Solar Roof and Powerwall in Canada

[Tony_YYZ]

Population of China: 1.4 billion

Population of EU: 0.741 billion

Population of Canada: 0.037 billion

Hmm, what markets would you pursue?

I would very much doubt that's what they base it on. Population numbers alone are not a metric that can decide which market to enter into first. We share a border with the country where Solar/Powerwalls are manufactured. Hell, GF2 is just a short drive away from Ontario. Logistics would be much easier. For all we know, Canada will have product launches sooner than or at the same time as EU/China. We just don't know yet. Tesla hasn't stated one way or another.

 

[Vawlkus]

I want a powerwall dammit.

 

[MexiCanuck]

I would very much doubt that's what they base it on. Population numbers alone are not a metric that can decide which market to enter into first. We share a border with the country where Solar/Powerwalls are manufactured. Hell, GF2 is just a short drive away from Ontario. Logistics would be much easier. For all we know, Canada will have product launches sooner than or at the same time as EU/China. We just don't know yet. Tesla hasn't stated one way or another.

Yes, they might not have announced Canada as they might consider it part of the (North) American market.

I don't want solar panels and a PowerWall in Canada, but I would like one in Mexico. Hopefully Tesla considers Mexico to be part of the (North) American market. My house in Canada is in a rainforest and electrical service outages are infrequent... three or four times in a year. The one in Mexico has much more sunlight and short term power failures are not uncommon.

 

[Tony_YYZ]

Yes, they might not have announced Canada as they might consider it part of the (North) American market.

I don't want solar panels and a PowerWall in Canada, but I would like one in Mexico. Hopefully Tesla considers Mexico to be part of the (North) American market. My house in Canada is in a rainforest and electrical service outages are infrequent... three or four times in a year. The one in Mexico has much more sunlight and short term power failures are not uncommon.

I would like Solar in Ontario but the last time I got quoted it was very cost prohibitive. Maybe in another few years....

 

[Snowstorm]

I think there is some shady gray market importers that does business in Ontario. They import it from the US and install it for you at some markup. I had a power wall reservation for over a year now in Ontario but no one has contacted me about it. Another small loan for Tesla I guess.

 

[wayner]

As I said in the first few posts of this thread - I don't think that Power Walls make a ton of sense in Canada when you are on the grid. If you want it as a backup in case your power goes out then you are better off having a Natural Gas generator. A Power Wall is very expensive and will last only a few hours, or a day or two. Generators can last indefinitely, which is useful if an ice storm knocks out power for a week.

In terms of solar panels, it made much more sense in Ontario a few years ago when we still had the microFIT regime. The current provincial government is not that keen on subsidies for green energy.

 

[Vawlkus]

As I said in the first few posts of this thread - I don't think that Power Walls make a ton of sense in Canada when you are on the grid. If you want it as a backup in case your power goes out then you are better off having a Natural Gas generator. A Power Wall is very expensive and will last only a few hours, or a day or two. Generators can last indefinitely, which is useful if an ice storm knocks out power for a week.

In terms of solar panels, it made much more sense in Ontario a few years ago when we still had the microFIT regime. The current provincial government is not that keen on subsidies for green energy.

Unless your generator turns into a lawn ornament.

My parents had their house wired to accept a generator input, and the two times the power went out the generator wouldn’t start.

A powerwall maybe expensive, but it’s a LOT less maintenance and hassle. Add in if you add solar, you have a way to charge it if needed.

 

[wayner]

Most generators these days run off of natural gas and start up every couple of weeks to make sure that things are still working properly.

 

[Vawlkus]

Most generators these days run off of natural gas and start up every couple of weeks to make sure that things are still working properly.

I know, my parents had me look over a couple of quotes they have for a propane generator system.

I’m still not convinced they’re a better option, especially since my parents are mostly techno-phobic. Back when they had VCR’s they always had me program them.

 

[Tony_YYZ]

I know, my parents had me look over a couple of quotes they have for a propane generator system.

I’m still not convinced they’re a better option, especially since my parents are mostly techno-phobic. Back when they had VCR’s they always had me program them.

Then when the power blipped and you ask them the time, it would always be:

 

[Muaddid]

Well the electricity grid mix isn't that bad in Canada and a solar roof might not make sense financially yet between the higher latitude and snow coverage so pursuing a market where it does make financial sense makes... more sense ?

 

[phigment]

Well the electricity grid mix isn't that bad in Canada and a solar roof might not make sense financially yet between the higher latitude and snow coverage so pursuing a market where it does make financial sense makes... more sense ?

I'm a little concerned with the decommissioning of the Pickering nuclear plant in 2024. I bet they try to pick up the slack with nat gas... will make that chart a little different.

 

[Snowstorm]

Ontario’s power is mostly nuclear.
http://webroots.ca/static/ontarioelectricity/ontarioelectricity.html

 

[Vawlkus]

Then when the power blipped and you ask them the time, it would always be:

Don’t remind me. I’d have to reprogram every clock in the house because they couldn’t figure them out.

 

[wayner]

I don't know where we are on solar roofs in Canada but a lot of folks in the US seem to see the price going up substantially. See this thread on TMC: Solar Roof, big price increase