Tesla increased solar deployments 11% in Q2 but solar roof system production ramp lags

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Energy generation and storage revenue in the reporting period was US$374.4 million, a 9% decline from the first quarter of 2018. Image: Tesla

Tesla stopped the steep declines in residential solar installations in the second quarter of 2018, reporting deployments of 84MW, up from a low-point of 76MW in the previous quarter, an 11% increase. 

The company expects relatively stable quarterly deployments as sales are centred through its Telsa vehicle showrooms but continues to believe that with growing vehicle customers it expects at some point an inflection point for rapid retrofit residential solar systems.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Tesla stopped the steep declines in residential solar installations in the second quarter of 2018, reporting deployments of 84MW, up from a low-point of 76MW in the previous quarter, an 11% increase.

Continuing to be an extended product launch is Tesla’s complete solar roof tile system, which again was said to be going through evaluation and design tweaks on limited customer deployments. Installation learning cycles need to be implemented back in production at the Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo, New York to enable further production process simplification for high manufacturing assembly automation, which has yet to be implemented, which will require an unspecified capital expenditure. 

Tesla does not expect to actually ramp production of its complete roofing system until near the end of 2018. 

However, energy storage systems reached a 1GWh deployment milestone in May, which has taken five years.  

In the second quarter of 2018, Tesla deployed a total of 203MWh of energy storage systems, a 106% increase from the prior year period and a 450% increase in the first half of 2018, compared to the prior year period. 

Energy generation and storage revenue in the reporting period was US$374.4 million, a 9% decline from the first quarter of 2018, due to the revenue recognition on the completion of the large 129MWh deployment in South Australia in the first quarter of 2018, according to the company. 

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

September 11, 2025
US cell manufacturer ES Foundry is proceeding with expansion plans despite a six-month delay due to recent trade and tax credit policy uncertainties.
Premium
September 11, 2025
PV CellTech USA: US cell manufacturer ES Foundry’s CEO Alex Zhu discusses his company's rapid ascent, strategic technology choices and the challenges of operating in a shifting policy environment.
September 10, 2025
At RE+ 2025, companies launched AI-driven platforms, terrain-following trackers, low-carbon modules, and advanced energy management solutions for solar and storage.
September 10, 2025
The CEFC has said that a coordinated approach to transmission in Pilbara, Western Australia, could save more than AU$30 billion over 25 years.
September 9, 2025
The US is forecast to reach between US$55-60 billion in clean energy tax credit monetisation in 2025, according to a report from clean energy financing technology platform Crux.
September 9, 2025
Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM) broke records yesterday when renewables supplied 76.4% of total electricity demand, with solar power contributing nearly 60% of the record-breaking clean energy mix.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines