Energy
Tesla updates its solar panel program with more powerful systems at lower pricing
Tesla has rolled out a new solar panel program that includes higher power solar systems at pricing that’s more affordable than ever before.
The update comes on heels of its recent solar incentive program that was aimed at stimulating consumer adoption of its solar panel systems through a continuous push to reduce the cost of ownership. In mid-2019, Tesla rolled out its solar subscription program that enabled solar customers to pay an affordable monthly fee for obtaining solar for their residence. With pricing as low as $65 a month, Tesla’s solar subscription program reduces the cost barrier of entry significantly, considering a solar panel system for the average 2,500 square foot house would normally cost between $18,000 and $20,000
Now, the company has rolled out more powerful solar system sizing and at price that’s more affordable than its previously smaller-sized systems.
In the past, Tesla offered four sizes for its solar systems.
- Small – 3.78 kW – $10,500
- Produces an average of 14-19 kWh per day
- Medium – 7.56 kW – $19,500
- Produces an average of 29-39 kWh per day
- Large – 11.34 kW – $29,000
- Produces an average of 43-58 kWh per day
- X-Large – 15.12 kW – $37,500
- Produces an average of 58-77 kWh per day
The new systems offer revised sizes with more efficient energy usage. The incentive prices below apply to California residents and vary in different states.
- Small – 4.08 kW – $10,000, $7,400 after incentives
- Produces 11-15 kWh daily
- Medium – 8.16 kW – $16,000, $11,840 after incentives
- Produces 23-29 kWh daily
- Large – 12.24 kW – $23,500, $17,390 after incentives
- Produces 33.44 kWh daily
- X-Large – 16.32 kW – $30,000, $22,200 after incentives
- Produces 45-58 kWh daily
Comparing the two systems and their prices is proof that the new panels offer more bang for your buck. The sizes have increased while the cost of each system has decreased.
After rolling out the subscription programs last year, Tesla introduced a price match guarantee in May. The addition of this feature to Tesla’s Solar business made it possible for customers to get the best possible price on the company’s solar panels, matching quotes from other providers in a resident’s area.
In Q1 2020, Tesla’s energy business thrived despite setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic. The company stated that its 100,000th Powerwall was installed during the first quarter of 2020 in its Q1 Update Letter. The company also saw an increase in cross-selling within the energy business as “more than 40% of the residential solar customers opted for at least one Powerwall.”
Tesla Solar Roof also saw significant growth, and Giga New York reached a 4 MW weekly production rate, enough for 1,000 homes.
The advancements in Tesla’s Solar Energy business create opportunities for customers to utilize more efficient panels that cost less out of pocket. Combine the more cost-efficient panels with Tesla’s rental or subscription options, and powering a home with 100% clean energy from the sun is affordable and environmentally responsible.
Check out the new Tesla’s Solar Panels on its Energy website.
Energy
Tesla starts hiring efforts for Texas Megafactory
Tesla’s Brookshire site is expected to produce 10,000 Megapacks annually, equal to 40 gigawatt hours of energy storage.
Tesla has officially begun hiring for its new $200 million Megafactory in Brookshire, Texas, a manufacturing hub expected to employ 1,500 people by 2028. The facility, which will build Tesla’s grid-scale Megapack batteries, is part of the company’s growing energy storage footprint.
Tesla’s hiring efforts for the Texas Megafactory are hinted at by the job openings currently active on the company’s Careers website.
Tesla’s Texas Megafactory
Tesla’s Brookshire site is expected to produce 10,000 Megapacks annually, equal to 40 gigawatt hours of energy storage, similar to the Lathrop Megafactory in California. Tesla’s Careers website currently lists over 30 job openings for the site, from engineers, welders, and project managers. Each of the openings is listed for Brookshire, Texas.
The company has leased two buildings in Empire West Business Park, with over $194 million in combined property and equipment investment. Tesla’s agreement with Waller County includes a 60% property tax abatement, contingent on meeting employment benchmarks: 375 jobs by 2026, 750 by 2027, and 1,500 by 2028, as noted in a report from the Houston Business Journal. Tesla is required to employ at least 1,500 workers in the facility through the rest of the 10-year abatement period.
Tesla’s clean energy boom
City officials have stated that Tesla’s arrival marks a turning point for the Texas city, as it highlights a shift from logistics to advanced clean energy manufacturing. Ramiro Bautista from Brookshire’s economic development office, highlighted this in a comment to the Journal.
“(Tesla) has great-paying jobs. Not just that, but the advanced manufacturing (and) clean energy is coming to the area,” he said. “So it’s not just your normal logistics manufacturing. This is advanced manufacturing coming to this area, and this brings a different type of job and investment into the local economy.”
Energy
Tesla and Samsung SDI in talks over new US battery storage deal: report
The update was related by industry sources and initially reported by South Korean news outlets.
Recent reports have suggested that Tesla and Samsung SDI are in talks over a potential partnership to supply batteries for large-scale energy storage systems (ESS).
The update was related by industry sources and initially reported by South Korean news outlets.
ESS batteries to be built at Samsung’s Indiana plant
As noted in a report from Korea JoongAng Daily, the demand for energy storage systems has been growing rapidly in North America, thanks in no small part to the surge in AI investments across numerous companies. With this in mind, Tesla has reportedly approached Samsung SDI about a potential battery supply deal.
The deal is reportedly worth over 3 trillion Korean won (approximately $2.11 billion) and will span three years, according to The Korea Global Economic Daily. A battery supply deal with Samsung SDI could make sense for Tesla as the company already has a grid-scale battery, the Megapack, which is perfect for industrial use. Samsung SDI could simply supply cells for the EV maker.
Production of the batteries would reportedly take place at Samsung SDI’s joint venture factory with Stellantis in Indiana, which is currently under construction. Samsung SDI recently announced plans to use part of that plant’s EV lines to produce cells for ESS, with a targeted capacity of 30 GWh by the end of next year.
Tesla and Samsung’s partnership
At present, only a handful of manufacturers, including Korea’s LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On, and Japan’s Panasonic, are capable of producing energy storage-scale batteries domestically in the United States. A Samsung SDI official issued a comment about the matter, stating, “Nothing has been finalized regarding cooperation with Tesla.”
The possible energy storage system deal adds another layer to Tesla’s growing collaboration with Samsung, which is already in line as a partner in the upcoming production of Tesla’s AI5 and AI6 chips. Early sample manufacturing of the AI6 is expected to begin in South Korea, with mass production slated for Samsung’s Texas-based Taylor foundry when it starts operations.
The AI6 chip will power Tesla’s next wave of high-volume projects, including the Optimus humanoid robot and the autonomous Cybercab service. Musk has called the partnership with Samsung a “real collaboration,” adding that he personally plans to “walk the line” at the Taylor facility to speed up progress.
Energy
Tesla VP hints at Solar Roof comeback with Giga New York push
The comments hint at possible renewed life for the Solar Roof program, which has seen years of slow growth since its 2016 unveiling.
Tesla’s long-awaited and way underrated Solar Roof may finally be getting its moment. During the company’s Q3 2025 earnings call, Vice President of Energy Engineering Michael Snyder revealed that production of a new residential solar panel has started at Tesla’s Buffalo, New York facility, with shipments to customers beginning in the first quarter of 2026.
The comments hint at possible renewed life for the Solar Roof program, which has seen years of slow growth since its 2016 unveiling.
Tesla Energy’s strong demand
Responding to an investor question about Tesla’s energy backlog, Snyder said demand for Megapack and Powerwall continues to be “really strong” into next year. He also noted positive customer feedback for the company’s new Megablock product, which is expected to start shipping from Houston in 2026.
“We’re seeing remarkable growth in the demand for AI and data center applications as hyperscalers and utilities have seen the versatility of the Megapack product. It increases reliability and relieves grid constraints,” he said.
Snyder also highlighted a “surge in residential solar demand in the US,” attributing the spike to recent policy changes that incentivize home installations. Tesla expects this trend to continue into 2026, helped by the rollout of a new solar lease product that makes adoption more affordable for homeowners.
Possible Solar Roof revival?
Perhaps the most intriguing part of Snyder’s remarks, however, was Tesla’s move to begin production of its “residential solar panel” in Buffalo, New York. He described the new panels as having “industry-leading aesthetics” and shape performance, language Tesla has used to market its Solar Roof tiles in the past.
“We also began production of our Tesla residential solar panel in our Buffalo factory, and we will be shipping that to customers starting Q1. The panel has industry-leading aesthetics and shape performance and demonstrates our continued commitment to US manufacturing,” Snyder said during the Q3 2025 earnings call.
Snyder did not explicitly name the product, though his reference to aesthetics has fueled speculation that Tesla may finally be preparing a large-scale and serious rollout of its Solar Roof line.
Originally unveiled in 2016, the Solar Roof was intended to transform rooftops into clean energy generators without compromising on design. However, despite early enthusiasm, production and installation volumes have remained limited for years. In 2023, a report from Wood Mackenzie claimed that there were only 3,000 operational Solar Roof installations across the United States at the time, far below forecasts. In response, the official Tesla Energy account on X stated that the report was “incorrect by a large margin.”
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