Free Solar Battery from Tesseract ZERO | A New Era in Energy Plans

How Tesseract ZERO works

Tesseract ZERO changes the usual solar purchasing model. Rather than paying for panels, an inverter, a battery and installation at the beginning, the customer receives a system at their home as part of an ongoing energy service. Tesseract first reviews the customer’s latest power bill and electricity usage, then sizes a system to match the property’s needs.

The video says a typical home may receive a 6.6 kW solar array and a 10 kWh battery installed near the meter box. The equipment is supplied without an upfront payment, while the customer agrees to buy their electricity through Tesseract.

Fixed electricity pricing

The quoted electricity rate is 28 cents per kilowatt-hour, fixed for 10 years. The presentation says the rate does not increase with CPI. During the day, the home can use electricity generated by its solar panels. At night, the battery can supply stored energy, while additional electricity can be purchased through the service when required.

Unused solar generation may be sold to the grid by Tesseract. The video explains that this export income helps support the service’s pricing model. The claim that the rate is around half the cost of typical peak electricity is a comparison made in the presentation, rather than an independently demonstrated result in the video.

Virtual power plant and equipment

The batteries are intended to form part of a virtual power plant, or VPP. Connected systems can be coordinated to determine when energy is stored, used or exported. The stated purpose is to help manage peak demand and support grid stability while allowing the homes to participate in a wider energy network.

Tesseract is described as using tier-one panels, batteries and inverters from major Chinese manufacturers. The presentation refers to 25-year panel warranties and 10-year battery warranties. It also says Tesseract remotely monitors the systems and is responsible for maintenance and repairs, meaning customers would not pay the equipment or service costs directly under the described arrangement.

Backup power and the contract outcome

The video says the battery provides backup during grid outages, allowing selected household appliances and services to continue operating. The exact backup capacity, limits on simultaneous loads and installation requirements are not detailed in the presentation, so those points would need to be confirmed before signing up.

At the end of the 10-year contract, ownership of the solar panels is said to transfer to the customer. The video does not provide the full contract terms, including any conditions for the battery, moving house, early termination, eligibility, export arrangements or the precise definition of included maintenance.

Tesseract is presented as part of a larger group involved in a stated $200 million large-scale solar and battery project in South Australia. This is offered as an indication of the company’s long-term ambitions, but the video does not independently assess the project’s status or the company’s ability to operate the service for the full 10-year term.