Learn how Tesla batteries work for you and why they are revolutionary
The world of commercial and industrial energy storage is fundamentally different from that of residential batteries. When it comes to the commercial and industrial market, Tesla batteries for projects with or without solar power stand out. Tesla Powerpacks and Megapacks are changing the face of solar energy and batteries in Central America, especially in Costa Rica, Honduras and Colombia.
So, why should you consider investing in a Tesla battery?
Once you understand the typical strategies for a commercial battery, it will become clear why Tesla’s cutting-edge battery technology is breaking savings projections around the world.
What is the point of a battery with solar?
· Peak Shaving: The basic concept behind peak shaving is actually fairly intuitive: with on-premises energy storage, you charge your batteries when electricity rates are at their lowest (i.e. during off-peak hours or with your solar power free). Then, you use those same batteries to avoid paying peaks prices during the hours of the day when electricity is most expensive. Of particular importance is that peak shaving focuses on allowing you to avoid or reduce demand charges typical of commercial and industrial electricity rates in Central America. These types of charges based on your maximum short-term (peak) consumption are common and especially steep in Costa Rica.
· Load Shifting: This strategy focuses on deliberately changing energy consumption from one moment to the next to avoid paying high prices for energy. Moreover, this strategy is particularly useful in Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua, where the differences in the price of energy between hours of the day are very significant. In the most sophisticated solutions, the load change also takes into account solar energy or generators.
· Emergency Backup: Backup services are solutions for intermediate backup power when there is a power outage. This function can be independent or linked to solar and / or on-site generators.
· Microgrids: Create your own localized power grid that can work either connected to or disconnected (or switch!) from the main power grid.
If these topics are new to you, we recommend some helpful background reading. Check out our blog post “Are Batteries Worth It?” Which delves into these strategies. Our blog post “Seven Questions to Consider When Thinking About Solar + Batteries” can help you begin to answer whether it makes sense to invest in Tesla batteries.
Why invest in Tesla batteries along with solar panels?
· Industry leading software
· Advanced efficiency
· Superior reliability
What is a Tesla Powerpack?
Powerpack is Tesla’s modular turn-key solution for energy storage for small and medium commercial and industrial customers. Everything you will need to take advantage of energy storage comes in a stylish weatherproof case.
Cutting-edge Technology
Powerpack includes both rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and fully integrated battery inverters. Tesla has been developing integrated battery technology for more than 15 years. These inverters convert the DC electricity from the battery into AC electricity used by most products at your business.
Each Powerpack contains 16 separate battery compartments. Further, the system design and electronics configuration optimize performance throughout the system and are designed to easily change batteries in the future.
Designed for Tropical Climates
Another important feature of the Tesla Powerpack that makes it particularly suitable for the tropical climate of Costa Rica and Columbia is its exterior design. The Powerpack physical enclosure is rated outdoors for the type of harsh conditions common in Central America.
Precision Control of Internal Temperature
Tesla Powerpacks are designed to operate in an unusually high temperature range, making them excellent for the tropical heat of Central America. Tesla batteries use built-in cooling and heating to regulate battery temperature by including a unique liquid thermal management system.
A standard dual coolant and coolant circuit system, adapted from the Model S car, ensures excellent performance in all climates. This strategy has been repeatedly shown to be more efficient than air cooling.
A Totally Integrated Battery Solution
Tesla Powerpacks are fully integrated and work synergistically compared to the competition. The Tesla approach has many benefits. First of all, there is never any mismatch between components, which often happens when a solar installer brings together a solution from different brands. That generates unnecessary costs. Everything in the Powerpack is carefully sized and designed to work perfectly together and deliver the best ROI.
Who Should Invest In A Powerpack?
If your business is in Costa Rica, Colombia or Honduras, start by knowing your electricity rate. It takes expert analysis to know exactly how a host of factors will affect whether you should invest in a Powerpack, but the analysis starts with your utility rate and consumption
In our experience, a Tesla Powerpack can be a good solution for:
· Small and medium hotels
· Smal and medium commercial enterprises
· Office buildings
· Schools
· Small hospitals
· Small government buildings
· Small manufacturing facilities
· Small groups of homes that would like to collectively disconnect from the grid
What is a Tesla Megapack?
Megapack is Tesla’s great commercial and industrial solution, as well as the backbone of the company’s large-scale storage solution. Megapack is the foundation for some of the world’s largest utility-scale battery systems, such as the successful Hornsdale Australia energy storage project.
Practically speaking, the Megapack offers the same money-saving solutions and strategies to non-utility customers as the Powerpack. However, for non-utility customers, the Megapack is important because it is the definition of an economies-of-scale. Megapacks translate to better prices and more savings with batteries.
The Megapack takes turnkey to a new level. Each Megapack is fully built and delivered to the project site as a complete system. Each Megapack arrives pre-assembled and tested in its container direct from the Tesla Gigafactory.
The Megapack package includes: battery modules, bi-directional inverters, the thermal management system, a complete AC main electrical board and a system of controls. There are hardly any jobs on site.
The Simplicity Results In Savings
From an electrical systems perspective, your installer connects Megapack’s AC outlet to your site wiring.
Physically, Megapack requires 40% less space and 10 times fewer parts than competitive systems. As a result, Megapacks install 10 times faster than current systems.
Custom design your energy storage system
The traditional Megapack has been a cornerstone of Tesla’s commercial and industrial battery solutions for some time. A single Megapack has up to 3 MWh of storage capacity and a 1.5 MW inverter. Still, it is important to remember that since the Megapack is built as a complete solution at the Tesla Gigafactory, it is possible to meet specific requirements by customizing your system.
In our experience, a Tesla Megapack may make sense for:
· Large hotels and resorts, especially those interested in the benefits of Microgrids
· Large manufacturing facilities (such as medical device companies and agro-industrial manufacturers)
· Off-grid community microgrids
· Data centers and similar energy consumers
A Battery With A Brain
One of the most critical features of both Tesla products is the machine learning-driven software that forecasts and optimizes the system in real time.
Opticaster is Tesla’s smart software solution that extracts the most value and savings from energy systems using Tesla’s energy storage solutions. Opticaster can integrate energy from the grid, solar, batteries, generators and other generation sources. The smart system is also programmed with the rate structure of the utility. This is critical so that the battery’s brain knows what will save money and what will increase costs.
Adaptive, smart control
At the heart of the system is machine learning. Tesla has created a library of sophisticated algorithms that drive the complex optimal battery delivery behavior for the Opticaster. These strategies and programs are based on numerous tools from different disciplines, including classical statistics, machine learning, and numerical optimization. The library includes the functionality to perform:
· Load forecasting
· Generation forecasting
· Dispatch optimization
· Load management
Why Commercial and Industrial Battery Storage Solutions Make Sense in Today’s Market
As the number of solar panels in use increases dramatically in Central America, renewable energy will put additional pressure on the grid. The utility bill rate structure already reflects key elements that make the cost of electricity one of the highest in the world. Commercial and industrial rates that include demand charges and different energy prices during peak and off-peak hours contribute to sky-high prices.
Solar power, while absolutely critical to controlling costs and creating sustainable energy, will put even more pressure on the energy system. More expensive demand rates and extreme differences between peak and non-peak energy costs could result.
Why invest in Tesla Batteries?
The Tesla battery is a unique solution for today that is smart enough to adapt to whatever changes come its way.
Find out how Megapacks and Powerpacks are generating extraordinary savings, often in very short periods of time, and contact us to discuss Tesla battery products for your business or institution.
Learn more about how the rest of the world uses Tesla batteries:
Tesla Powerpack saved the University of Queensland nearly $ 74K in 3 months
University of Queensland Tesla battery pays for itself
Tesla Rolls Out New Megapack in Canada, Could Save Small Utility Company $ 200,000 Per Year
A new Tesla Powerpack system takes business almost completely off-grid in France