TESLA PREPS FOR ENERGY STORAGE MARKET SURGE
The reseach market analyst estimates that Tesla will sell 168.5 megawatt-hours of energy storage systems to SolarCity in 2016 which is more than six times what Tesla sold to SolarCity in 2015.
GTM Research points out that excluding the 52 megawatt-hour solar-plus-storage project in KIUC territory in Hawaii, Tesla’s expected 116.5 megawatt-hours will be 60% larger than the entire 2015 U.S. behind-the-meter market which refers to systems on an owner’s property rather than on the electric grid or utility side.
If the forecast becomes reality the sales surge would make Tesla the USA’s leading stationary battery supplier. GTM analyzed Tesla’s April 15 definitive proxy statement document. Based on 2015’s revenues, GTM Reseach concluded Tesla sold about 26 megawatt-hours of storage to SolarCity in 2015.
GTM research estimates behind-the-meter sales to SolarCity in 2016 will reach 116 MWh which is a more than 300% increase. All U.S. behind-the-meter deployments last year reached about 71 MWh.
Tesla manufactures the Powerwall which is a home battery that charges using electricity generated from solar panels, or when utility rates are low, and powers your home in the evening. Automated, compact and simple to install, Powerwall helps maximize self-consumption of solar power generation.
Tesla currently sells the 7 kWh Daily Powerwall battery and larger Powerpack battery, which can be used for commercial behind-the-meter applications. In March 2016, Tesla discontinued the 10-kWh version of its Powerwall following lack of customer interest.
In the same month the US Energy Storage Association reported that U.S. energy storage market had surged 243% in 2015. The behind-the-meter market, including residential and nonresidential ‘behind-the-grid’ sectors saw growth of 405% in 2015. Tesla Motors has invested in the company’s $5 billion lithium battery Gigafactory in Nevada, USA.
