TECHNOLOGY
BOTH HOME OWNERS and a variety of businesses are keen to install Tesla ’ s Powerwall to maximise use of roof-top solar energy , as well as to provide back-up power . Several utilities across the globe are also developing innovative programs that also use Powerwalls to help balance the grid to reduce investment costs that are ultimately passed on to electricity consumers .
Recently , two large utilities in New Zealand and Australia - Vector and South Australia Power Network ( SAPN ) - announced innovative Powerwall programs .
Vector , New Zealand ’ s largest electricity distributor , said it will provide 130 Tesla Powerwalls to schools , charities and deserving families through a local competition . These will not only benefit the competition winners , but will also benefit the greater community through the aggregation of Powerwalls to help balance the grid and reduce stress on the network .
Across the Tasman Sea in Australia , SAPN has also just announced a trial program to deploy an initial 100 home batteries and solar systems . This is the largest trial of its kind in Australia and will test the benefits of combining solar and energy storage to avoid building additional infrastructure to alleviate a network constraint .
The trial also provides various options for customers to participate , including purchasing or leasing the storage systems . Vector and SAPN join a growing international trend among utilities recognising the value of the Tesla Powerwall deployed on their networks .
Green Mountain Power was among the first utilities to create a Powerwall program , installing the systems with customers in Vermont , USA . Powerwalls deployed by Green Mountain allow their customers to use less energy during peak periods and confidently rely on backup in case
14 September 2016