Tesla technology is now being used in residential homes. Yes, you heard that right. Tesla Energy, a branch of Tesla Inc., has partnered with Brookfield Asset Management and Dacra to build a sustainable community.
Homes in Easton Park, located in southeast Austin, will feature Tesla V3 solar roof tiles and Powerwall 2 battery storage. In addition to Tesla products, Brookfield will also install electric vehicle charging stations at each home and throughout the neighborhood, according to a news release.
This is Tesla Energy’s first solar neighborhood and the nation’s most sustainable residential community, according to the release. Construction on several homes is already underway.
“Neighborhood solar installations across all housing types will reshape how people live,” Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, said in a statement. “The feedback we get from the solar and battery products used in this community will impact how we develop and launch new products.”
Tesla will oversee the homes’ energy systems and Brookfield will incorporate a community-wide solar program to serve the broader community and surrounding neighborhoods. These homes are anticipated to produce enough energy for daily needs, and residents may be compensated for returning excess power to the energy grid.
The goal of the community is to establish an “energy-neutral, sustainable community” that can be mimicked for large-scale housing projects around the world.
“As consumers increasingly seek out energy security alongside sustainable places to live, combining Tesla’s solar technology together with Brookfield’s real estate and renewables development capabilities will help us meet demand for environmentally responsible communities of the future,” Brian Kingston, CEO of Brookfield’s Real Estate business, said in a statement.
Brookfield, Tesla and Dacra are also working to add transportation and energy solutions to the neighborhood.
Tesla’s partnership with this community comes as Musk testifies before court about purchasing SolarCity Corp. in 2016. SolarCity shareholders allege that Musk was involved and helped set the price for the sale of the energy company. Musk was chairman of both Tesla and SolarCity at the time of purchase.
