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What is Tesla PowerWall doing in Puerto Rico for Rebuild?

TheTalkingMule

Distributed Energy Enthusiast
Oct 20, 2012
6,363
21,835
Philadelphia, PA
It's a bit early to be talking Powerwall in PR, the streets are still chaotic and there's zero power. I can tell you that Tesla is at least rumored to be active on some of the nearby USVI who were smoked by Irma a week before Maria. Give it another week or so and I'm sure you'll hear something.

I'll be updating the USVI thread as I get confirmation of legit activities. Amazing marketing/education opportunity for Tesla Energy.
 
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Gillfoto

Wilderness Buggy
May 16, 2013
78
97
Juneau, Alaska
how many powerwalls do you believe have been installed in PR?
I have no idea; but if I was Elon Musk I might be tempted to suggest to the US Government and Puerto Rico; that a redesign of some communities infrastructure taking advantage of small modular power wall system and solar power would benefit the country and it might be cheaper.
 

realvvk

Member
Feb 8, 2017
261
216
Philadelphia
I have no idea; but if I was Elon Musk I might be tempted to suggest to the US Government and Puerto Rico; that a redesign of some communities infrastructure taking advantage of small modular power wall system and solar power would benefit the country and it might be cheaper.

Putting power lines under ground would be a good start.
 
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Gillfoto

Wilderness Buggy
May 16, 2013
78
97
Juneau, Alaska
Ok, but what about thinking outside the Box. If PowerWall Packs and a suitable number of Solar arrays were deployed to small (villages) population centers; similar to the Kauai Solar & PowerWall installation but by a reduction in scale to 10%. What about configuring a mobile 'Solar PowerWall'?
 

brkaus

Well-Known Member
Jul 8, 2014
7,633
6,162
Austin, TX
Ok, but what about thinking outside the Box. If PowerWall Packs and a suitable number of Solar arrays were deployed to small (villages) population centers; similar to the Kauai Solar & PowerWall installation but by a reduction in scale to 10%. What about configuring a mobile 'Solar PowerWall'?

Yes, lets hope some positive comes out of this natural disaster. They can rebuild for the future using the best of current/future technology.
 

commasign

TeslaAdviceBlog.com
Aug 31, 2013
3,202
4,174
Davis, CA
Beyond trying to repair the grid, a PowerPack and some solar panels would be helpful for getting hospitals and emergency services up and running at the individual building or small clusters of buildings level. Also cellular and other communications infrastructure... And... (excuse the irony).. gas stations.
 
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WillK

Member
Dec 8, 2016
121
145
Milwaukee, Wi
Wow. I hope these make a huge difference in peoples lives really soon. I'd love to see some power packs too. Any clue how many Power Walls and staff are in Puerto Rico?
I believe this is about more than PR, that Tesla really wants to make a difference.
 
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wycolo

Active Member
May 16, 2012
3,068
422
WA & WY
So the general consensus is that there will be no more MegaHurricanes until next September? So can solar arrays even withstand a Level2 hurricane (I just don't know)? What good are PowerPacks when you don't have solar arrays?

Dismay that the military could not deliver portable cell towers all over the island to provide basic phone service. Somehow I figured they had such equipment for FEMA to deploy.
--
 
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mspohr

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2014
8,978
10,392
California
This is an opportunity to rebuild the grid in PR on a solar microgrid model. The old central large fossil fuel plant and large transmission tower model obviously is a failure.
 
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mspohr

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2014
8,978
10,392
California
Found this photo in Business Insider

rtx3gl1n.jpg
 

realvvk

Member
Feb 8, 2017
261
216
Philadelphia

Thank you for the links.

Growing up in Europe, I did not see a single power outage. I also did not see a single wooden utility pole -- all were made from metal or reinforced concrete. When I lived in an area with above ground power lines in the US, every other thunderstorm would kick the power off. Now that I live in a neighborhood with underground electric, no more power outages.

It would be super easy to make underground lines cost competitive. Just introduce punitive laws that make utility companies reimburse the economic impact of constant outages, road closures to cut tree branches or repair overhead cables and so on. Money talks.
 
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