its solar panels are super efficient, but you have to be patient before making a profit

Shift the July 1, 2020 9:51 a.m.

While waiting for their arrival in France, an American family recounts their three months of experience with Tesla's solar roof and its PowerWall, batteries that power household electronics. In just one quarter, the health home has become energy independent and even sells excess energy.

Since January 2020, Tesla has diversified its product catalog. There are only electric cars, may also have solar tiles. Accompanied by two PowerWall, huge rechargeable batteries, they produce renewable electricity using solar energy. When it presented this product, the American firm promised that it would soon be available outside the United States, especially in Europe. However, with the coronavirus epidemic, this international expansion has been postponed.

Read also – This electric car partly drives thanks to its solar panels

However, across the Atlantic, Tesla's solar tiles are already on the market. And some families have taken the plunge. A good opportunity to discover the real cost of installation, ease of use, adaptations of daily life and, above all, the economic gains. Because the challenge is not only to reduce the electricity bill, but also to become energy independent.

A huge investment at start-up

Here is a testimony, relayed by Electrek magazine, which answers many questions. This testimony is that of the Neumann family. Through a YouTube channel, from which the video you will find at the end of this article is taken, she explains how the system is placed and how to adapt to this change. The latest video from the channel celebrates the first 100 days with the system. And in five minutes you would almost regret not living in the sun all year round.

First, the numbers that hurt: the cost of installation. The Neumann family benefits from the third generation of solar tiles called Solar Glass V3. The total installation budget is $ 83,000, excluding any aid. Or about 74,000 euros. In this price, more than half is buying the tiles (270 m² of tiles, anyway). 30% of the budget is dedicated to the workforce. This includes removing conventional tiles, adapting the roof structure and laying the tiles.

20% of the budget was dedicated to the purchase of two PowerWall. These are two external rechargeable batteries that collect energy from the roof and power the house. They can also be recharged using the general electrical network in the event of a breakdown on the tiles. When energy production exceeds consumption, PowerWall are able to deliver excess energy to the general grid. The consumer then becomes producer. We then enter the figures that do good.

Almost autonomous after two months

Because, by producing their own electricity, the Neumann family became, in just three months, not only energy independent, but also a reseller. In March, the family paid their energy supplier $ 4, including the energy sold. 81% of its energy consumed comes from its own production. In April, she was in surplus by $ 15 (her supplier owed her money). It is 97% autonomous.

In May 2020, the Neumann family is at 98% autonomous and to sold 76 dollars of electricity to its supplier. In 2019, she paid an average of $ 140 in electricity per month. So imagine the gain per year: $ 140 unpaid and $ 70 in excess energy. Let a system which yields About 200 dollars a month. Or $ 2,400 a year, knowing that the price per kilowatt hour sold may vary according to market prices.

It all depends on the sunshine

Of course, it doesn't happen all at once. The whole family had to review their consumption patterns. Once the sun sets, the devices that consume a lot are less used. The use of household appliances, for example, is preferred during the hours when the sun is highest and no longer during the night to benefit from "off-peak" rates. The same goes for recharging their electric cars: they are more often recharged during the day to conserve as much PowerWall energy as possible.

Of course, some small problems were encountered: a small breakdown here, overconsumption there. But overall, the experience is very positive. This experience is also positive in large part because the weather in California is mostly very, very, very (very?) Sunny. In other parts of the world, such as France, it is not certain that the gain will be as high. It therefore remains to choose well where you will buy your next health home.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFWKVraGI1E (/ embed)

Source: Electrek

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