More Australian Tesla Powerwall re-sellers named, including CSR

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• Here we go again , everyone is racing to the bottom , it's a race to be the cheapest and from past experience most poorly installed systems. Once again, retailers subcontracted out to installers that get paid next to nothing to put in and supply the Balance of system components. I'm sure Installers will be lining up to install monitored Fronius and SolarEdge systems, with Powerwalls connected that require communications for rock bottom prices , having to return time and time again because the communications don't work, or the system is not doing what it's supposed to. Lets also let the market explode with poorly installed systems before the standards are inplace also , thats always a good outcome.
  The real outcome of all of this , is that the installers won't return to site, the customers left holding the bag, and then the battery Storage Industry fails before it really gets a chance to flourish. Maybe this is the retailers and utilities End game , destroy battery storage by being in direct control of it's rollout.

• The most highly anticipated product I can think of for a long while, and everybody's already trying to be the cheapest. Yeah this is going to go well.

• I share your misgivings especially around all the hype. What many in the industry are unaware of is that stationary lithium batteries for the domestic market enter into a standards vacuum. Appropriate standards around Lithium are in the discussion process. There is not that much experience around the level of danger and risks with this storage technology. It is not hard to imagine standards being applied retrospectively insisting on fire proof and explosion proof battery compartments with smoke or gas detectors.

• Requirements, such as explosive-proof housings, do exist in Australia, but are often ignored or worked around.
  The same occurs elswhere, because the cost of meeting the rules to the letter, is very expensive. I don't know how these problems may be resolved, but it is indeed a risk. Insurers have yet to say where they stand.

• Australian prices leave Americans slack jawed with envy. A 5 kw Pv system installed alone in the US is about $3.50 watt so $17,500 US dollars or $22,750 Aus. You are having the battery thrown in for $15,000 Aus which is $11,250 US!!! Don't look a gift horse in the mouth my friends. Get on with leading the world.

• Not sure what story you were reading , but I read a 5KW solar system with a Powerwall Battery installed for $14990 , that means the solar is <$5,000 for a 3-phase hybrid Solar system installed. Fronius and Solar Edge aren't cheap inverters , the panels aside , solar Edge requires optimizers or optimized panels.
  Under $5,000 for the Solar is ROCK bottom quality. A quality 3-phase 5kw Solar system should be minimum $10K on it's own.
  The Clean Energy Council handbook list the price range for a 5kw system is $7,000 to $11,500 & that is single phase , not optimized, not battery ready , not Hybrid. You can't lead the World , by racing to the bottom.

• Well, you may have a point. Are you saying that for that price, the panels have to be trashy? I do notice that the Solar choice site gives cost of installation of 5 - 10 kw pv total at about $1.65 watt Aus. So the leftover for the battery in that case on a $15,000 system is $1.35, right? $6750 for the battery and install added to the 5 kwh system actually sounds a little on the high side for the battery. The US cost is $3000 US plus $500 installation without inverter which should be a part of the PV system calculation. That would be $4550 Australian. If that were the case it would be $4550 for the battery and $10,450 for the rest of the system including solaredge inverter. That sounds in line with Australian prices, doesn't it? Certainly Americans would salivate for that price.

• No because no one is making any money. If cost price is what you think sustains an industry , then the industry will fail. Also I read that the power wall is <$10,000 in Australia not the $4500 you mention, under $10k installed from CSR just for the powerwall will be $9999 no solar again your figures are way of the mark.
  Plus $500 for install , that's 2 guys onsite for 2 hours to be making any money out of it. 2 hours isn't long to install , mount it on the wall , setup software & communications give the customer a run through etc, etc.
  sounds like a loss leader to me , and the retailer locks you into a 10 to 15 year contract , that's not good for the customer the industry or the installers.
  Wait and see but nothing good can come of trying to be the cheapest , something has to suffer , usually its the end customer

• No, the figure of $3000 for the 7 kwh powerwall is the cost to the customer in the U.S. not the retailer. The installation cost is approx. $400-500 U.S. dollars. That is straight from the mouth of Elon Musk at the Tesla shareholders meeting. All on video. He made that clear because of the incredible incapacity of anybody to get the price straight in the mainstream press. Then there is the issue of including the price of the inverter with the battery. That is ridiculous, the inverter is not bundled with the battery. These items must be priced separately to have a hope of comparing batteries to batteries. The inverter is usually priced into the solar package installed. Now the fact that a 480Volt inverter is required needs to be considered, but for a new installation that is no problem. Several designated high quality manufactures had pre arranged to have compatible inverters including Solaredge and Fronius.
  I am sure that you are right in your assertion that installers need to make money...of course they do. They are not charities. But apparently the math works out somehow, why would they set unworkable prices?

• Does the US$3000 battery exist? I understand that price is 'wholesale' and not available as a separate item. The often-quoted figure, including inverter and installation, is US$7000.
  Currency conversion and 10% tax (GST), produces AU$10,900. Similarily, the battery can't be purchased separately, but only as part of a solar package.
  The possibility of Battery+Inverter+installation, is said to be between AU$9000 - 11,000.
  The recently-announced first Australian customer, placed and order via the internet when the US$3000 Powerwall was offered last May. Local reseller, Natural Solar, added a Solaredge inverter, and 5kWp panels. Price not given.
  However;
  "Williams said Natural Solar will be offering a full solution of 20 x 250 watt solar panels, an inverter, and Powerwall installed for about $15,000."