Tesla Motors has teamed up with PV installer SolarCity to make a smart battery system for use with solar installations that will automate when energy is drawn from the PV system, the grid or the battery.
The system is called DemandLogic and allows businesses to reduce peak usage of electricity from the grid. The system would also provide backup power during blackouts and maintains grid stability.
So far 300 residential customers have signed up to the pilot scheme to use battery packs supplied by Tesla. The systems will be on offer in California, Connecticut and Massachusetts and will be eligible for 30% federal tax credit.
The California Public Utilities Commission gave a grant of US$1.8m in 2010 to develop the possibilities of integrating battery storage with solar panels.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla is chairman of SolarCity.