Tesla Powerwall in South Africa - prices and what it offers

[Jan]

Buying a Tesla Powerwall in South Africa — pricing and load-shedding protection

One option for South Africans looking to power their home or office appliances during load-shedding is the Tesla Powerwall.

The second generation of the acclaimed backup battery system is highly popular in the US, Europe, and Australia.

 

[AlphaJohn]

Actually SA miss the biggest pro on why loads of people in USA/Australia are going Powerwall vs other battery solutions.

Tier billing & Buy back. aka "Virtual power plant"

Powerwalls have an option for people to "sell" power when demand is high and charge back up during low demand times on load tier pricing.

Cheaper here just to DIY and store as much as you can.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

Actually SA miss the biggest pro on why loads of people in USA/Australia are going Powerwall vs other battery solutions.

Tier billing & Buy back. aka "Virtual power plant"

Powerwalls have an option for people to "sell" power when demand is high and charge back up during low demand times on load tier pricing.

Cheaper here just to DIY and store as much as you can.

Now that SA allows IPP upto 100MW without a license, why not start the same virtual power plants here. Oh right, we don't have variable power rates, ignore this.

 

[Bobbin]

Backup power is nice. But I've currently got a hybrid inverter sitting with a error code 09 which renders it all a very expensive paperweight at the moment, and I ain't an electrician :/

So yeah, it can be a pain also. Hopefully insurance will cover it, once I can get someone to help fix who will actually reply.

Just be prepared to deal with stuff like that

Wonder how difficult it would be to get maintenance/service on a Powerwall in SA.

 

[MrGray]

You can buy a perfectly good off the shelf LiFePO4 battery solution for ~R50-60k for the same capacity and a 5kw inverter for ~R30-40k and that's retail. Basically, this thing is twice the cost for the fancy brand name.

 

[Sapphiron]

You can buy a perfectly good off the shelf LiFePO4 battery solution for ~R50-60k for the same capacity and a 5kw inverter for ~R30-40k and that's retail. Basically, this thing is twice the cost for the fancy brand name.

For that money, I would rather go with a victron system with some locally support battery packs like solar MD or Pylontech. Likely to be higher quality anyway.

For the difference, you can double the battery capacity, or add a crapton of solar panels.

 

[MrGray]

For that money, I would rather go with a victron system with some locally support battery packs like solar MD or Pylontech. Likely to be higher quality anyway.

For the difference, you can double the battery capacity, or add a crapton of solar panels.

My quoted cost was approximate price of 3 x 3.5kwh Pylontechs and a Victron inverter, lol.

 

[RonSwanson]

You can buy a perfectly good off the shelf LiFePO4 battery solution for ~R25k for the same capacity and a 5kw inverter for ~R22k and that's retail. Basically, this thing is 3x the cost for the fancy brand name.

FTFY

 

[RonSwanson]

My quoted cost was approximate price of 3 x 3.5kwh Pylontechs and a Victron inverter, lol.

Sunsynk / Hubble combo FTW

 

[F1 Fan]

Has anyone fitted a system for a household that uses between 40-50kw a day?

 

[_kabal_]

FTFY

Those seem like “reasonable” prices. So a single AM2 plus a 5kW Synsynk Hybrid inverter would be a good starter backup system?

 

[_kabal_]

Those seem like “reasonable” prices. So a single AM2 plus a 5kW Synsynk Hybrid inverter would be a good starter backup system?

And if so, can anyone recommend an installer/supplier in Cape Town

 

[Neuk_]

I have seen one in the flesh, installed with the Tesla Gateway and it looks fantastic but it bloody should be at the price, owners said it cost them around R250k for the kit and installation

 

[neoprema]

I have a friend running 3 x Powerwalls and their whole house off the grid with solar. As it was built at the same time they purchased them they even designed cool-looking nooks in the walls to mount them flush.

That thing is sublime. Would love to be able to get them.

 

[RonSwanson]

Those seem like “reasonable” prices. So a single AM2 plus a 5kW Synsynk Hybrid inverter would be a good starter backup system?

Not just a good one, a great one, because it is flexible and expandable.
It is based on Powerforumstore prices, you can call Steve and ask for a recommended installer in your area.

 

[RonSwanson]

Has anyone fitted a system for a household that uses between 40-50kw a day?

@AchmatK

 

[Mr Justice]

Degradation is why you pay Tesla more. If you save R20k but have to buy R40ks worth of batteries in 5years then the Tesla product is actually cheaper long term.

 

[MrGray]

I have a friend running 3 x Powerwalls and their whole house off the grid with solar. As it was built at the same time they purchased them they even designed cool-looking nooks in the walls to mount them flush.

That thing is sublime. Would love to be able to get them.

They could have saved themselves the cost of a small car by buying less cool-looking batteries and inverters that work exactly the same way with the same specs for half the price, lol.

 

[MrGray]

Degradation is why you pay Tesla more. If you save R20k but have to buy R40ks worth of batteries in 5years then the Tesla product is actually cheaper long term.

Are Powerwalls Li-ion, or LiFePO4?

 

[CartoonFan]

If everybody gets a powerwall or alternative solution, would the grid not collapse?

If you turn off one area to shed 1000MW then switch to another area 2 hours later, the first area will increase their electricity usage by 1000MW to recharge their powerwalls resulting in a net shedding of 0MW.