appreciated!
worth noting an earth rod needs to be installed to protect the house in the event the grid supply is disconnected, including the earth path!
That is good to know - thanks.
We are doing just that, and going all in, as of next week!
Install on our new solar array and battery storage alongside a new air source heat pump all set up to commence mid next week.
After that’s all done and any issues that are sure to arise then it will be time for us to be ditching the very old dirty diesel Range Rover and changing it for a jaguar ipace
Hadn’t really considered the Tesla power wall, but wish I had now. And it looks really smart 😂
Sounds excellent! Welcome to the Revolution!
This video has aged so well, great move ahead of this price hike 😝 thanks for the video.
We are thanking our lucky stars for making the decision when we did, I must concede! I still think it would be a very sensible move today, though the queues for installation are much longer now.
That's really useful, thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Great Video, nice to see a homeowners experience, we are Tesla installers and love this system, more expensive than many other brands, but so worth it, especially if you live in an area prone to power cuts. Many thanks
Appreciate the feedback, thanks.
We would love a Tesla power wall 2 but live in County Down, apparently our grid harmonic is different from that of the U.K. grid!? It might be a case of writing some software for an interface but that hasn’t happened so we cannot buy a Tesla PW. 🙁
We’re just considering it all now,but they’re insisting on a smart meter is that the case? Thanks
Thanks bro great video
Cheers. Glad it was useful!
Great explanation.
Very kind, thank you.
Hi Paul, A very stimulating video and as an early adopter of solar PV I can identify with those large numbers of FiT cash you mentioned. I've also taken recent advice and ordered a PW2. Just a wee word of caution, you need to remember to add the suffix HOUR (h) when talking about UNITs of electricity generated or purchased from the grid, i.e. kWh. Smiles, C
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the tip.
I'm thinking of getting a powerwall. Also worth pointing out there's current the 5 year 0% VAT on fitting energy efficient measures in the UK
Really enjoy your video and especially the comments with the British slant.
Doug from Plymouth, MA USA
Thanks Doug - appreciate the feedback.
Hi Paul - great video. I find that useful info on the powerwall is hard to come by, especially in the UK. I'm on the FIT scheme having recently bought a house with solar panels, so I'm getting a decent generation rate (about 18p per kw) without having the initial outlay on the solar panels -which were installed in 2013. Just weighing up the idea of getting a powerwall to store energy too and rely less on the grid but damn the powerwall isn't cheap!
It isn't cheap but it is very good and, remember, for most it's all about the access to the Octopus Tesla Energy Plan, for which you need a Powerwall.
For you and that excellent FIT tariff, not sure I'd go for a PW, perhaps choosing a less expensive battery solution instead.
Excellent presentation. Thank you. As you say, the finances don't look attractive until you factor in electric vehicle charging.
Thanks for watching and commenting - very kind. The finances look a lot more attractive right now, thanks to the currently elevated electricity and gas costs, regardless of the car - though it certainly does land the point with a bit more certainty.
Great video. Subbed. Tesla Y arrives next week and I've been thinking about PV and Battery combo for a while.
Thanks for the sub. I definitely think it is worthwhile to invest in solar and the battery is a good option if you have enough solar installed but, top of your 'to do' list for now has to be getting yourself onto an EV friendly tariff which allows for off-peak night time charging at a reduced rate. Hope you love your car - have fun and try not to get too addicted to that right pedal!
I had my powerwall2 and gateway installed 1st week August 2017. My worst winter solar output is about 267kwh on a tiny 5.2kw system. Most of the time it's stand alone system, very occasionally I top the Tesla battery up from grid at the weekend, I have an ev electric plan that allows 12-2pm weekend free grid but it any home grid use.
Interesting video. I have 4kw solar and recently Tesla PW2 works well!
Did you have to have a smart meter fitted first?
@@oakashthorn5714 Yes, smart meter, but I had done that before solars an battery fitted. smart meters are a necessity!!
Great video Paul. Just one word of warning for anyone doing their math on export generation. During your application the network operator may impose an Export Meter and limit the amount of peak energy that you can push to the grid. This is due to the state of your local grid infrastructure and is more likely to be a consideration in rural areas I believe.
Very true! I keep reading quite Few cases of this on the Tesla tariff Facebook group. Very frustrating for some!
Thanks for the info. With the current price increases for energy looming I’m considering getting 2 power walls and just using the off peak prices to charge them. My wife hates the look of Solar, yet failed to realise our neighbour has had them fitted for months. We are in a new build and so far British Gas have stuffed up our smart meter so we can’t see our daily loads. We both work from home so I expect we have a higher than usual load, genes they need for 2 power walls
You’re welcome. That’s a good idea if you’re not planning on solar (and not a bad idea if you are!).
My wife and I are both still working from home (3 year old 5 bed detached) and I just looked on the Tesla app for our power consumption, bearing in mind we’re also charging an EV which is travelling about 1k miles a month, and our daily consumption has averaged about 44KWh a day over the last 6 months (virtually all of it from the grid, being winter and not overly sunny).
I estimate that about 15-20% of that came from the grid at peak time and the balance came from the grid during the off peak period, charging the car and the battery, which would then power the house for much of the peak period. Therefore, the savings versus being on a regular tariff and having no battery are doubtlessly significant.
A bit vague, I know, but hope it’s useful.
Go for it! save a fortune in these times!
First one I've watched mate as considering going the same way also. Really informative, clear and concise! I suspect you're saving given electricity costs at the mo are even greater! Maybe a little update given current electricity costs?
Thanks for watching, buddy. I think an update might be a good shout - the break even now is way, way sooner, based on current power prices. I’d recommend the upgrade, either way!
Excellent video and cost breakdown. With cost of electricity now and rising it makes sense to get solar and Tesla battery!
Glad it was helpful!
I have to admit that my wife and I have had various conversations about the initial outlay not seeming anywhere near as much of a stretch as it did this time last year, taking into account the current cost of energy.
The upgrade of the solar and the addition of the Powerwall has also meant that we could access the Tesla Energy Plan when our Octopus Go contract ran out last month, meaning we get electricity at a heavily discounted rate (10.89p per kWh) and either use or get paid for every single but of solar we generate through the export tariff. So glad we took the plunge and I definitely still would now, if I was deciding again.
Good speaker 👍🏻 excellent review
Really kind - thank you.
This video is really helpful. I would have to weigh up the sums differently to you though, because we already have done all the other aspects many years ago (EV, solar, Zappi, Octopus Go), so I feel I would have to base my calculations on adding the Powerwall alone, and my calculations were about 35 year payback. Instead of sinking £8,000 in a PowerWall I’m favouring putting a similar amount in to Ripple (a co-op owned wind farm), which I calculate should credit my Octopus bill with about £50 a month, paying back in about 12 years and returning a profit for about a decade after that. Financially that makes more sense, plus it doesn’t suffer from a “winter dip” like my current solar, so compliments that nicely.
Sounds like a great idea!
I have a 4k system and considered a battery but after number crunching with the great 24-month energy deal I'm on it's not worth it. The margins are up and down not only with the cost of batteries but with weather and usage as you state. Maybe in time and hopefully prices will come down I'll reconsider it. My solar took 6 years to pay for itself on quite a good FIT, yet at the moment battery would be much longer.
Amazingly enthusiastic video. Issue is really just capital cost/break even and your attitude to sustainability. Couple of points as I understand it, Teslar battery installation is AC as opposed to many others which are DC. Equipment such as a Zapi EV charger and similar auto device on hot water have to be off with the Teslar energy plan.
Thanks for commenting. The break even points I make really are quite personal to our circumstance, I agree. If you are committed to your house for the long term, then they are applicable. If you're not, then they make no logical sense. For us, especially with the rising price of power, they have been helpful in justifying the outlay.
I do take you point on sustainability, as I talked about heating the hot tub and charging the battery by still using the mains at night, but you have to remember that the grid produces power 24 hours a day and it is actually considered useful to the suppliers if you can use off peak electricity to spread the usage. At points, Octopus, our energy supplier, give power away for free during the night as it simply needs using!
I'm actually not sure about other installations to be able to answer the AC/DC question or, more importantly, if that is detrimental. Sorry I can't respond to that.
Lastly, you are absolutely right about the Tesla Energy Plan dictating that you can not use the Zappi or the Eddi, as there will no longer be 'surplus' power available to you once you give the control of the battery to Tesla, which is what those pieces of hardware rely on as a point of difference. We are about to move onto that tariff, as was always the plan, which is why we bought a PodPoint instead and have a remote manual switch for the immersion heater, as opposed to a smart switching device, such as the Eddi.
Thanks again for taking the time to watch the video and leave a comment.
Great review, thanks Paul. We came to similar numbers and conclusions. One variation is this: we "over-sized" our solar so that it would power the house but also 10,000 miles/year for the electric car. This meant an 8kW solar array. The extra solar that fills the car for free most of the year can drop the payback from 12-15 years down to 4-5 years. This is because the "surplus" solar substitutes highly taxed petrol or Diesel
Very true. I have to admit that I'm now wondering if we should have got more panels and maybe another battery, especially with the rising home fuel prices!
@@PaulsViewsReviews So are we Paul. Our panels face south east, so perfect in the morning to mid afternoon. We could add another 3-4kW facing south west, which would extend the solar period by 3 hours or so. It has taken 12 months for the first Powerwall to arrive, so daren't even ask the lead time for a second one now! Finally, a recommendation for the Zappi 2 charger, which seems to be the only one that scrapes surplus solar into the car once the Powerwall is full. It's very clever.
On a like for like basis it replaces off peak electricity not fossil fuels. For a fair comparison like that then battery and/or solar should be compared against off peak (if you have a battery with solar) , not fossil, which on the sums I'm doing right now doesn't workout for solar, very long payback, and its about a 6 year payback on batteries which is on the verge of being worthwhile for me.
Hi I am looking at installation of solar panels, and I was thinking of using as much of the roof as possible as it is in a favourable position. I concluded this was the best strategy due to the lower performance seen during the winter months, and I would like to be completely non reliant on the grid. Have you had an indication as to the size of array you would require to meet all your demands during the worst winter months or is being completely off grid an unrealistic expectation? ( I don’t mind selling back excess and I think the Tesla battery covers more than our daily consumption)
@@christophertandy8317 A very good question. I think the short answer is that our 8kW array generates an excess for most of the year but not enough to power everything through the darker months of the year. To be fully independent of the grid would require storage that could bridge the deficit for 3-4 months. A 10-20kWh battery is nowhere near large enough for this longer term storage. What it does do is secure supply in the event of a short term (say up to 48 hour) brown-out in December, January or February. Note too that the Powerwall 2 has a 5kW maximum output power limit. The latest one has a higher peak power capability. Our electric oven draws 4kW, leaving precious little headroom for any other appliance, so in the event of a power cut, we would not use our electric oven.
Hope this helps.
You still get that FIT payment when you use the power. So having an AC coupled storage system makes sense even if you're getting the payments.
Absolutely right!
Very right about the price of energy going up!
Isn't it just! Incredible times. Thanks for watching.
@@PaulsViewsReviews Thanks for replying!! I just ordered 7 panels in a diy kit that I am installing and I am debating a battery hence the watch!
@@noloafingwgas I really do believe that panels should instigate a battery installation whenever possible. Generating free power is fab but being able to use it at a time that suits you, rather than just when the sun is shining, is definitely better, and a battery is the only way to do it. Enjoy shopping - you won't regret whatever you choose, I'm sure.
Might be worth revisiting this video and do the maths again. I think the break even point is now much closer. I am tempted with the battery but have instead invested in a ripple wind farm which will pay me in the winter months and compliment my solar.
Incredible, isn't it!? I would not have imagined we would have this level of price increase when I made the video - so glad we took the plunge when we did.
Good choice on the wind farm - I think any kind of investment in sustainable energy sources is absolutely an investment.
@@PaulsViewsReviews Thanks for the review and really helpful but of course the cost of an installed PowerWall has gone up too. Now seemingly north of £11k
Hi Paul
all changed for Octopus Go, joining now would cost 30.15p from the grid with a 7.5p low tariff for the 4 hours, a standing charge of 24.38p a day and I think a fixed outgoing tariff of 5p, that tariff would work out really expensive in winter.
I have just had a 6.5kwp system installed that at the moment is producing a miniscule 1kw.
I am waiting for the Tesla 13.5kw Powerwall 2 and Gateway 2 to be fitted this week as it was delayed. I did not want to hand over the running of the system to Tesla but it looks like I will be joining the Tesla energy plan of 10p in and 10p out with a 25p standing charge as I have a Kia EV6 so thus the standing charge.
So any time of the year it will cost around £7.00 per 300 miles. Also on that tariff according to Octopus calculated savings would be around £1000 a year dropping the electric bill to £300 per annum. I can also keep the 2 year June 23 fix for the gas at around 3.6p kw.
If you can change my mind please do.
No argument from me, Tim. Those Go rates versus the TEP rates would send me in exactly the same direction. Enjoy the EV6!
Do you know how long the Testa energy plan is guaranteed for? I can't find any information about that. Cheers
So... your break-even point certainly came down. :-)
Very definitely!
Hi Paul, great video, thanks. I would suggest to pay slightly more attention to the units. You often say “kilowatts” instead of “kilowatt-hours” and it makes it more difficult to follow.
Thanks for the tip!
Very helpful to a new PW owner. New Octopus Go tariffs make TEP more attractive. Just about to install my system and Octopus now quoting 30/7.5 and have a lot of unavoidable peak usage. Also interested to know impact of losses due to Tesla recycling the PW with TEP, seems to be over 10%…….
Great video, what make tiles are on your roof as we are looking at in roof solar. Thanks
Thanks! The roof tiles are fairly generic roof tiles so don't have a 'make' as such.
Likewise, I am pretty sure most solar panels can be integrated but the key is the mount, as they allow the flush finish, air to still move around the panel but, crucially, water to flow down, rather than through, your roof.
I have looked at the photos I took at the time of installation and can zoom in on a website written on the mounts before the panels were fitted: www.gseintegration.com/en/solutions/gse-in-roof-system/
FYI, the panels are this model: JA Solar JAM60S21-365/MR 365 W
Hope this helps!
You can double those cost very soon. Our Go tariff off peak is now 7.5 p. And peak is now 31.31p per kWh. That’s with OctopusEnergy buying green electricity not gas generated electricity. What’s even more upsetting is we export British Gas to Belgium, Ireland, and Holland. Someone is making a killing on these prices and I don’t think it’s OctopusEnergy. All while our impotent government allows it to happen. Why is green electricity generation companies allowed to do this as it cost no more now than last year for solar, wind ect. Sorry rant over. 😡
As he is mainly using power off peak, twice 5p would be 10p not 7.5p. The savings are about to be much larger of course while the electricity is so expensive.
I would be interested to know how you are forcing the hottub heating to 12:30 to 4:30. Did you have to install a smart timer into the unit? This is a challenge i am currently facing and am having to manually force heating during solar generation. thanks in advance.
Hi. We have a control panel on the hot tub which allows us to dictate when it heats, what days to stay warmer than others, etc. it does make life a bit easier. Beyond that, if you have a 13amp hot tub, you can probably add a smart plug or timer plug at the power source, if you can ensure it is water tight. If it’s a 32amp hot tub, really not sure, I’m afraid, as I don’t know if a smart device that can handle that kind of power. Sorry I can’t be if more help!
Thanks, helpful summary. I am looking at a similar set up including pod point charger. Can pod point be powered by solar pv and/or battery only, or do you charge your car from the cheap ev tariff. Thanks Phil
Hi Phil. If there is enough solar power coming in then you can use just that to charge the car, albeit likely on a lower charge rate (adjusted in the Tesla app), as not many arrays can pump out 7kwh consistently.
The rest of the time, we typically used the off peak rate to charge the car at the much reduced rate. However, we have just moved over to the Tesla Energy Plan tariff with Octopus, so our energy is a fixed price 24/7 now. We still tend to stick to off peak charging, just to keep the pressure off the grid, but it makes no difference to the cost.
Question - will the Tesla Gateway 2 work with other battery brands? I have a Solaredge Power bank but really like the safety blanket of the gateway in the event of a powercut.
Thanks for your question.
I can't be 100% certain (you'd have to ask a certified Tesla installer) but I don't think it's hugely likely, predominantly from a software compatibility point of view and, secondly, because I've never heard of it being done.
Definitely worth an ask, though!
Enjoyed watching your video as a fellow solar PV, Powerwall and EV owner. Stats and payback period is going to suddenly look rather more attractive in 2022! Agree that it makes little sense not to have a battery now and it's the use of the battery to access time of use tariffs that's key for me providing a dual use. Was wondering how you generate your hot water? We've got a Mixergy hotwater tank that works really well as part of the system in providing thermal storage in addition to the electrical energy storage. Along with a Myenergi Eddi that provides another way to use surplus solar in summer and another form of storage to charge overnight at 5p/kWh (so we're now off grid for hotwater generation). Finally, have you thought about upgrading your charger to a Zappi? I replaced our PodPoint charger with a Myenergi Zappi. Didn't really make financial sense but there's nothing quite like charging your EV with your PV!
You're not wrong about the prices in 2022 - solar is suddenly worth more than I could have imagined! Our hot water is running off gas at the moment but I did look at the Eddi. The reason I didn't go for the Zappi or the Eddi before now is that I was told that the Tesla tariff is not compatible with those devices, which makes sense based on how the tariff works. As it happens, we have not jumped onto the Tesla tariff just yet so I'll have to look at that in the future. Thanks for watching.
@@PaulsViewsReviews Just to say I went through exactly the same process. Applied for the Tesla tariff only to then find you couldn't use the solar diversion I'd already purchased so like you I'm on Go. Would thoroughly recommend treating yourself to a Zappi in particular. Nothing more satisfying than diverting surplus solar to the car. Looking to the future I can't wait until V2H is up and running. One suspects that Tesla has this ready in the wings and it'd be great then to see how the car, home and battery can interact. Exciting times...
Interesting take on this based on your circumstances...aiming for sustainable, but with a hot-tub using grid based power just because it's cheaper(?!) but also ditching the existing array for a bigger one - hope it does get put to use elsewhere! Mixing kW with kWh - please try to be accurate when conveying terms to those who may not be familiar with the terminology - just some honest feedback seeing your video.
FWIW I have umm'd and ahh'd over a battery for a 3.95kWp PV system that was installed in 2013 on the FiT so whilst not the highest rates from the early days, the rate is comparable to the import price currently and without the savings will have paid itself off this year (£7k investment). That with HW diversion, export is only around 600kWh/y so any battery would take a long time to pay back - probably more than the lifetime of the battery unfortunately although prices in the coming months/years might sway it. The time of day tariff is the killer here and hence the battery would then make sense. Whilst the PW seems glamorous I think think the GivEnergy battery package is more flexible (sizing-wise) and offers the same off-grid option - probably a contender for the future I think...
Fair point about the hot tub - bear in mind that this is very much a winter routine at the moment and should be different when the sun starts to give some useable energy (and the tub is on eco only mode to keep the operating temperature lower during the week, when we hardly use it).
The old panels are still here, awaiting reassignment, but I won’t see them scrapped.
There are definitely other battery options. We chose the Powerwall but I think any battery is better than no battery for anyone with solar. Hope the video helped you to make the right choice for your circumstances.
With gas prices going up - have you not considered using the “spare” electric to heat water via the immersion? Would it be possible to divert to the immersion before the battery (after the house ) thanks for the info - very informative
Hi and thanks for your question. It is something I have considered but have not moved any further forward, as we don't have much in the way of spare electricity at this time of year. I will likely investigate further in a few months and see if the £395 outlay on a MyEnergy Eddi, which does exactly that, is justifiable over the money likely to be saved.
Great video! Any plans for update with the recent electricity price rises in mind?
Glad it was useful. I did think about it but the rates are so varied that I felt it would date too quickly.
When there’s a power cut the Powerwall won’t allow the solar PV to run the house, the house has to run off the battery and will only draw solar once the battery is at a certain level where it will them start charging the battery.
I did not know that. Thanks for the information.
Very informative simple Vlog, Like your mission, what part of the world are you living in for solar generation? I think by law all new houses should have solar, battery and heat pumps.
Very kind, thanks. I’m in Lancashire, England. Not primarily known for its sunshine, but not too bad!
I agree about legal requirements for all new houses. Bewilders me how many brand new houses I drive past which have no solar at all!
Hi Paul, just two questions for clarification that come to mind. Does the gateway allow the solar panels to feed both the house and the battery storage system during periods of grid shutdown or does it only allow the battery to feed the house until the battery storage is depleted with no input from the solar array? This anomaly came up when I was watching an american RUclips video and I wondered if this situation applies here in the UK?
Hi Max. I have not heard that and we have not had a grid shutdown to be able to witness it. I can't think of any reason why the Gateway wouldn't take the solar into account in this kind of situation, but I guess that's why it is considered an anomoly.
Sorry I can't be of help on that one!
The question I've been trying to get an answer to is: How long will be allowed the stable contract conditions under the "Tesla Energy Plan"? If I go through the trouble of expanding my solar array and put the cash upfront for the powerwall I need to know that this contract will stay valid for the next 10 years, which is what most people will need to recoup the costs if you take inflation into the figure.
Sadly, you won't find a guarantee anywhere. You'll always benefit from more solar and a battery, though.
I have solar with no battery; at least I'm generating clean energy for my neighbours :D
Looks good I’m considering it all now?? The snag is they’re insisting I have a smart meter fitted first,do you know if that’s the case?
It is, I'm afraid. They are required to be able to monitor the power coming in and out on a live(ish) basis. I actually love the information and keep the smart meter where I can see it from my desk - lets me see if we're giving to the grid at a glance, without opening the Tesla app.
Get it done! We are saving a fortune now that the sun is getting nice and high throughout the day.
Very useful to hear real world experiences. Just wonder how many miles pa you do because I do say 8k pa so can’t see a ev stacking up….
Hi. You may find my latest video useful for this decision: Is it time to move over to an electric car? Watch and find out!
ruclips.net/video/Ogx0WlhpRW8/видео.html
Interesting video, But most of the saving from Getting the Tesla are still relevant with or without solar. I'm half looking at the possibility of going solar as I've just ordered a Kia EV6. Although my alternative is just to charge it at my business address which also means I can get a 22KW 3 phase charge :-) .
You can definitely assess the savings in isolation between the house solar and the EV, each bringing their own benefits. Combining the two just gives you the very best savings, once you come to terms with the initial outlays.
If you can charge at work at 22KW - and you're not paying public charger prices - then that is a great solution to charging your new EV6 (great car!).
Car aside, adding solar could cut out your home electricity consumption altogether, in the summer months anyway. We are currently taking next to nothing from the grid, apart for charging the car. We're not even charging the battery during the night as the daily sun covers all usage over the 24 hour period.
hi Paul
is it possible with the tesla gateway to use your car batteries to supplement your powerwall to to supply your home if the car is occasionally not needed.
Unfortunately not. I believe Kia and Hyundai were talking about working with a home battery supplier to allow this with their cars, but the Powerwall can't do it and, as far as I know, no cars are capable just yet.
It would be a logical solution for the future, though!
Hi, great video! What method do you use to schedule the hot tub heating?
Very kind, thank you.
Our hot tub actually has a timer so it’s easy. If you don’t have an in built timer then you’d need a timer than can handle that level of power. I’ve not looked into it, but I’m sure there are some out there. Hope you find a solution.
@@PaulsViewsReviews Thanks Paul
Hey Paul, great vid and details. Looking to ditch one diesel and electric. Have a hot tub so curious on the time clock restriction idea- also wondering about what panels you put up on the roof ? I prob would go surface mount rather than change the fabric of the roof…. Appreciate the info
Thanks for watching and commenting. The hot tub timing is a good use of the off peak Octopus Go tariff, we have found - as long as your hot tub has a timer function. I do have another video on running your hot tub for free, which you might find useful.
I can see the appeal of the roof mounted panels but we already had in-roof panels so it was an easy call to stick to that when we upgraded. Plus, and I don't know how common this is, my in laws have on-roof panels and are currently trying to figure out how to get birds to stop nesting under them, between the panel and the roof. Just a thought.
Our new panels are JA Solar 365W units, by the way.
Tub doesn’t seem to have a timer 🙄, so I might see if there is a fuse board or other option …. If I got the heavy heating done by night and only use day time power for ‘creating the bubbles’…. That would be a good result…. Any ideas on that front ?
@@gearoidoconnor6900 Hi. I'm really not sure what your options are for a weatherproof timing plug. If you could create a completely sealed unit that can handle the amperage of your hot tub, then there are some options there, using non-weatherproof plugs. For example, we just installed a switch on the immersion heater that can be operated by our phones from anywhere, allowing us to use any excess solar to heat our hot water instead of gas, but can also be programmed as a timer. We bought this unit: amzn.to/3JLJePL Perhaps look down that option?
What do you use to decide what is operated when? i.e. what makes the hot tub heater only operate at night with off peak grid electric?
We are actually now on the Tesla Energy Plan from Octopus, so our power costs the same 24 hours a day. However, to reduce the drain on the grid in peak times, we still run as much as we can during the night, from around midnight.
The hot tub has a timer function within the control panel, so you can choose what it does and when. In the absence of that, I would likely look at some solution that could allow me to set timed operation but still handle the higher amperage.
Excellent video thank you. Is it worth buying the battery without having the solar panels?
Thanks - very kind.
If you can buy electricity cheaper during an off peak period then it is advantageous to have a battery, whether you have solar or not. The energy companies seem to be limiting some of their on/off peak tariffs lately, insisting on your having an EV. If you haven't then definitely do your homework around your options before you invest.
Of course, having the back up of a battery will give you peace of mind in case of possible power outages regardless, in the same way as having an emergency generator would, but the financial benefits might not stack up quite as easily.
Solar would still be most advantageous, as a battery ensures none of your precious free power goes to waste.
@@PaulsViewsReviews sound advice thank you
Thanks for all thìs. I am getting a ZAPPI 2 now and a KIA EV6 in March . I am looking at getting Solar and a battery. Who did your roof?
.
Hi James. We used a company called Renewable Planet, based in Stockport, to do both the roof and the battery installation. Hope that helps and enjoy the car - the EV6 looks awesome!
@@PaulsViewsReviews I am in Lancing Wesr Sussex. Thanks for this as I am on a journey
Hi Paul, interesting video.
I had 4kW solar installed at about the same time as you at start of 2019 when we moved back to the UK and I think there's an error on your FIT pricing at around 6.51.
The per unit generated price is an order of magnitude too low - I get over 3p/K units generated. Exported is correct, but is calculated as being half of what you generate regardless of how much or little you use yourself (this may only be true for us as we don;t have an export meter). It should also be noted that the generated price is inde-linked so has recently gone up to .0421/unit I believe.
I have just had my latest statement showing I was paid £126.61 for the last quearter and get around £300/year.
We are retired and don;t have an EV or big power use and can save washing and dishwasher for sunny days which saves us a lot.
Neverthess I am thinking about installing a Powerwall, not least to protect us from black or brownouts. Not happening at the moment but will that happy state continue ?
Hi. I have just checked my FIT rate again and it is as in the video: 0.33p per kWh for generated units and 5.57p per kWh for export, which remains calculated at 50% of total generated. There have also not been any increases in the rate over the last 4 years, disappointingly. I certainly wish it was 3p per KWh for us!
That aside, I would always promote the idea of a battery (not just a Powerwall), as taking your solar power from only being available when the sun is out to anytime accessibility changes the game.
Enjoy your retirement and thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@PaulsViewsReviews Interesting. I guess the other variables made a difference like size of the installation, EPC rating of your house and whether you're on the lower middle or higher tariff. The gov.uk spreadsheet has a huge number of rows and pages so very difficult to figure out.
Re the battery, yes it's a shame to "lose" generated power, but currently we are forecast to spend just over £500 on electricity for the next year, so that's close to a 20 year payback period for a £10K Powerwall. Given that we are 75, this doesn;t look like a great deal to us :)
Keeping an open mind though and if electricty prices go very high it might make sense to have a battery.
Similarly we will never have an EV afaics as we bought a new car when we moved back to the UK 3 yars ago, but again that might change depending on Gov't policy and diesel prices - it's greener to keep a Euro 6 car running for my lifetime than to buy a new one !
Great video. Similar situation to you at ours. Got rid of the expensive Audi gin palace and gone EV (arrives May 22) already have solar (1.75kw). Have batteries being installed next month from Givenergy as next best option to Tesla as they were massively overpriced now (£12-14k fitted). My roi is sub 3 years as I’ve been on a super cheap 2 year fixed tariff that runs out in May!!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
You're going to LOVE the EV - I'll never go back! Adding batteries just makes the solar more worthwhile.
Enjoy your journey!
Hi Paul a good video. I'm looing into pv and battery and liked the look of your in roof panels. How much did it cost for the in roof panels , I assume its a bit more expensive than on roof , but do you have a rough guess of how much more. Thanks
Hi, and thanks. The panels were £7k installed, but they also included removing the old panels and quite a few tiles. I didn’t even consider on roof panels, as our previous panels were in roof, so I’m afraid I can’t offer you a price comparison. Hope that helps.
@@PaulsViewsReviews thanks for your reply
Hi, did you replace your solar panels in to the same space/foot print? As I’ve got solar installed 7 yrs ago, 6 panels which gives me 1.85 kWh, and this got me wondering if I could get better panels today
Hi. No, we had to remove quite a lot of tiles to go from the original 7 to 16, but the fitters didn’t seem to have any trouble doing it.
Don’t know if you are still answering questions?
Can the Tesla power wall work with a Hypervolt 3.0?
I’ve spoken to Hypervolt and they say it will as long as the power wall is able to send power to the grid.
Thanks in advance
Hi. I’m really not sure but if they think so, and they’ll have connected to a few by now, the odds must be good.
Break even points are so last year! When did anyone buy a gas boiler and factor in when they'd break even? For the lucky that have capital to invest in solar and battery storage, this is the best way to future proof your energy supply. We are going to see increasing costs and black outs in the UK due to the increasing global gas prices/supply issues and domestic electrification is the only way to go. On another point, have you checked out Caldera's Warmstone for hot water and heating? A real alternative to air/ground source heat pumps when cost of retro fittings taken into account.👍
You're absolutely right! Break-even is good to know but it shouldn't be the deciding factor. The sustainable contribution and future-proofing is reason enough.
Except the gas boiler price is a fraction of any solar / battery system so break even has to be considered.. If the break even is 15 years or more then the sums just don't work out..
Help! I have a Powerwall 2 and Gateway and am regretting it. Storm Eunice disabled our Gateway and we’ve spent three days mostly without power because the Powerwall has been disabled and we had no grid electricity. Tesla U.K. customer service has been non-existence. The scale of their incompetence is breathtaking. Today, four days on, I am no where nearer resolving the issue. Tesla has no plan to repair or replace the Gateway and their technician’s seem uninterested or simply incompetent. Think twice before you buy from Tesla!
Blimey - that is not a positive experience at all! Thanks for sharing, Clive, and I hope you get it sorted soon.
Thanks for posting this video of your experience, not sure I agree fully with your business case calculations but one thing is for sure, electricity is not getting cheaper any time soon. I am considering a Tesla power wall but £10k is quite a lot of money to outlay in one go on a solar battery, so looking to make by own business case work......
At the end of the day, that's all you can do; the decision has to be made based on your own circumstances and, undeniably, the car element of my calculations swings it for me. I didn't talk too much about it in the video, but I think there is also the sustainability/conscientious element, too, which you can't assign a value to but is a driving force for me. It's also one of the reasons I embraced the EV option. Not always tangible but powerful.
Hi Paul, best explanation i have seen about solar, any benefits to having 2 Tesla Batteries?
Aw, thanks! I have wished we had bought two batteries, and have priced one up since, but they’ve gone up a bit.
As long as we’re on the Octopus Go peak/off-peak electricity tariff, we could almost certainly get through the whole peak period of the day at any time of year without using the grid if we had two Powerwalls, I think.
To be fair, now the sun is starting to make an appearance and we’ve been getting away with only using off peak electricity this last week with one battery, so the benefits of two might be a seasonal benefit - roll on the full sunshine!
Plus, and this is the crux as to why I’ve not pursued a second battery further, we’re not currently on the Tesla Energy Plan, but we will be from August, when our existing (very low rate) Octopus Go contract expires. At that point, a second battery wouldn’t make any difference, as Tesla control the battery on the tariff so I don’t think we would benefit at all. The better investment on that tariff would be more solar, as opposed to more battery, as you use or get paid (at a decent rate) for every KWh you generate.
I’m in the process of deciding to have solar and battery, I watch RUclips videos regarding this and started getting quotes, initially I was thinking of givenergy battery but then got a quote for Powerwall 2 and gateway, the more I thought about it and the numbers the more worthwhile it seems in the long term. My problem at the moment is finding a local installer in Kent where I live,the local company nearby, a couple of miles away can’t find my house on Google maps, says im better have ground mounted system etc, maddens, especially as I’m told I’ll need planning permission for it. I was wondering where you live, and what company installed yours. I only want to do this once, but get it right first time, and with a reputable company. I think watching your experience of powerwall has confirmed my decision to go down that route.
Really glad my video has helped. I am in Lancashire and the fitters are from Stockport, so not sure they would be of use to you in Kent, I'm afraid. I hope you manage to find someone who can help you, as it is a great piece of equipment.
Peter - Have you tried JPS Renewables from Maidstone,? I live in Bedfordshire and next month I'm having an installation of solar PV and Powerwall by these guys -they come highly recommended and the experience has been good - so far!
Paul, thanks for the video. I'm very new (as in I don't have) solar and I want to get to where you are by tomorrow (or as soon as possible :) ). If I was doing this by hand, could you list the components I would need?
Panels obviously. I'm looking at some 700w panels. What do they plug into? This is where I need assistance. Is the Tesla Powerwall+ the same as a Tesla battery plus Tesla Gateway 2? Or do I need both? or do I need something else to go between the panels and the Tesla equipment? Inverters? MPPT's (whatever they are?).
When it comes to panels, is there a maximum limit? (like legal limit) as all the systems I've seen advertised see vastly too small. I use around 35KW of power daily and that's not including the two EV's I own. My aim is have a system like you have described in your video, but one that can provide everything and not require anything from the grid. Wishful thinking I know.
Thanks. Hope you can help.
Hi. First and foremost, I believe the Powerwall has to be installed by an approved Tesla installer, as it needs to be registered with Tesla to function. I really don't think you could do it yourself and certainly wouldn't advise you to.
In answer to your question, though, you need panels, mounts for the panels (on-roof or in-roof), the correct capacity inverter and then the Tesla elements to manage the power. The Tesla Powerwall+ is not in the UK yet but I believe it does replace the need for both a gateway and battery combining the technology into one casing. There is quite a backlog of orders for the PW2 and GW2 so I don't think the + will arrive here for a while yet.
There are also factors involved in solar installation beyond the physical installation, such as needing permission from your DNO (district network operator - who controls you home electricity supply) before you install anything. They will potentially limit your capacity in some cases, as the grid needs to be able to handle your power generation.
My advise to you is, without a doubt, contact a professional installer and get advise from them. They will be able to answer all your questions much better than me. If you want a Tesla solution, start with the Tesla website and generate a lead for an authorised installer to contact you.
Hope that helps.
Thank you very much, how was the installation, was it messy and did it take a long time?
Also, I would say you were quoting 16p for Kw for Electric, due to the rise in the UK, the average is around 24-30p now Jan 2022.
My pleasure - hope the video is useful. The installation took less than a week, from start to finish, and was largely quite neat. They completed the battery install in a day and left very little mess. The solar took a few more days, and the scaffolding was around for quite a while either side of the actual installation, but still wasn't too bad. Because they were removing more tiles to allow space for the increased array, there were bits of broken tiles here and there, but nothing major.
Hell of an increase in the cost of electricity - be intrigued to see what we're offered at the end of our 12 month contract!
@@PaulsViewsReviews is Really kind for getting back to me. So overall not too bad at all, great stuff.
Would you go for the integrated panels or the 'built-in' ones if you did it next time?
Thanks,
Hi, does the Gateway limit the export to the grid to 5Kw? Clearly that would limit your charging to the car to 5Kw max during export? We have just installed 10Kw of solar, the powerwall 2 with gateway and a Zappi. Car is Model S. Scottish Power getting excited about 10Kw going back onto grid during export. They are taking some convincing that the gateway is a G100 certified export limiting device and will only max export at 5Kw. How did your DNO treat your 6Kw please?
Hi. I am not sure, as I left all the DNO elements to our installers without enquiring too much. Our plan was, as you would expect, to have the minimal amount of power being exported at any time so it wasn't high on my agenda of things to confirm.
Sorry I can't be of more help. I would suggest you join one of the groups on Facebook about the Powerwall - there are lots of absolute experts who will be able to answer any question you may have.
What do you think about just getting a Battery storage to hedge against power cuts and making use of low tariffs?
In winter, it definitely makes a ton of sense. You couldn't join Tesla's own tariff, though - they insist on solar being part of the equation.
@@PaulsViewsReviews thank you.
Hi, would it help to change you pod point charger to something like Zappi so it would charge from the panels?
I've just ordered a M3 LR as a company car so starting on the same journey. If your not careful it's mind blowing. You vids have been very useful, thank you 😊
Hi Richard. The Zappi was an option but it is incompatible with the Tesla Energy Plan, should we choose to change to that tariff, so I dismissed it. The Pod Point just needed to be smart enough to work when I wanted and record all power sent to the car, which it does really well. Enjoy your car!
@@PaulsViewsReviews Thanks, I was with Green Engery before they folded, I've been transferred to Shell and need to wait before I move again. So much to think about! 🤔
@@richardshepherd4086 There really is, but it’s worth the investment of time.
Hey mate, which camera are you using for recording your vlog?
Hi Alan. GoPro Hero 9. It's great, but the audio isn't always perfect.
I’ve looked at it from a different point of view, my money in the bank is earning very little, but invested in Solar I’m saving and the Powerwall adds to that saving. As for pay back, isn’t the house worth more if it’s got both solar and a battery? I think so. That mean if and when I sell I’ll get some of my investment back, maybe all of it. As we’ve move over to an all electric home my house will be a better buy than next door who hasn’t bothered. Sooner or later everyone will have to go all electric as gas is on the way out.
Very true - on all points! We have definitely made the house more appealing, when we do come to sell, and, in the meantime, the return will definitely cover any product depreciation or degradation, eventually breaking even. It's a win:win!
Well done on the move away from gas - we haven't gone for a heat pump yet but it is on the agenda at some point!
Paul, Have you got the spreadsheet that you used to work out your breakdown of costs ? Would you be able to send it to me or are able to post the screenshot of it. Many Thanks
It’s very out of date, as I stopped counting once the Powerwall went in, but I’ll see if I can dig it up. If so, I’ll reply with a Dropbox link.
it has been about a year .. can we get a full system update .. pros and cons .. thanks
It has been an interesting year, too! The set up using the Tesla tariff from Octopus has served us really well, offering cheap electricity 24 hours a day by giving Tesla control of the battery. That was then pulled and we moved to Octopus Flux, which is proving great in summer.
In short, there are three rates for both buy in and export at high/medium/low demand points of the day. So far, we are managing to buy cheap to fill the battery and sell expensive from the battery, with solar running the house, meaning power is often either free or profitable. Not sure what Winter will bring or, for that matter, when Tesla will launch their much talked about electricity supply options in the UK. We'll have to wait and see.
Hardware-wsie, nothing to report. Both the solar panels and the Tesla battery have worked flawlessly and without issue. I can offer no 'cons' to the installation. Glad we did it and would recommend to everyone!
Good video, however if you buy the Tesla model 3 privately, how long would the break even cost take?
Thanks for your question.
Honestly, there would be a whole host of elements to take into account, such as the sale price of your existing car, current running costs, future running costs, etc. I would suggest you work out the savings of making the car change and then see the impact of that against your overall cost if installation of any solar/battery equipment.
@@PaulsViewsReviews just bought a house with lease solar 3.75kw. It still has 18 years left hmmmmm. I have Eddi, harvi and hub from myenergi and I can see how much power we use at the moment it’s about average of 5-6kw a day and are generating about 12-16kw lately. Ideally I want to get 2 Tesla power walls to store every single solar but I can’t justify the cost at the moment. I’ll keep Track of how much power we produce this summer and how much we use then I’ll see how much battery storage I’ll need. Hopefully I’ll be able to add north facing solar on the other side of the house and get extra solar production if needed in the future
With the recent electric price rises and the tripping of off peak energy rates from 5p to 15p. You may well break even within two years of your install. We are researching solar and battery but complicated by the fact we already drive two EVs with 85kwh and 75kwh batteries. Our soloutions is likely more complicated. Good luck with the system.
Our break even has definitely dropped as electricity prices increased, but an advantageous tariff has been crucial in that. Once our Tesla Octopus tariff ends in July, we will have to accept much higher costs through one of the newer Octopus tariffs, as you correctly state.
For yourself, step one has to be an EV friendly electricity tariff to give you off-peak discounts for charging, which I suspect you will already have signed up for. Solar is always going to worth spending money on, in my view, and is a great way to support such tariffs, especially if you can find one that pays you for power export.
The battery only makes sense if you have enough solar to notice that you can't use a decent percentage of it when it is available during the day AND you can't get a good export tarif. When this occurs, a battery extends that solar energy into the evening and definitely becomes a worthwhile investment.
I hope you find a solution that works for you and thanks for watching.
What was the wait time on getting the Powerwall? I hear its a long que some even up to a year.
Initial enquiry via the Tesla website was April 2021, installation was scheduled for July (ended up being August due to adverse weather). Very different logistical challenges these days, unfortunately!
Hi
I am waiting for Tesla battery for my solar since April. How long did you wait?
Only a couple of months from order to fit. Having read some of the comments about the Powerwall elsewhere, I think I may have got lucky using a fitter who had stock.
Hi, great video and this is the main topic of conversation in our house at the moment. Can I ask which solar panels you went for? Thanks
Thanks very much. Happy to help: we have 16 x JA Solar JAM60S21-365/MR.
As for the conversation, get it done! There is only one downside and that is initial cost, but the cost of power is so high right now that it is worth future proofing yourself to be less dependant on the grid.
@@PaulsViewsReviews Thanks for such a quick reply. This is day 2 of the in- house conversation so we have much to learn. You mention in a reply to one of the comments that you wish you had increased the solar panels. As we are also considering swapping out diesel Jag for the electric version what you you say we should be aiming for in relation to kWh from the solar panels?
@@garyogden5873 Sadly, some of that decision will be dictated by how much solar your DNO will allow you to install. I’d suggest you get a company in and get them to give you some advice but, DNO, space and budget allowing, I would suggest you get as many as you can! I would love an 8 or 10 KW system right now - we’d be charging the car, charging the battery, running the house and heating the hot tub.
@@garyogden5873 As for the move to an EV - we are so glad we made the change. Admittedly, getting the Tesla as a company car really did mean we have saved a fortune, compared to the Q7 we sold, but it’s just such a better driving experience. The I-Pace certainly won’t disappoint!
Please can I use tesla solar panels and the battery in Africa Ghana
I wouldn’t have a clue, I’m afraid, but I don’t see why not. Log onto the Tesla website for your country and make an enquiry. Good luck with everything.
Your logic is man maths !!!!!! so how much do you save at 52pkw?
The logic is fine - the market is very different now.
My biggest question is will this system heat my house and water? If so, I will need to rip out all the 16 water filled radiators, gas boiler, power showers and replace with electric heaters/showers throughout the the house. That would be a huge cost and require redecoration of entire house. OR do you keep using the gas boiler system in addition to the new electric system? Why do all websites and RUclipsrs shy away from this fundamental issue?
Hi. I am not intentionally shying away from this point - it just wasn’t the topic of the video as I focused on the impact to domestic electricity consumption through the use of solar and the Powerwall.
In answer to your question, there isn’t a way for the panels to heat your house without, as you said, using electric heaters. Therefore, you would still need your gas boiler or, to be more sustainable, a ground or air heat pump to power your central heating. Heat pumps are another big investment but grants are currently available to support their installation, though I haven’t looked too far into it so can’t provide further information.
As for your hot water, if you have a hot water tank then solar can heat your hot water for use in the house (showers, sinks, etc.). We do have a tank so recently swapped out the power switch for our immersion heater to one which we could control with an app from anywhere (amzn.to/3sKIFQ3).
As a result, when we see that the panels are sending power to the grid, because the battery is fully charged and the house requirements are being met, we can turn on the immersion heater to heat the water instead of using gas. We’ve used this a lot over the last month and saved some money on gas. There are devices which will automatically do this for you, such as the Eddi, but they’re more expensive than a replacement switch.
In the absence of a hot water tank, I’m afraid electricity can’t help you heat your water.
Hope that answers your question and thanks for taking the time to ask.
@@PaulsViewsReviews Thank you for this. Now I understand. We took out the hot water tank when changed from oil to gas. I would really like to move from gas to fully electric but obviously it would be expensive and so really be done just to save the planet. Much to think over. 👍
Why did you got the powerwall over a givenergy solution with 2x8kwh batteries which is cheaper? I’m interested as I am currently pricing up both solutions? Thanks
Hi. That’s actually an easy one to answer - it was all about the Tesla Energy Plan for me. No other battery gives access to a tariff like that, as far as I’m aware.
As it’s turned out, I’m not actually on it yet, as the Go Tariff we’re on is so good, but we’ll definitely move over to the TEP at the end of this existing contract.
@@PaulsViewsReviews Thank you. I can’t find anywhere that confirms how long the tesla energy plan tariff will stay at the 10-12p range for?
@@sircoynie You just can't predict. 12 months ago, there wasn't even a standing daily charge on that tariff. The important thing is that the export rate and import rate stay the same - that's the crux of the tariff.
@@PaulsViewsReviews yeah I understand that which is great if you have a huge solar array etc but if you are not able to take advantage of that (4kw solar array) what does the powerwall offer over say an equiv 2x8.2Kwh GivEnergy solution that is £3K cheaper?
@@sircoynie For a good percentage of the year, the export won't be that influential, especially if the array is not too big, as you'll be using or storing the vast majority of what you generate. The 10-12p/KWh import rate of the TEP, however, is about a third of the current average price per KWh offered by energy providers; that alone will be worth hundreds of pounds per year, especially when the sun is not shining too much and you're buying power from the grid. At the end of the day, more battery capacity is brilliant, but you still have to be able to fill it.
Arguably, the smaller the array, the more you'll buy in, making the TEP advantageous and going some way to justifying the Powerwall, as you need it to access the TEP. The larger the array, the more you'll generate and, again, the TEP is advantageous because you will likely export more at a decent rate of reimbursement. There are so many variables that can influence that, such as battery capacity, how sunny it is (or isn't) where you live, your level of consumption, when you signed up for the feed in rate and, therefore, how much you are able to claim, etc., so it is difficult to make an accurate assessment.
In short(ish), the main advantage of the Powerwall, aside from the abilities of the Gateway, which I discussed in the video and am not aware of if your other option provides (or if it matters to you if you don't often have powercuts), is that it unlocks greater tariff options. Is that worth £3k? That's down to your annual power input from your solar array, your average annual usage (+ if that is likely to change if, say, you buy an EV) and the cost difference between the two.
Hope that helps, but might be worth chatting to an installation company that offers both battery options and can give an unbiased view, based on your specific circumstances.
What's the status of Powerwalls given the new PW3 isn't AC Coupled while the older PW2 is? I want the LFP chemistry and since I have 31 PV panels (12.5 kWh) with 31 Enphase IQ8A Inverters. Now my installer only offers two choices, the Tesla PW2 with the NMC chemistry and the Enphase 5P with LFP. On paper, the older PW2 is the best bang for the buck but its future and chemistry hold me back. With the available credits/rebates in Illinois, I can get 2 PW2s installed for $3500 LESS than 3 Enphase 5Ps. Could there be a NEW AC-coupled PW3 just around the corner? Should I be fearful of the older NMC chemistry aka FIRES? See my dilemma?
While I'm in the US your video and explanation are brilliant and will use it when trying to educate my Neanderthal neighbors.
Really great video Paul. What's the investment for 16 panels, the battery and the gateway?
Hey Alan. Thanks for the support!
So in a power cut you can't charge your car?
That's correct. You'd be able to run your house for quite a few hours but you'll have to rely on public chargers for the car. Otherwise, the car would empty the battery in less than 2 hours, if charging at 7KWh.
Hmmm but the car is hooked directly from the grid and charged overnight so you’d have been able to get that saving without the battery anyway. So really it’s completely separate to any rationale to get a battery or panels…?
It's true - the car rationale is more about the overall costs of the company car versus the private car.
The real benefit linking the battery and off peak tariff is that it can be used to charge the battery at night, should the sun not be shining.
Hi Paul, great video, very clearly explained although I’m a little late to the party (Aug 22). I was wondering if you could do an updated one due to the massive price hikes for energy with even more price rises expected. You have sold me the idea of the Tesla system, one benefit you didn’t mention was the added value to your house (should you ever move). I’m considering a similar installation but the payback may take me more years as I live alone so my usage is quite low and I would probably generate too much power! Also subscribed, thanks for your work in this area.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
The energy prices are still in such a state of flux that I’m not sure how valid an update would be - or for how long. The important point is that free energy will always be the better option, of course.
It is a fair point about the value on your house by installing a battery. It definitely makes your house a more attractive proposition over a house without a battery.
Lastly, to your point about generating too much power, the key there is the right export tariff. If you are on the Tesla Energy Plan, which you can join only if you have a Powerwall, you get paid the same export rate as import rate so a solar system with high power output can make you good money, should you generate more than you use. They have just changed their prices to about 25p/kWh import and export, so it’s never been a better time to have excess power from a high yield system. This will bring your break even point much sooner.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
Can you not break down the price of where how when how much just step by step it was a little all over the place if one may say but you do come across as a charming soul.
Kind of you to say. The breakdown is towards the end of the video.
@@PaulsViewsReviews sorry you did break it down quite well actually, just started to look into this with bills getting rather silly , was the Tesla battery expensive compared to other companies or is the choice very limited,
@@kavanobrien6547 There are other choices, many of which are less expensive and with shorter lead times. Not too many have this capacity (13.5KWh) or the functionality of the Gateway, but there are definitely plenty of cost options. Either way, it’s a smart choice, especially with the aforementioned cost of energy.
@@PaulsViewsReviews thank you for your time and (energy ) sorry in my head that was funny , but thanks for replying I will look deeper into this a little surprised it’s not more simple the solar people seem to be missing a big opportunity our it might be just the way I think , get a battery delivered charged a bit like grocery never need the grid as said my mind has always thought differently, thanks again , nice soul, take care.
Can you have one of these without the gateway that exports the power to the grid? What they give you for the power is insulting and I'd rather it came to the battery and nowhere else.
A battery, yes. A Tesla Powerwall, no. However, once any battery is fully charged and your house needs are met, the excess will get exported, as it has to go somewhere.
The advantage of the Tesla unit is definitely the Tesla Energy Plan (TEP) that it gets you access to. The gateway functionality is very clever and worth having, but the TEP allows you to buy AND SELL electricity for the same price, currently about 11p/KWh (and that was the price I was given this week when I enquired, as we’re still using a octopus Go at the moment).
The Powerwall and Gateway are basically nothing more than the ticket to access this tariff, as you hand full control of the battery to Tesla and Octopus, but the savings are very appealing. Having the same buy/sell rate means that you get to use every bit of solar you generate, even if you sell it to the grid now and buy it back tonight.