PG&E, Tesla
Date: 2020-08-05
In the Golden State, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) and Tesla are reporting construction is underway on a massive lithium-ion battery storage system (BESS) at PG&E's electric substation in Moss Landing in Monterey County, Calif. Upon completion, the facility will be one of the largest utility-owned, lithium-ion energy storage systems in the world.

The system will incorporate 256 Tesla Megapack battery units on 33 concrete slabs. Transformers and switch gears will be installed along with the Megapacks to connect energy stored in the batteries with the 115-kilovolt electric transmission system.

When fully operational in Q2, 2021, the BESS will have the capacity to store and dispatch up to 730 MWh of energy to the electrical grid at a maximum rate of 182.5 MW for up to four hours during high demand periods . (Source: PG&E, Tesla, Aug., 2020) Contact: PG&E, www.pg&e.com; Tesla Powerwall, www.tesla.com/en_CA/powerwall

More Low-Carbon Energy News Pacific Gas & Electric,  Tesla,  Energy Storage,  

Tesla
Date: 2020-08-05
In the Golden State, the Red Bluff City Council is reportedly considering allowing Tesla to install battery banks at the Red Bluff Waste Water Treatment Plant that could save the city just over $600,000 over 10 years in electricity costs.

Tesla's proposal would install a 1,624 kWh battery at the wastewater treatment plant at no cost to the city. This battery would have an average duration of 4.5 hours with a fully charged period of 9 hours in the case of a power outage. The project would qualify for California Public Utilities Commission Equity Resilience Self-Generation Incentive Program rebates for installing energy storage technology for both residential and non-residential facilities. (Source: Red Bluff City Council, Red Bluff Daily News, 3 Aug., 2020) Contact: Red Bluff City Council, www.cityofredbluff.org California Public Utilities Commission Equity Resilience Self-Generation Incentive Program, www.cpuc.ca.gov/sgip; Tesla Powerwall, www.tesla.com/en_CA/powerwall

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tesla,  Energy Storage,  Tesla Battery,  

Green Mountain Power
Date: 2020-05-27
The Vermont Public Utility Commission approved two new home battery power backup programs proposed by Green Mountain Power (GMP) -- the Tesla Powerwall and a home owner supplied devise.

The home owner supplied devise tariff program, which was developed in partnership with solar companies and Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), offers up to $10,500 in upfront incentives to customers purchasing their own batteries through local installers. At least 500 customers can enroll each year, up to five MW of stored energy annually.

With the Tesla Powerwall tariff program, customers can pay $55 per month for two Powerwall batteries in a 10-year lease, which covers standard installation and an optional five more years at no additional cost, or pay $5,500 upfront. Program participants agree to share their stored energy with GMP during peak energy use times, which lowers costs for all GMP customers. (Source: green Mountain Power, PR, Energy Insider, 26 May, 2020), Contact: Green Mountain Power, Mari McClure, Pres., CEO, Josh Castonguay, VP, (802) 770-3392, josh.castonguay@greenmountainpower.com, www.greenmountainpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Mountain Power,  Energy Storage,  Tesla Power Wall,  

Tesla
Date: 2019-10-30
In a recent tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk offered a $1,000 discount on its solar panels and Powerwall energy storage system to the more than 2 million Californians affected by utility "preemptive" power disruptions and wildfire power outages which are increasingly common in the Golden State.

Tesla's Powerwall home battery system for a 2,200-square-foot home retails for roughly $14,100 so, although a timely offer, Musk's discount is far from extravagant. (Source: Tesla, The Verge, 28 Oct., 2019)Contact: Tesla Powerwall, www.tesla.com/en_CA/powerwall

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tesla Powerwall,  Energy Storage,  

Green Mountain Power
Date: 2019-10-23
Vermont's largest electric utility, Green Mountain Power (GMP) wants to turn its pioneering home battery storage pilot programs into permanent and has filed proposals with the state's PUC for two new tariffs -- one for utility-owned batteries and one for customer-owned batteries.

The energy storage tariff would allow customers to lease Tesla Powerwall batteries from GMP and pay either a one-time, upfront fee or a monthly payment. The customer-owned tariff would see the customer lease or purchase a battery from a range of approved providers. The proposed tariffs are extensions of two successful pilot programs that included electric vehicle chargers.

If approved by the PUC, each program will be open to a maximum of 500 customers per year, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. (Source: Green Mountain Power, Energy News, Oct., 2019) Contact: Green Mountain Power, Josh Castonguay, VP, (802) 770-3392, josh.castonguay@greenmountainpower.com, www.greenmountainpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tesla Powerwall,  Green Mountain Power,  Energy Storage,  

Tesla
Date: 2019-07-31
Tesla is reporting the deployment of its Powerwall and Powerpack energy storage systems grew by 81 pct to 415 MWh during Q2 compared to Q1 this year. Powerwalls are now installed in over 50,000 sites, Tesla said.

The company generated $368.2 million in revenues from its energy generation, i.e. solar and storage, business during the most recent quarter, up from $324.6 million during Q1, according to a release. (Source: Tesla, 30 July, 2019) Contact: Tesla Powerwall, www.tesla.com/en_CA/powerwall

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Green Mountain Power
Date: 2018-07-23
Vermont utility Green Mountain Power is reporting it drew electricity out of about 500 Tesla Powerwall batteries installed in the home of about 400 customers and fed it into the grid during a heat wave earlier this month. This meant GMP purchased less electricity from power plants when the wholesale price of power in New England, which changes every five minutes depending on demand and supply, was particularly high.

This had a double price benefit. It saves on the momentary energy charge, but more importantly it can reduce the utility's payment to the bulk transmission system in New England. That charge is based on usage during the hour of the year when the most electricity was being used. GMP will cut its annual grid costs, explaining a large portion of the nearly $500,000 it says it saved. If a higher peak hour happens later in the year, that number can change.

Under the GMP Powerwall program, a customer can buy one of the Powerwall 2.0 batteries for $1,500, less than a fifth of the usual cost, if they let GMP draw electricity from the battery at times. A single Powerwall 2.0 provides 13 kWh of power, which can run an efficient house for a day. (Source: Green Mountain Power, Concord Monitor, 21 July, 2018) Contact: Green Mountain Power, Josh Castonguay, VP Innovation, (802) 770-3392, josh.castonguay@greenmountainpower.com, www.greenmountainpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Mountain Power,  Tesla Powerwall,  Energy Storage,  

California Energy Commission
Date: 2018-05-04
In Sacramento, the The California Energy Commission (CEC) is scheduled to vote Wednesday, May 9, on new energy standards mandating most new homes have solar panels starting in 2020. If approved as expected, the Golden state would be the nation’s first state to mandate solar energy.

The proposed new rules would deviate slightly from another much-heralded objective -- Requiring all new homes be "net-zero" meaning they would produce enough solar power to offset all electricity and natural gas consumed over the course of a year. Among the highlights:

The new solar mandate would apply to all houses, condos and apartment buildings up to three stories tall that obtain building permits after Jan. 1, 2020;

Exceptions or alternatives will be allowed when homes are shaded by trees or buildings or when the home's roofs are too small to accommodate solar panels;

Solar arrays can be smaller because homes won't have to achieve true net-zero status;

Builders installing batteries like the Tesla Powerwall would qualify for "compliance credits" allowing them to further reduce the size of the solar system;

Provisions will encourage more electric use or even all-electric homes to reduce natural gas consumption.

The mandate dates back to 2007 when the California Energy Commission adopted the goal of making homebuilding so efficient the "newly constructed buildings can be net zero energy by 2020 for residences and by 2030 for commercial buildings." (Source: California Energy Commission, Orange County Register, 4 May, 2018) Contact: California Energy Commission

More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero,  Solar,  California Energy Commission,  

Tesla,Home Depot
Date: 2018-02-05
Beginning this July, this year, 800 of retailing giant Home Depot's more than 2,200 stores will feature Tesla solar panels, rooftop solar systems, and Powerwall storage batteries. Tesla will set up and staff the in store displays. Tesla's rooftop solar system sells for roughly $10,000 to $25,000,and the Powerwall energy storage battery gors for approximately, according to the company's website. $7,000. (Source: Tesla, CleanTechnica, 1 Feb., 2018) Contact: Tesla Powerwall, www.teslamotors.com; Tesla Solar, www.tesla.com/en_CA/solarroof



More Low-Carbon Energy News Tesla Solar,  Tesla Power Wall,  Solar,  Energy Storage,