Dive Brief:

• Australian homebuilder Arden Homes plans to include Tesla's Powerwall energy storage system in all the new homes it builds, through a partnership with a local reseller, according to Inhabitat. 

• The Powerwall's rechargeable lithium-ion battery can be integrated with a photovoltaic system or used independently to help a home reduce grid-power consumption during peak use periods when rates are highest. The device can also store solar energy as a backup for power outages or overcast days.

• In the U.S. market, the Powerwall offers 13.5 kilowatt-hours of usable capacity, delivering 7 kilowatt-hours at peak use. Up to 10 units can be used in a single system.

Dive Insight:

Electric car maker Tesla shows no sign of stopping when it comes to innovation in renewable energy. When the Powerwall was announced in May 2015, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the $3,000 to $3,500 batteries sold out within a week, though there were still outstanding compatibility issues, Bloomberg noted, particularly with regard to its integration with rooftop solar.

In March, the company took another step toward offering a unified residential PV and storage system with the announcement that it would begin taking orders for its rooftop solar panels this month. The panels, according to the company, will be used for all future residential projects through its recently acquired installation business, SolarCity.

A number of U.S. homebuilders already offer similar technology. In July 2015, Meritage Homes said it would offer solar energy generation and storage technology, starting with a partnership with SolarCity competitor SunPower to offer PVs and storage at a selection of new homes in Hayward, CA.

In August 2016, officials in Melbourne, Australia, announced plans for the city's first solar-powered, high-rise mixed-use development. The 60-story building will be clad with solar panels that generate energy to be stored in a battery system.