Energy Support

How Powerwall Works

Powerwall gives you the ability to store energy for later use and works with solar to provide key security and financial benefits. Each Powerwall system is equipped with energy monitoring, metering and smart controls for owner customization using the Tesla app. The system learns and adapts to your energy use over time and receives over-the-air updates to add new features and enhance existing ones.

Powerwall & Powerwall+

Powerwall is a rechargeable home battery system that can be installed with solar. A Powerwall system can be composed of up to 10 Powerwalls, including a combination of Powerwall+ and traditional Powerwalls. A Powerwall+ contains additional features focusing on solar integration that enable cleaner installations with less equipment.

Integrated revenue-grade energy metering can help you accurately monitor your solar production and home energy consumption for precise, real-time insight to your home energy, claim credit for clean energy incentives and be ready to join future virtual power plants. Powerwall+ is able to intelligently power heavy equipment, and direct solar integration improves solar recharging during power outages, resulting in a better off-grid experience than ever before.

 
  POWERWALL POWERWALL+
  Powerwall 2 Powerwall+
ON-GRID POWER 5.8kVA continuous 7.6kVA / 5.8kVA continuous*
BACKUP POWER

5.8kW continuous
10kW peak

9.6kW / 7kW continuous*
22kW / 10kW peak*

BACKUP LOAD START CAPABILITY 88A LRA for each Powerwall 98A LRA for each Powerwall+
STORAGE CAPACITY 13.5kWh† 13.5kWh†
SOLAR INTEGRATION Compatible with all grid-tied solar inverters Integrated solar with 4 MPPTs
COMMUNICATION Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Cellular LTE/4G with Gateway 2 Integrated Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Cellular LTE/4G
MONITORING Home loads, battery, revenue accuracy (+/- 2%) with Gateway 2 for solar Home loads, battery, revenue grade (+/- 0.5%) for solar
GRID DISCONNECT Compatible with Gateway 2 and Backup Switch Compatible with Gateway 2 and Backup Switch
BACKUP PERFORMANCE Seamless backup transition Seamless backup transition with enhanced off-grid performance
ON-GRID POWER

POWERWALL
5.8kW continuous

POWERWALL+
7.6kW / 5.8 kW continuous*

BACKUP POWER

POWERWALL
5.8 kW continuous
10 kW peak

POWERWALL+
9.6kW / 7kW continuous*
22kW / 10 kW peak*

BACKUP LOAD START CAPABILITY

POWERWALL
88A LRA for each Powerwall

POWERWALL+
98A LRA for each Powerwall+

STORAGE CAPACITY

POWERWALL
13.5kWh†

POWERWALL+
13.5kWh†

SOLAR INTEGRATION

POWERWALL
Compatible with all grid-tied solar inverters

POWERWALL+
Integrated solar with 4 MPPTs

COMMUNICATION

POWERWALL
Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Cellular LTE/4G with Gateway 2

POWERWALL+
Integrated Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Cellular LTE/4G

MONITORING

POWERWALL
Home loads, battery, revenue accuracy (+/- 2%) with Gateway 2 for solar

POWERWALL+
Home loads, battery, revenue grade (+/- 0.5%) for solar

GRID DISCONNECT

POWERWALL
Compatible with Gateway 2 and Backup Switch

POWERWALL+
Compatible with Gateway 2 and Backup Switch

BACKUP PERFORMANCE

POWERWALL
Seamless backup transition

POWERWALL+
Seamless backup transition with enhanced off-grid performance

*Full sun / no sun.

†See Powerwall Technical Specifications for more details.

With Solar

When the sun rises, solar begins powering the home. When additional power is required for the home, the home can pull it from the utility grid.

Powerwall is charged by solar during the day, when solar panels are producing more electricity than the home is consuming. Powerwall then stores that energy until the home needs it, such as when solar is no longer producing at night, or when the utility grid is offline during a power outage. With Tesla, when your Powerwall system changes status, such as the utility grid going down or offline, you can expect to receive notifications from the Tesla app.

When the sun comes out the next day, solar recharges Powerwall so you have a cycle of clean, renewable energy.

Without Solar

If your electricity rates vary throughout the day, Powerwall can charge when your utility’s electricity costs are low and discharge when electricity costs are high, generating automatic savings. Powerwall will also provide seamless backup power by detecting grid outages and automatically becoming the home's main power source.

Without Backup

When Powerwall+ is installed by itself with a non-backup configuration, it fully operates when the grid is active but does not provide power when there is a grid outage. Owners can use the power they generate with solar at night, export energy at peak prices and participate in Virtual Power Plant programs.

Modes Powerwall+ configured with Backup Gateway or Backup Switch Powerwall+ configured without backup
Self-Powered
Time-Based Control
Virtual Power Plant
Backup Reserve
Features Powerwall+ configured with Backup Gateway or Backup Switch Powerwall+ configured without backup
Utility Rate Plans
Storm Watch
Off-Grid Vehicle Charging
Go Off-Grid
Impact Cards Powerwall+ configured with Backup Gateway or Backup Switch Powerwall+ configured without backup
Self-Powered
Solar and Energy Value
Solar Offset
Time-of-Use
Backup History

Learn more about Powerwall modes and available features.

Future Backup Upgrades 

A non-backup system can be upgraded to include backup features later using Backup Switch. Reach out to your installer about the outlook for upgrading to a backup system. 

Note: Californian utilities are expected to approve Backup Switch for residential homes by 2024.