Page 5 - Van Wig & Associates Newsletter ~ Nov Dec 2020 Issue

battery backup

SOUND ADVICE: Distributed by Tribune TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT

TESLA POWERWALL BEST KNOWN HOME

SOLAR PANEL, BATTERY COMBINATION

by Don Lindich “It uses solar panels to powered by natural gas and Powerwall batteries to
or propane could power a provide yourself with a few
Q about charge large batteries home for at least a few weeks days’ worth of backup power,
I just read your
without it being much of a I can’t think of a better way to
column
automatic backup
generators in my that store energy that challenge to the system (short go. It is definitely much more
of wear on the generator’s expensive up front, though.
local newspaper. Thank engine and its maintenance A system that would provide
you for that very useful and can be used in your requirements), but you would 1.5 days of backup power for
intelligent summary of the need a lot of panels and my home in Pennsylvania was
issue. It would be extremely home every day, as well batteries to get that from a $32,400 before incentives and
useful to have a detailed solar-based system. Based on $23,433 after the incentives
comparison of backup as for home emergency the brief comparison I did for were applied. An automatic
generators to solar panels and myself as part of my research backup generator would run
battery installations in homes. backup power. “ for this column, a Powerwall around $4,000, but it only
It is hard to find independent will also cost much more has a benefit when the power
analyses such as you could than an automatic backup is out.
provide. field with many variables the comparison on your own. generator, but you will benefit You can learn more about
J.W., San Jose, California based on geographical The best known home from it every day as it helps the Powerwall system and
location, the home itself, and solar panel and battery reduce your electric bill. get an estimate on what a
A I received quite a few local laws including potential combination is the Tesla If your main goal is to have suitable system will cost at

emails resembling tax savings and rebates. A Powerwall. It uses solar panels emergency power indefinitely tesla.com/powerwall. Once
yours, originating detailed comparison would to charge large batteries that in an emergency, the backup the potential savings in utility
mostly in California. I am take much more than a 600- store energy that can be used generator makes more sense bills are taken into account it
very familiar with automatic word newspaper column, in your home every day, as to me. If you want to save on may work out to be a great
backup generators and and given I have not owned well as for home emergency your electric bill year-round, option for you, especially if
portable generators for or reviewed solar equipment backup power. Your home’s help the planet by using clean you are incorporating the
home use, having studied I can’t discuss it from size and power requirements solar energy and have backup solar panels and batteries into
and used them for over a experience. The best I can and the number of panels and power for a limited time the a new construction plan. n
decade. Compared to this do is provide an overview of batteries you have determines Powerwall could be a great
established and largely mature the leading system and the how long you can go without option. In fact, if money is ©2020 Don Lindich.
technology, solar is a wide- costs, then direct you to a grid power. no object and you want to
ranging and rapidly changing resource where you can finish A home backup generator install enough solar panels Content Agency, LLC.
5