Energy
Tesla pushes battery improvements amid renewable energy’s attack on coal
In the spirit of constant innovation, Tesla’s batteries and energy storage products continue to see improvements over time. From improving energy density to more efficiencies in manufacturing, Tesla’s energy products are evolving just as fast as the company’s electric cars. Such improvements were teased by Tesla President of Automotive Jerome Guillen. In a recent interview with CNBC, Guillen remarked that the company’s batteries are always dynamic, and are in a constant process of improvement.
“We are improving the design of the cell. The design of the cell is not frozen. It evolves, and we have a nice roadmap of technology improvements for the coming years,” Guillen said.
Tesla’s upcoming ramp of its energy products is coming at the perfect time. Amidst Tesla’s push to increase the production of its energy products, as well as the company’s efforts to achieve $100 per kWh in battery cell costs, the renewable energy market itself is also making huge strides.
The results of a recent analysis from research firm Lazard has revealed that wind and solar energy costs in the United States have finally reached a point where they are becoming more and more competitive with traditional power sources, such as those derived from coal. And that’s without tax subsidies. With subsidies in the picture, the cost advantages of renewable energy over coal are even more notable.
Lazard’s levelized cost of energy (LCOE) analysis concluded that US onshore wind energy costs now average between $26/MWh and $56/MWh without subsidies. Solar energy, on the other hand, averages around $36/MWh and $44/MWh with no subsidies involved. In comparison, the average cost of US existing coal plants is between $27/MWh and $45/MWh.
With such competitive costs, renewable energy is currently challenging coal generation. And the movement is spreading — in the Upper Midwest, Xcel Energy’s utilities have revealed plans to retire about 50% of their coal-fired capacity in the coming years. To replace these facilities, Xcel is looking to wind energy. In a statement to Utility Drive, Xcel CEO Ben Fowke stated that the lowering price of sustainable energy is a large factor for the company’s push towards wind power.
“We’re looking at [wind energy prices] in the low teens to low 20s [in dollars/MWh] — not starting prices, but levelized across the 25-year life of the project. That beats gas, even at today’s prices,” he said.
Considering that wind and solar power are not ever-present, though, the key to a shift to sustainability lies in solutions such as industry-grade battery storage systems, which are capable of storing and distributing energy. This is where Tesla Energy comes in. In a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle back in September, Tesla CTO JB Straubel noted that grid-scale battery solutions such as Tesla’s Powerpacks, which are easily scaled and are reliable, are starting to become an ideal alternative to fossil fuel-powered solutions.
“I think what we’ll see is we won’t build many new peaker plants, if any. Already what we’re seeing happening is the number of new ones being commissioned is drastically lower, and batteries are already outcompeting natural gas peaker plants,” Straubel said.
Such changes are becoming more notable in the United States. Just recently, the state of California announced that it had approved PG&E’s proposal to build a record-breaking 2.2 GWh battery storage project to replace three gas-powered plants. In South Dakota, BP plc has also installed a Tesla battery storage system in at one of its wind energy farms. While BP’s 212 KW/840 kWh battery storage system is not as large-scale as the recently announced CA project, the company has noted that the installation could be expanded in the future.
Wood Mackenzie, a research firm, estimates that the world’s shift from fossil fuels to renewables could happen as early as 2035. At this time, the company expects electric cars, wind power, and solar power to be more prevalent than gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, as well as fossil fuel-based electricity. Wood Mackenzie notes that the shift towards renewables will hit a tipping point when EVs and clean energy solutions achieve a 20% market share. With this in mind, Tesla’s ramp of its energy business could not come faster.
Energy
Tesla launches first Virtual Power Plant in UK – get paid to use solar
Tesla has launched its first-ever Virtual Power Plant program in the United Kingdom.
Tesla has launched its first-ever Virtual Power Plant program in the United Kingdom. This feature enables users of solar panels and energy storage systems to sell their excess energy back to the grid.
Tesla is utilizing Octopus Energy, a British renewable energy company that operates in multiple markets, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States, as the provider for the VPP launch in the region.
The company states that those who enroll in the program can earn up to £300 per month.
Tesla has operated several VPP programs worldwide, most notably in California, Texas, Connecticut, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. This is not the first time Tesla has operated a VPP outside the United States, as there are programs in Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.
This is its first in the UK:
Our first VPP in the UK
You can get paid to share your energy – store excess energy in your Powerwall & sell it back to the grid
You’re making £££ and the community is powered by clean energy
Win-win pic.twitter.com/evhMtJpgy1
— Tesla UK (@tesla_uk) July 17, 2025
Tesla is not the only company that is working with Octopus Energy in the UK for the VPP, as it joins SolarEdge, GivEnergy, and Enphase as other companies that utilize the Octopus platform for their project operations.
It has been six years since Tesla launched its first VPP, as it started its first in Australia back in 2019. In 2024, Tesla paid out over $10 million to those participating in the program.
Participating in the VPP program that Tesla offers not only provides enrolled individuals with the opportunity to earn money, but it also contributes to grid stabilization by supporting local energy grids.
Energy
Tesla Lathrop Megafactory celebrates massive Megapack battery milestone
The Tesla Megapack is the backbone of Tesla Energy’s battery deployments.
The Tesla Lathrop Megafactory recently achieved a new milestone. As per the official Tesla Megapack account on X, the Lathrop Megafactory has produced its 15,000th Megapack 2 XL battery.
15,000 Megapack Batteries
Tesla celebrated the milestone with a photo of the Lathrop Megafactory team posing with a freshly produced Megapack battery. To commemorate the event, the team held balloons that spelled out “15,000” as they posed for the photo.
The Tesla Megapack is the backbone of Tesla Energy’s battery deployments. Designed for grid-scale applications, each Megapack offers 3.9 MWh of energy and 1.9 MW of power. The battery is extremely scalable, making it perfect for massive energy storage projects.
More Megafactories
The Lathrop Megafactory is Tesla’s first dedicated facility for its flagship battery storage system. It currently stands as the largest utility-scale battery factory in North America. The facility is capable of producing 10,000 Megapack batteries every year, equal to 40 GWh of clean energy storage.
Thanks to the success of the Megapack, Tesla has expanded its energy business by building and launching the Shanghai Megafactory, which is also expected to produce 40 GWh of energy storage per year. The ramp of the Shanghai Megafactory is quite impressive, with Tesla noting in its Q1 2025 Update Letter that the Shanghai Megafactory managed to produce over 100 Megapack batteries in the first quarter alone.
Tesla Energy’s Potential
During the first quarter earnings call, CEO Elon Musk stated that the Megapack is extremely valuable to the energy industry.
“The Megapack enables utility companies to output far more total energy than would otherwise be the case… This is a massive unlock on total energy output of any given grid over the course of a year. And utility companies are beginning to realize this and are buying in our Megapacks at scale,” Musk said.
Energy
Tesla Megapacks powers the xAI Colossus supercomputer
Tesla Megapacks step in to stabilize xAI’s Colossus supercomputer, replacing natural gas turbines. Musk’s ventures keep intertwining.
Tesla Megapack batteries will power the xAI Colossus supercomputer in Memphis to ensure power stability. The collaboration between Tesla and xAI highlights the synergy among Elon Musk’s ventures.
The artificial intelligence startup has integrated Tesla Megapacks to manage outages and demand surges, bolstering the facility’s reliability. The Greater Memphis Chamber announced that Colossus, recently connected to a new 150-megawatt electric substation, is completing its first construction phase. This transition addresses criticism from environmental justice groups over the initial use of natural gas turbines.
“The temporary natural gas turbines that were being used to power the Phase I GPUs prior to grid connection are now being demobilized and will be removed from the site over the next two months.
“About half of the operating turbines will remain operating to power Phase II GPUs of xAI until a second substation (#22) already in construction is completed and connected to the electric grid, which is planned for the Fall of 2025, at which time the remaining turbines will be relegated to a backup power role,” the Chamber stated.
xAI’s rapid development of Colossus reflects its ambition to advance AI capabilities, but the project has faced scrutiny for environmental impacts. The shift to Megapacks and grid power aims to mitigate these concerns while ensuring operational continuity.
The Megapack deployment underscores the collaboration among Musk’s companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. Tesla appears to be the common link between all of Musk’s companies. For example, The Boring Company built a tunnel in Giga, Texas. In addition, Musk has hinted at a potential collaboration between the Tesla Optimus Bot and Neuralink. And from January 2024 to February 2025, xAI invested $230 million in Megapacks, per a Tesla filing.
Tesla Energy reported a 156% year-over-year increase in Q1 2025, deploying 10.4 GWh of storage products, including Megapacks and Powerwalls. Tesla’s plans for a new Megapack factory in Waller County, Texas, which is expected to create 1,500 jobs in the area, further signal its commitment to scaling energy solutions.
As xAI leverages Tesla’s Megapacks to power Colossus, the integration showcases Musk’s interconnected business ecosystem. The supercomputer’s enhanced stability positions xAI to drive AI innovation, while Tesla’s energy solutions gain prominence, setting the stage for broader technological and economic impacts.
Tesla rolling out Robotaxi pilot in SF Bay Area this weekend: report
Tesla is ready with a perfect counter to the end of US EV tax credits
Elon Musk reveals Tesla’s next Robotaxi expansion in more ways than one
-
Elon Musk1 week agoWaymo responds to Tesla’s Robotaxi expansion in Austin with bold statement
-
News1 week agoTesla exec hints at useful and potentially killer Model Y L feature
-
Elon Musk1 week agoElon Musk reveals SpaceX’s target for Starship’s 10th launch
-
Elon Musk2 weeks agoTesla ups Robotaxi fare price to another comical figure with service area expansion
-
News1 week agoTesla’s longer Model Y did not scale back requests for this vehicle type from fans
-
News1 week ago“Worthy of respect:” Six-seat Model Y L acknowledged by Tesla China’s biggest rivals
-
News1 week agoFirst glimpse of Tesla Model Y with six seats and extended wheelbase
-
Elon Musk1 week agoElon Musk confirms Tesla is already rolling out a new feature for in-car Grok