Tesla’s Powerwalls have taken the solar world by storm, these high efficiency batteries have allowed households to experience true energy independence and save considerably both in Australia and across the globe. Currently the Tesla Powerwall 2 is one of, if not the most, popular solar home battery for residential use. Which makes the release of the Powerwall 3 an exciting development for the solar industry.

Does the Powerwall 3 make the Powerwall 2 obsolete?

Unfortunately, these two batteries are not compatible, meaning they cannot be installed together.

If you already have or are planning to install Powerwall 2, you can rest easy knowing that even after Powerwall 2 is discontinued, Tesla and 1KOMMA5° will be here to support you and your system. Your warranties are completely safe.

Which Powerwall model should I go for?

This is entirely dependent on your current solar set-up, as installing a Powerwall 2 with a Powerwall 3 is not an option, your original installation will dictate what options are available to you. If you have a:

1. Powerwall 2 already installed, your only option for increasing your storage capacity will be to install an additional Powerwall 2. Get in now as once the Powerwall 2 is gone, its gone forever.

2. Solar with no battery, both Powerwall models are compatible with most major inverter brands, so you can choose the one that suits your needs.

3. No solar or battery, you are starting from scratch, so the choice is yours.

Main Similarities & Differences

Of course, we’re going to get into the specifics of what makes these batteries different, but first here’s a quick summary of the main similarities and differences between the Powerwall 2 and Powerwall 3.

Powerwall 2 vs. Powerwall 3 Specifications

Before we begin let’s just take a quick look at the specifications for both of these battery models, this is a good overview before we dive into what all this really looks like in the real world.

Capacity & Modularity

First, let’s take a look at how much these batteries can really store, and what options exist for expanding or stacking your storage system for greater capacity. This is one of the categories where the Powerwall 2 and Powerwall 3 are very similar. Both batteries store up to 13.5kWh of energy, this is a very common size for home batteries. Additionally, neither of these batteries feature a modular design, meaning they aren’t inherently ‘stackable’ or easily expandable in comparison with other batteries on the market. This isn’t saying expanding your solar storage system with Tesla Powerwalls is impossible or difficult, it’s not, there is just slightly less flexibility in that regard.

How Many Powerwalls Should I Install?

This is a good question, as both of the Powerwall models feature different limits on installation quantity. Here’s the facts and options: 

Option One

• Install up to 4 x Powerwall 3 = total energy storage capacity of 54kWh

Option Two

• Install up to 10 x Powerwall 2 = total energy capacity of 135kWh

Obviously, with the Powerwall 2, you have a lot more flexibility in storage capacity, but realistically that is an insane amount of storage for the average home. 

Technically speaking there is more room for expansion and future flexibility with a Powerwall 2, but it’s important to consider the fact that your household energy usage is unlikely to ever even come close to 135kWh per day, you’ll most likely barely even touch half of that capacity. For example the average Australian home uses around 18kWh per day, making all of that battery storage unnecessary and a waste of your investment. 

Performance & Efficiency

Now let's get into some important figures on the battery’s performance, we’ll look at the battery’s ability and efficiency in providing your home with electricity. There are three main indicators or specs that we can use to get a better understanding:

1. Round-Trip Efficiency

2. Depth of Discharge 

3. Power Output 

Round-Trip Efficiency

Round-trip efficiency is a measure of how much electricity can be transferred to and from the battery without getting lost (usually in the form of heat losses). This is important as, of course, you want to be making the absolute most out of your investment and solar energy. 

Both of the Powerwalls have pretty standard round-trip efficiency ratings for home batteries: 

• Powerwall 2 - 90%

• Powerwall 3 - 97.5% 

The Powerwall 3 does feature a higher round-trip efficiency rating than its counterpart, further reducing solar energy wastage.

Depth of Discharge

The depth of discharge of a solar battery refers to how much of the stored energy you're able to use in reality, compared to the maximum storage capacity of the battery. Again this is important in making the most of your initial investment. For both of the Powerwalls, they offer a depth of discharge of 100%. This is great as it means limited wasted power, as far as solar battery discharging goes, you can’t get better!

Power Output

The power output of your solar battery is the amount of power that it is able to handle at any given point in time, or more simply the size and number of household appliances it can backup. This is important if you have a large home or a household with a lot of members, especially if blackout protection is a concern for you. 

One of the biggest improvements between the Powerwall 2 and the Powerwall 3 is a major increase in power output. The Powerwall 2 offers a continuous power output of 5kW, in comparison to the Powerwall 3’s continuous power output of 10kW, at more than twice the output, it’s clear this battery operates at a much higher output than its predecessor. Additionally, with these figures, the Tesla Powerwall 3 is more powerful than the majority of home batteries on the market today. 

Fill out the form and our battery experts will help you find the right one for your home.

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Warranties

The warranties on offer for the Powerwall models don’t really add many defining features. Tesla offers the same warranty for the Powerwall 3 as it does for the Powerwall 2. While this doesn’t make determining which battery is better any easier, it does mean that no matter which choice you make, you’re not missing out on any cover. You’ll also be glad to know Tesla offers one of the better warranties for home solar batteries in today’s market. 

Powerwall Warranty Details

Here is just a quick, basic rundown of the terms of this warranty, after looking at these facts we’ll take a closer look at what they really mean and how they compare to the industry standard.

• Years Covered: 10 years

• End-Of-Warranty Capacity Guarantee: 70% 

• Battery Cycles Covered: Unlimited

Powerwall Warranties Explained

First off, let’s start with the 10 year capacity warranty, this may seem exciting but 10 years is actually the industry standard for solar batteries. While yes this does still offer quality cover for a more than adequate number of years, it is nothing special when compared to the rest of the industry. 

The capacity guarantee here is also pretty standard. Your capacity guarantee is set by the manufacturer as an acknowledgement of the natural capacity deterioration batteries see over time, ensuring consumers are aware of what normal levels of deterioration would be and to amend any systems that are not meeting their requirements. 

Well, if Tesla’s warranties so far are all pretty standard and typical for the industry, then what makes them special? That’s easy, unlimited cycle coverage! Battery cycles are another method manufacturers and retailers use to measure the lifespan of the battery. One cycle refers to the completion of a charge and discharge of your battery. Usually manufacturers will specify a number of cycles they guarantee it will complete under the warranty. Where this becomes undesirable is, in most cases, once the battery exceeds its cycle life, your warranty will end, even if you still have a few years of coverage left. Tesla including an unlimited cycle coverage condition is just one less thing to worry about and means you can enjoy the benefits of solar storage for longer.

Here's a quick summary of what we just discussed:

Final Word: Which Battery Is Right For You?

It’s very difficult to give a definitive answer as to which battery is better for you as they do have some different features and as with a lot of solar components and installations, the benefits of each option are largely dependent on your personal situation. But here are some things to consider:

If You Don't Have Solar Or Battery Storage Yet

Go for Powerwall 3. This new battery features an integrated hybrid inverter, setting it apart from the older model Powerwall with new technology.

If You Already Have Solar But No Battery

If you want to save more on your bills and protect yourself from blackouts as soon as possible, choose Powerwall 2. The Powerwall 3 is rumoured to be available later this year, but we expect to have a long waitlist with installs booked out for months.

But if you're happy to wait (and pay extra), the Powerwall 3 is a good option. It offers new features and high performance, with an ability to output more than double the power of its predecessor. With this said, there is a good chance that the Powerwall 3 will be more expensive, given that it has a built-in inverter.

If You Already Have Powerwall 2 Installed

The only way you can expand your battery storage is by adding another Powerwall 2 and now is the best time to do it. You don't want to be left with no option once Tesla discontinues Powerwall 2 and we also do not expect them to bring down the prices once Powerwall 3 launches because the demand is still very strong.

The good news is that, we are offering priority access (and industry-leading pricing) to anyone who is looking to enhance their energy efficiency with an extra Powerwall.

Conclusion

We can’t give you a set in stone answer as to which battery is better for you without knowing your specific situation, we can only present the facts. The battery for you is dependent on a range of factors including your budget, your average energy consumption, your geographic area, the electrical set-up of your home and much more. Finding a battery to suit you will always be more beneficial than buying whichever option looks best on paper.

Battery storage isn’t one size fits all, instead we like to tailor installations and set-up designs to address every concern our customers have as this has far greater benefits in the short and long term. If you would like personalised advice on battery storage or anything else solar related, our team would be more than happy to help.  Just fill out the form below.