Competition in the home energy storage sector is heating up with several firms launching systems to rival the Powerwall, a second version of which has been slated for this summer despite the first one only just coming on stream.
In December, German firm Sonnen launched its ‘SonnenCommunity‘ ESS onto the US market, connecting households with battery-backed solar panels to store and use power on demand.
Korean electronics giant Samsung SDI has announced plans to develop an ESS and the firm has established a JV with the Chinese company Sungrow to penetrate the Chinese ESS market.
In the UK, home energy storage provider Powervault aims to manufacture and install 50,000 units by 2020.
And over in Hawaii, a automotive-grade 8.6kWh lithium-ion battery home energy storage system by US firm JuiceBox has been installed by Rising Sun Solar, on the island of Maui.
When Elon Musk mentioned as an aside that the second-generation Powerwall would be available come July or August, it had only been days since the first version was installed for the first time in Australia.
Tesla faces further competition in the domestic market with Australian firm Redflow announcing they are set to launch a battery for home use, with delivery pencilled in for mid-year.
Redflow’s ESS will be a zinc bromine flow battery — although it is unclear whether it will use the 8kWh ZBM flagship range.
