Latest news with #TeslaPowerwalls
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
State officials announce new plan to turn everyday cars into power sources: 'It could be serving huge loads across the grid'
Massachusetts is recruiting volunteers for a pilot program that turns electric vehicles into grid-supporting mobile powerhouses. It's called vehicle-to-everything, or V2X, an innovative plan that has been tried elsewhere with mixed success, according to Canary Media. But New England officials are hopeful they can learn enough from a trial run to prove the concept is viable to provide sustainable grid power. It's part of a clean energy plan through 2050 outlined by state officials. One goal is for Massachusetts to have 900,000 EVs on travel lanes by the end of the decade, according to Canary. Program leaders see untapped potential in the cars' power packs. "That could be a really important piece as we seek to get to net zero by 2050. It still requires a whole lot of infrastructure, and it's complicated for the utilities. But in the future, it could be serving huge loads across the grid," Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Elijah Sinclair told the site. Sinclair is the center's transportation manager. It's using $6 million to provide and install up to 100 bi-drectional chargers, the two-way devices needed to both charge and provide electricity. Schools, businesses, and individuals are invited, all per Canary and the center. The report added that some V2X attempts floundered because of high costs and complexity. The system needs willing utilities to pay the participants for the power they provide. That part isn't unheard of, as virtual power plants leverage household batteries, including Tesla Powerwalls, for grid-supporting electricity. A VPP network in Southern California supplied enough juice last year when needed to prevent dirty fuel-burning support, Tesla Energy posted on X, formerly Twitter. Electrek reported that participants typically earn between $10 and $60 per "event." For V2X to be successful, EV owners will at some point have to take on the approximately $5,000 to $10,000 cost that Canary listed for the special chargers. It's a big hurdle the team in Massachusetts hopes to learn how to solve during the demo. "What went well, what did not go well, and what should be considered in moving these programs to a more mature scale," Kelly Helfrich of Resource Innovations said. The company works on clean energy projects and is co-leading the V2X effort. Battery-stored electricity, especially when renewably generated, can help to break a worrisome cycle. Burning fossil fuels to make energy is contributing to our heat-trapping air pollution burden, which NASA has linked to increased risks for severe weather. Those extreme storms are knocking out power lines, creating blackouts and grid strain. V2X efforts have been successful in Europe. Stateside, programs that use mostly idle electric school buses have shown promise. But ones in California and Baltimore have had mixed results. Another New England project works like a VPP — and also rewards EV owners for not charging during peak demand hours, all per Canary. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In Massachusetts, officials plan to finish the V2X project in December 2026. The program page lists the Ford Lightning and Nissan Leaf as eligible vehicles, with more options for commercial participants. Federal tax rebates remain to help offset EV purchases, in addition to the $1,500 you can save in gas and maintenance costs when switching. It's part of a cleaner transportation strategy that can include walking and public options, regardless where you live. In New England, V2X organizers need to develop a simple payment structure for participants who supply power, among other confirmations, organizers said. The key is to "safely and reliably connect with the grid in a way that's reasonably low-cost and reliable and fast," Vehicle-Grid Integration Council Executive Director Zach Woogen said, per Canary. His group represents EV and charging makers and works with utilities across the country. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This cutting-edge appliance can power your home during blackouts — and it qualifies for massive government incentives
Cutting-edge energy storage tech from New York's BioLite is helping to alleviate a problem for anyone who doesn't like spoiled food — or sitting around in the dark. Since those qualifiers likely include mostly everyone, the company's home-based batteries should be well-received news, especially given the deluge of utility line-dropping extreme weather events being endured, causing more blackouts. If household power is out for hours, the damage could far exceed sour milk. There are 8.4 million Americans with diabetes who need costly refrigerated insulin to live, according to the American Diabetes Association. Other essentials, like phones, internet, and basic home functions, can be lost with the lights as well. BioLite's ingenious solution can be installed in about a half-hour. Its automatic battery system can be targeted to power appliances in your home that you can't afford to lose, like a vital basement sump pump that is keeping rising water at bay. Amazingly, it charges by being plugged into a standard wall outlet. Appliances are plugged into the long, thin, laptop-sized battery. They run off the grid supply — bypassing the battery — until the power drops. Then, the battery takes over, lasting for 30-60 hours, all according to BioLite marketing vice president Erica Rosen, who talked with The Cool Down about the invention. "If you can install a flat-screen TV, you can install this, no problem," Rosen said. BioLite costs around $2,100 after applicable, budget-saving 30% tax breaks. Other types of large generators can cost thousands more and often burn planet-warming dirty fuels. Tesla Powerwalls are another option, storing power from the grid or from solar panels. CNET reported that Powerwall 3 runs about $14,000 before incentives. Certain electric vehicles are also turning into blackout saviors. The Ford Lightning and Chevy electric Silverado are both built to power homes during emergencies. You can expect to pay $60,000 and higher for the rides, minus applicable tax breaks. BioLite's lower-cost option can keep core parts of the home up and running during ever-increasing and worsening storms. Yale Climate Connections reported that the number of calamities causing at least a billion dollars in damage is increasing each year, reaching 28 in 2023. The inflation-adjusted calculation set a record dating to 1980. Do you have a backup power source in your home? Yes — a portable generator Yes — a full-on generator I use solar panels No — I don't Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Worse yet, the Verge reported that there have been 60% more weather-related blackouts in warmer months during the last 10 years compared to the 2000s. Supercharged storms and a strained grid are the culprits, with Earth's overheating causing increased risks for the extreme weather, per NASA. Battery backups can help you mitigate the damage should your power go out. Using less electricity to begin with can also ease grid strain and reduce air pollution. It starts by unplugging so-called energy vampires at night. The unused chargers and devices can suck up loads of juice, also increasing your power bill. Better yet for BioLite's part, you won't notice the tech until it's time to use it. It's thin enough to install behind the fridge or other furniture. "Out of sight, peace of mind," per the company website. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This innovative company offers solar and home battery 'subscriptions' to eliminate high upfront costs: 'A super easy, low-friction way to get a lot of amazing technology'
What if getting state-of-the-art solar panels and home battery storage could be as easy as leasing a car? That's the goal of Sunrun, the largest developer of home solar in the U.S. with over one million customers, which offers solar panels and energy storage as a subscription service to customers who want to lower their power bills and increase their home's energy resilience against extreme weather. Installing solar panels is one of the best ways to cut down on your home's energy bills and environmental impact, but the high upfront costs often put this opportunity out of reach for many Americans who can't yet afford the investment, even with recent tax incentives. Sunrun's solution offers all the benefits of solar and backup power but without the hefty price tag of buying a whole system outright. "We want energy independence. We want control. We want the feeling of being in charge of our own home and our own life and our pocketbook," said Sunrun CEO Mary Powell, who was recently named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential Leaders in Climate. With Sunrun's subscription model, customers "can get all this modern technology in your home. You can get solar, can get storage, you can get an EV charger," Powell told us. "It's a super easy, low-friction way to get a lot of amazing technology." In an exclusive conversation with The Cool Down, Powell walks us through how customers can take advantage of Sunrun's clean energy solutions right now — to save money, be prepared for outages and disasters, and even make money by sending power back to the grid. Powell went solar in her own home 14 years ago "the old-fashioned way," as she put it, "where you had to either get a loan or you just had to come up with cash." But nowadays, Sunrun offers solar and energy storage as a "clean energy subscription service." That means homeowners can get access to high-tech solar panels, Tesla Powerwalls and other powerful battery storage, plus EV chargers, SPAN smart electrical panels, and more — "you can get all this modern technology in your home … and it's all wrapped into one easy monthly payment with no money down," said Powell. "Then you're going to see savings that offset that payment, and I think that's the big thing that will really accelerate the tipping point" toward a clean energy revolution, she said. Bundling home energy upgrades into a subscription payment turns a large financial decision (solar installation costs between $17,900 and $23,600 after Inflation Reduction Act savings, on average) into what Sunrun's team says is a manageable monthly solution. The company's "clean energy subscription" also includes free maintenance and repairs, 24/7 system monitoring, as well as a 25-year equipment warranty. However, only homeowners who purchase their solar systems outright will directly receive money from the available federal and local governmental incentives. While every home is unique, Sunrun reports that its customers have saved over $1.3 billion since 2007, and in many instances, customers have saved up to double-digit figures on utility bills compared to traditional energy costs. Customers are also able to purchase their solar setup outright through Sunrun, in which case all energy savings go straight into their pocket — it's just a matter of figuring out your "break even" point when those energy savings fully offset the larger upfront solar installation costs. However, the company is seeing a clear preference for its subscription-based solar solutions. In the third quarter of 2024, for example, 95% of new customers opted for the subscription model over outright purchasing, according to the company. Either way, finding the best solar plus storage setup for your home will be increasingly important as utility bills are expected to rise nationwide due to factors like inflation and extreme weather. "The scary thing is, for so many consumers in so much of the country, it's not 'Is … the cost of energy from my utility [going to go up?],' it's 'how much.' In California, where I live now … it's been double-digit increases," Powell told us of electrical bill prices from the grid. "There isn't a solution on the horizon for consumers except what we provide, which is what I think what Americans want in so many parts of our lives." With solar panels on the roof and energy storage to boot, homeowners can get peace of mind that the lights will stay on and the fridge will keep running during blackouts caused by increasing demand on the grid and extreme weather events. "There's so many stories that, in a really devastating situation, warm your heart of how these [solar and backup power] systems have been life-saving for people … helping them also create a hub of support that helps their community," Powell told us. After Hurricane Beryl in summer 2024, stories poured in of "customers who share[d] with us not just their own sense of safety and security in their home, but their acts of kindness." For example, one of Sunrun's regional sales managers who had installed solar panels and a Powerwall backup battery still had electricity during the Category 1 hurricane in Texas that wiped out power to two million homeowners. Using an extension cord, he linked his neighbors up to his solar system and kept appliances running in two adjacent houses. Since introducing battery storage to its product lineup, Sunrun says it has provided customers with over 2.8 million hours of backup power during 659,000 grid outage events. How often do you get paid just to park your car in the driveway? In 2024, a few Sunrun customers in Maryland got to find out by agreeing to send power from their Ford F-150 Lightnings to back up the electrical grid using the electric pickup's bi-directional charging capabilities. "We are leading the charge on these ways to help monetize these systems that then bring even more value to customers," Powell said. For that pilot program in Maryland, "one consumer in particular … he ended up making $1,500 utilizing his F-150 to export back to the grid." In California, Sunrun has been offering customers the opportunity to sell their solar energy back to the grid through programs like the Peak Power Rewards. If you were to install home solar panels, which of these factors would be your primary motivation? Energy independence Lower power bills Helping the planet No chance I ever go solar Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "One of my favorite things is in California … we had 8,000 customers that were sent a note saying, 'Hey, would you like us to utilize your system over this summer to help support the California grid? It will have no impact on you or your reliability of your system at home. But if you want to participate, you'll get $750,'" Powell told us. "What else can we buy as consumers that has the opportunity to suddenly drop money in our lap?" she said. Sunrun has over one million customers and is responsible for a fifth of all home solar systems installed in the U.S. — whereas, Powell, told us "the average utility has 650,000 customers." She credits Sunrun's mass appeal to the fact that, she says, "At the end of the day, consumers want energy independence. They want reliable energy. They want an affordable future." "Residential solar has pulled across political lines with some of the highest favorability for over a decade," Powell said. "At the end of the day, while administration changes happen and policy changes at the state levels happen, customers want what we provide." "I definitely think [the chance of] a repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act … is very low," Powell told us. "I really see a lot of continued support for residential solar … even in Florida … with Governor DeSantis, he vetoed a bill that the utilities were trying to get through that would have harmed customers who wanted to go solar. And why did he do that? He did that because consumers, voters want solar and they want storage, and they want the ability to control their own future around energy. "At the end of the day, that is going to be the strongest force that's going to continue to drive progress at a main street level as well as at a political level." "I truly believe that … we're going to hit this tipping point," Powell said. "Utilities are going to hit the wall … they can't build stuff fast enough … with AI demand happening, with electrification of society happening … and they're going to be forced by regulators or forced by their own need to really embrace distributed resources [like residential solar and energy storage] even more." "That is going to have a flywheel effect that could be really profound for society," she said. "And [that] gets me really excited." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
