The race to put a battery in every basement has begun.
Oakland solar company Sungevity said Wednesday that it will offer its customers a home battery system to store electricity from their rooftop solar arrays. Germany’s Sonnenbatterie will supply the batteries.
The move comes one day before Tesla Motors is expected to unveil its long-awaited home battery, an outgrowth of the company’s primary business of building electric cars. Solar leasing company SolarCity has already used Tesla battery packs to store electricity for a handful of California homeowners in a pilot project that analysts say could grow into a significant business.
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For many solar enthusiasts, home batteries have become a holy grail, potentially enabling homeowners and businesses to rely on power from the sun even at night. Battery prices have finally fallen enough to make that vision a reality, said Peter Graf, Sungevity’s chief product officer.
Batteries also offer the ability to supply power after an earthquake, hurricane or other emergency knocks out the electrical grid, even for homes without solar arrays.
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“It’s truly a significant event in that it delivers what people are waiting for — more independence from the utility and more resilience during blackouts,” Graf said. “This is fulfilling the solar revolution.”
He said Sungevity welcomed Tesla’s entry into the race, calling the Palo Alto automaker “a fabulous company.” But Graf said the timing of Wednesday’s announcement has less to do with scooping Tesla than with responding to Sungevity’s customers, who have been pressing the company to offer energy storage along with solar panels.
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“We’re making this announcement not so much for the press but for our customers,” Graf said. “They’ve been asking for this.”
While Sungevity and Sonnenbatterie announced their partnership Wednesday, some of the key details have yet to be decided. The two companies have not yet said how much the home battery system will cost.
Graf said the companies are also discussing whether to sell the systems, lease them or both. But Sungevity said it plans to start offering the batteries — along with energy-management software for the home — during the second half of this year.
David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
