What’s the difference between Tesla Powerwall 3 and Powerwall 2?

Tesla Powerwall 3 was released in the UK in June 2024 – how does it compare to the Powerwall 2?

While the Powerwall 3 has some cool new features, the Powerwall 2 model still has plenty to offer. Read our head-to-head comparison guide for everything you need to know.

First things first – what is the Tesla Powerwall?

The Powerwall – manufactured by Tesla in the USA – is Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) based battery storage, aimed at home-owners and businesses.

Powerwall 1 came out in 2015, Powerwall 2 in 2020, and now the latest Powerwall 3 was launched in the UK in 2024.

Its main use case is to store surplus solar electricity for later use. Solar panel systems usually generate more electricity than you can use at any given moment. Rather than allow this excess electricity to escape to the grid, you can store it in a Powerwall. The Powerwall will then discharge this stored solar electricity automatically when you need it.

Powerwalls can be installed either in residential or corporate / industrial settings. For larger power users, Powerwalls can be stacked to increase storage capacity. See our main Tesla Powerwall 3 page for more details.

Tesla Powerwall availability in the UK

There were two versions of the Powerwall available in the UK in summer 2024, each with its own specific characteristics. Here is the current availability for both models:

MODEL	CAN BE ORDERED NOW?	EARLIEST INSTALLATION
Powerwall 3	Yes	Contact Us
Powerwall 2	No (discontinued)	N/A

The Powerwall 3 is now being shipped to the UK on a regular basis and available to be installed.

As an officially-certified Tesla Powerwall Premium Installer for 2025, we have excellent access to Powerwall 3 stock. Contact us now on 0800 909 8882 for an installation date.

We also have healthy stocks of the Powerwall Expansion packs, enabling you to increase the 13.5 kWh standard storage capacity at much lower cost.

Check out the comparison table below for further details.

Tesla Powerwall 3 vs Powerwall 2

There are differences between the Powerwall 3 and 2, but they also have many features in common. Here we highlight the key differences and add some explanatory notes:

COMPARISON	POWERWALL 3	POWERWALL 2	NOTES
Storage capacity	13.5 kWh	13.5 kWh	Identical
Warranty	10 years	10 years	Identical
Operating temperature	-20°C to 50°C	-20°C to 50°C	Identical
Environment	Indoor and outdoor rated	Indoor and outdoor rated	Identical
Mounting options	Floor or wall mount	Floor or wall mount	Identical
Scalability	Up to 4 units	Up to 10 units	PW2 has more expansion options
Power output (max)	11.04 kW	5 kW	PW3 has greater power output
Emergency power	Yes	Yes	PW3 can power more devices in a power-cut
Integrated solar inverter	Yes	No	Pros and cons of both – see below
Coupling	DC and AC	AC only	PW3 has more options
Dimensions	1,099 x 609 x 193 mm	1,150 x 753 x 147 mm	PW2 has a slightly smaller overall volume
Weight	130 kg	114 kg	PW2 is lighter

In practical terms, the main difference between the two models is the Powerwall 3’s higher power output. This means you can have more devices powered by the battery storage simultaneously. In reality, though, the 5 kW output of the Powerwall 2 is still very high and will be fine for most circumstances.

Powerwall 3 and Powerwall 2 difference with solar panels

Solar & Battery Combined

The more interesting comparison between Powerwall 3 and 2 is how you connect them up to your solar panels.

With a Powerwall 3 and its integrated solar inverter, you don’t need to buy a separate inverter for your solar panel system. This will save you some money. The inverter has three ‘MPPTs’ which means it has some shade mitigation technology built in, in case you have regular shading from a nearby tree or chimney.

However, if you need more comprehensive shade mitigation and/or you are a bit geeky and like advanced panel-level monitoring, then we would normally recommend either

SolarEdge power optimisers and inverter, or
Enphase micro-inverters with SunPower panels.

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Summary

Both the Powerwall 3 and 2 represent excellent quality battery storage, backed up by the industry-leading Tesla 10-year warranty. The peace of mind from a rock-solid warranty issued by an incredibly strong company shouldn’t be underestimated.

If you’re getting solar panels installed, the Powerwall 3 allows you to save money by not having to purchase a separate solar inverter. It means your solar and battery system will have fewer parts and warranties to keep an eye on.

Something else to consider: there’s a new battery storage kid on the block now in the form of the Sigenergy SigenStor. It has a lot in common with the Powerwall 3 – read our comprehensive comparison guide of the Sigenergy SigenStor and the Tesla Powerwall 3.