Tesla’s solar cells being produced for roof tiles are mostly being exported by Panasonic: report

A recent report from Reuters has claimed the “great majority” of solar cells now being manufactured by Panasonic Corp at Tesla’s Gigafactory two in Buffalo, New York, is being exported to other states. Citing an worker who works in the center, the publication noted that Tesla is only sporadically purchasing the cells produced by its Japanese partner, leading to Pansonic selling the majority of the cells it produces to other solar module manufacturers on the site.

Back in 2016, Tesla and Panasonic announced that they would be collaborating on cell and module production in the Buffalo, NY facility, with the electric vehicle maker making a long-term commitment to purchase cells created by the Japanese corporation. A principal aim for Gigafcatory 2 is the production of Tesla’s Solar Roof, which look like traditional roof tiles but function like solar panels. The tiles are a part of Elon Musk’s plan to encourage a lifestyle among Tesla’s clients, since car owners can power their vehicles from the energy gathered by their Solar Roofs.

Unfortunately, the Solar Roof ramp has been slower than expected. Customer installations have begun, but in small quantities. Musk clarified this delay in the product’s ramp due to the long development cycle for the solar shingles. “That’s a long development cycle for — since anything that’s roof has got to last. So if life testing do accelerate as quickly as possible, there s still a minimum amount of time required to do that,” Musk said.

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Citing data from California, Reuters noted that only around 21 Solar Roof installations were connected by the nation ’s and investor-owned utilities as of the end of February. A former Tesla employee further claimed that only a few installations were completed in the northeastern United States. Tesla, for its part, declined to comment on its purchase of cells from Panasonic or the real figures of its Solar Roof installations, even though an official from the electric vehicle maker has stated that “the number of solar roofs you mention in the story is reduced and unrepresentative as we are installing the Solar Roof in eight states now. ”

Elon Musk has pledged to increase Tesla’s efforts in its Energy industry this season, remarking during the unveiling of the Model Y which 2019 are the “Year of the Solar Roof and Powerwall. ” With the first quarter over and the second quarter underway, it would be an excellent idea for Tesla to ramp its activities in Gigafactory 2, whose output and operations greatly affect Tesla’s Energy business.

Gigafactory two currently employs 800 workers, though Tesla is needed to have 1,460 workers by this time next year to avoid penalties. The state of New York remained optimistic about the mill, according to Pamm Lent, spokeswoman for Empire State Development, in a statement to Reuters. “We have two of the clean energy companies in the world in Buffalo at the RiverBend facility. Tesla produces their solar roof tiles &lrmfor testing and development with the goal of full-scale launch later on. Panasonic is now the largest producer and company at RiverBend with a customer base independent of Tesla,” Lent said.

The post Tesla’s solar cells being made for roof tiles are mostly being exported by Panasonic: report appeared initially on TESLARATI.

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