Complete Guide to Tesla Powerwall in Canada

Experience uninterrupted power with this cutting-edge system! Detect outages, harness the sun's limitless energy, and enjoy days of continuous appliance operation. It's not just energy storage – it's empowerment for your home's needs. Say goodbye to disruptions and hello to a future of seamless energy independence!  

This system has the standard 13.5kWh of storage capacity, which means it can easily provide backup power to an average Canadian household’s critical loads for roughly one day. Lithium-ion batteries now allow homeowners to store self-generated solar energy, combat time-of-use billing, mitigate solar generation intermittency, and provide energy security during an outage.  

Even better? All this with incredible ease of use and simplicity via a smartphone app.

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Integration of battery energy storage systems into existing and new buildings has become drastically easier in recent years both financially and electrically. Extreme manufacturing and material pricing drops make installing Powerwall in Canada more affordable than ever before.

And this is just the beginning of the home energy storage industry in Canada.  

The Benefits of Installing Tesla Powerwall?

A turbocharged output that translates to unparalleled power and performance. With the latest model, you can effortlessly connect high-power electronics, erasing any concern about winter chills knocking out your heater. Say goodbye to worries and hello to a world of unstoppable energy prowess!

Batteries combat many concerns homeowners have when installing solar panels in Canada. Although one can install solar panels without Powerwall, and Powerwall without solar, energy storage systems complement solar power systems brilliantly.

Even among grid-connected users, sending back excess energy translates to increased savings. In cases where a suboptimal metering strategy poses challenges, the Tesla Powerwall comes to the rescue, offering potential reductions in utility costs.

Harness the Power Within

First things first, using Tesla Powerwall with a solar power system reduces one’s reliance on the electricity grid. Independent sustainable living is now possible without sacrificing lifestyle.

With its substantial capacity, the Powerwall enables seamless utilization of stored solar energy throughout both daylight and nighttime hours, significantly reducing the need for dependence on traditional utility sources.  

Resilient Energy Backup: Unwavering Power When You Need It

Whether you're tapping into fresh solar energy or a seasoned source, envision a sudden crisis or grid blackout – are you prepared? Fear not, the Tesla Powerwall steps in as your ultimate guardian, furnishing backup energy to safeguard your home in times of grid uncertainty.

Energy Control at Your Fingertips

Tesla Powerwall mobile app gives users incredible control over their home’s energy in real-time.

Users possess the ability to configure charging and discharging schedules, along with defining the ongoing battery reserve quantities. Through the app, users get a live look into how energy is flowing between the grid, Powerwall, solar panels, and home’s loads.

Insightful data is presented in clean easy-to-read graphs showcasing home consumption, solar electricity generation, and grid exports.

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Want to keep 50% battery capacity for ‘just in case’ situations? Looking to discharge your entire battery instead of using grid electricity? A few clicks on the app will customize each Powerwall to your liking. This empowers you to modify your home energy system according to your distinct requirements.

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How Battery-Powered Home Energy Storage Systems Work

Grid-tied applications are the most common integration for Powerwall in Canada.  It is now possible to go fully off-grid (no electrical connection to utility grid) with Powerwall or to provide backup power in commercial applications.

Tesla Powerwall replicates the frequency of the electrical utility grid, called grid-forming.  This feature allows solar panels to continue to operate in the event of a grid outage, contrary to the typical anti-islanding behaviour which turns solar power systems (specifically, the inverter(s)) off in the event of an outage.

Grid-Tied

Remaining grid-tied is the most economical option if your property has an existing electrical utility connection. This is explored further below.

Grid energy and stored energy interplay with each other seamlessly and automatically.  When the grid goes down, Powerwall senses the disruption and continues to provide energy.  

No delays. No manual switching required.

Grid-tied Powerwall installations in Canada come in two forms – whole home backup and critical loads backup.

Whole Home

As the name suggests, whole home backup provides electricity to the entire home. This option typically requires multiple Powerwalls to adequately power your home.  

Powerwalls (and solar panels) tie into your main electrical panel and all loads receive energy in the event of a grid outage.

Critical Loads

Powering critical loads is a more common approach to installing grid-tied Tesla Powerwall in Canada. By powering critical loads only, clients can reduce the number of Powerwalls required to satisfy their needs and in doing so, save capital.

This method requires moving a home’s essential loads into a separate subpanel. In the event of an outage, these critical loads will be supplied by Powerwall and solar energy while the non-essential loads in the main panel remain dormant.

You and your family can weather any storm and still live a comfortable lifestyle with an operating fridge, freezer, internet, boiler, and select switches & outlets.

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Off-Grid

Through a recent addition, living off-grid with Tesla Powerwall is now possible  

Off-grid installations require a minimum of 2 Powerwall units and an internet connection. It is highly recommended to have an additional generator (diesel, gas, or propane) on-site in case there are prolonged dark periods.

Commercial Energy Storage

Tesla recently released an application update to allow Powerwall to provide backup power to 208V commercial services.

This is a breakthrough addition to now allow the safe backup of critical commercial infrastructure such as servers, computer banks and other important hardware.  

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How Long Will Powerwall Last in an Outage?

You can determine how much energy a Tesla Powerwall will provide by figuring out how much power your home needs and the capabilities of your Powerwall unit.

The unit’s ability to sustain your home's energy demands will vary based on the usage of different appliances and devices, including air conditioners or other power-driven items.

In general, Powerwall will last approximately 1 to 2 days but can be extended to 7+ days by modifying lifestyle choices or by adding additional Powerwalls. Solar panels will charge Powerwall units, but it may be wise to consider how long it would last without solar input should the power go out in winter or during extended cloudy periods.

Warranty

A 10-year warranty is the industry standard for solar batteries, but few come with unlimited cycles. The typical battery warranty covers 4,000 to 6,000 cycles, making Tesla's unlimited-cycle warranty more competitive. The number of times you cycle your battery (drain and recharge it) affects its lifespan, which is why many manufacturers will include a cycle or throughput clause in their warranty. 

Is it Better to be Grid-Tied or Go Off-Grid with Powerwall?

Grid-tied systems tend to be the less expensive option, due to not needing batteries and other equipment.

This type of system is great for those who don’t have the room or financing to install a solar system big enough to cover 100% of their energy usage. You can continue to pull electricity from the grid if needed.

Whether it is better to be grid-tied or live off-grid depends on a few factors, including your desire, budget, and property. If the home is grid-tied currently, remaining that way will be the most economical. Specifically, a critical loads-only grid-tied Powerwall installation would be most favourable financially.

For many, grid-tied Powerwall installations are a fair balance between having backup energy, energy independence, and saving money. Living off-grid in Canada requires additional energy storage capacity (and investment) relative to battery systems that supplement the grid. Additionally, off-grid living generally requires an additional backup generator just in case adverse weather or equipment issues arise.

Backup energy could be your savior during the extended, chilly winter months.

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Weighing the Costs

If the property is not currently grid-tied, the decision can be financially evaluated by weighing the cost of installing a grid connection (provided by the utility company such as Fortis, ATCO, SaskPower or BCHydro) versus the cost of installing an off-grid Tesla Powerwall system.

Installing a grid connection can be very expensive and is highly dependent on the property’s proximity to the grid. If the utility connection is far away, living off-grid with Tesla Powerwall may be the best decision.  In other instances, it may be best to install the grid connection and a grid-tied solar power and battery system. In situations like this, reliance on the grid can easily be diminished with a critical loads backup without the increased costs of an off-grid solar and battery system.

Embracing an off-grid lifestyle equates to heightened energy self-sufficiency, reduced dependence on escalating grid power costs, and potentially a touch more hands-on effort over time to upkeep and manage equipment.

Kuby Energy can assist you fully in this decision-making process and provide a detailed financial breakdown. 

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Cost of Tesla Powerwall in Canada

The cost of Powerwall associated devices and shipping will fluctuate based on market conditions. Installation of Powerwall will depend on how much electrical work is required to your existing infrastructure.

Tesla Powerwall equipment, hardware, installation, and shipping will be cost approximately $18,000 to $25,000. The $/kWh will scale favourably if more Powerwall’s are desired.

When paired with solar panels (and sometimes without), electrical panels often need upgrades to meet the Canadian Electrical Code to install Powerwall. If more backup energy is desired, additional Powerwall’s maybe required.

How much Tesla Powerwall costs depends on many factors.

Contacting Kuby Energy is the best way to gauge how much your solar power system and Tesla Powerwall will cost.  

Before investing in Powerwall, consider what is the cost of not having electricity?

Other Battery Energy Storage Systems

This article centers around the Tesla Powerwall due to its exceptional technical specifications and superior installed cost, making it a standout in today's market.  

Other home energy storage systems such as LG Chem, Sonnen, Eguana, and BYD address similar concerns but may come with a price, both financially and functionally. Powerwall’s versatile functionality and leading $/kWh are the main reasons why we recommend Tesla Powerwall as the leading home battery energy storage system.  

Alternate Approaches

If the cost of Tesla Powerwall is prohibitive but having energy when the grid goes down is desired, there is an alternate backup energy solution. Installing a generator is an affordable way to comfortably outlast any grid outage without batteries. 

When the grid goes down, the backup generator kicks on and feeds your home’s loads. Solar panels will remain dormant until grid electricity is restored as backup generators cannot grid form. An automatic transfer switch will be installed to separate the grid connection from the home to prevent backreading. 

Contact Kuby Today 

Thank you very much for your interest in Tesla Powerwall in Canada.  

Kuby Energy installs Tesla Powerwall in Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory. Grid-tied and off-grid solar power installations are customized to meet your exact budget, home, and lifestyle.

Please contact us if you have any questions that we didn’t answer or would like a free solar or Tesla Powerwall installation quote.

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