The Off Grid Farm: Our Tesla Recharged Year in Review
As we close out our fourth year living off-grid with Tesla Powerwalls, it’s amazing to look back at the incredible strides we’ve made in sustainable living. With Tesla’s Recharged Year in Review feature, we’ve gained valuable insights into our energy usage and the impact of our solar-powered system on The Off Grid Farm. Here’s what we learned:
Key Metrics from Our Tesla Recharged Report
100% Self-Powered Living
This year, we achieved a remarkable milestone: our farm was self-powered 100% of the time. With 11.3 MW of solar power generated and 6.1 MW stored in our three Powerwalls, we managed to rely exclusively on renewable energy for all of our needs. This included:
8188 hours of operation entirely on Powerwalls.
Supplementing the remaining time with our Hyundai Ioniq5’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature using a manual transfer switch.
A Solar Offset of 106%
Our solar panels didn’t just meet our energy needs; they exceeded them. The 106% solar offset ensured that we generated more energy than we consumed, feeding surplus power back into the grid and helping to reduce overall demand on traditional energy sources.
Financial Savings
The Tesla app reported that we saved $1100 this year. While that’s a substantial figure, it seems conservative when compared to our actual usage. For instance, during the cold winter months, our electric heating alone could have easily cost us $1000+ per month if we were fully reliant on grid power. The true savings of living off-grid are likely much greater than what’s reflected in the app.
The Power of Storage and Generation
Solar Power Generation: 11.3 MW of power produced by our solar panels.
Energy Storage: 6.1 MW stored in our three Powerwalls, ensuring we always had power when needed.
This reliable storage capacity allowed us to power our home even during the darkest, coldest days of winter without ever needing to connect to the grid. The V2L feature of our Hyundai Ioniq5 provided a valuable backup system, making the entire setup robust and versatile.
Reflections on Our Fourth Year Off-Grid
This year marked our fourth year living with Tesla Powerwalls and off-grid technology, and it has been our most efficient year yet. The combination of Tesla’s tools and our carefully designed solar system has made it possible to live comfortably, sustainably, and self-sufficiently.
What stands out most is how far the technology has come in making off-grid living accessible and practical. The ability to generate, store, and utilize energy efficiently has not only reduced our environmental impact but also strengthened our resilience to power outages and other disruptions.
Looking Ahead
We’re proud to be among the top 1% of Tesla Powerwall users for energy usage and self-powering, but the journey doesn’t stop here. As we continue to refine and optimize our system, we hope to inspire others to explore sustainable living options that fit their lifestyle.
If you’re considering going off-grid or curious about Tesla Powerwalls and renewable energy, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to share our experiences and help others take their first steps toward a greener future.
Thank you for joining us on this journey! Here’s to another year of innovation, resilience, and sustainable living at The Off Grid Farm.