Melbourne’s ‘Tesla Town’ development under way

Yarrabend is the latest housing development located just outside Melbourne, which will accommodate each owner with a Tesla powerwall, according to Electrek.

The planned community by the Glenvill development company is powered by solar energy and every home comes standard with Tesla Powerwalls to store and dispense electrical energy.

Yarrabend isn’t just a developer’s graphical excursion. Houses numbering 60 have already been built out of a planned 2500 in a suburban area 6.5km northeast of Melbourne.

The homes range in price from A$1.48 to $2.1 million and will all be architecturally designed.

Yarrabend will have the highest ecologically sustainable development rating from the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) and will “be one of the most environmentally sustainable developments in Australia” according to UDIA chief executive Danni Addison.

“Some areas that are a standout include water reduction of 43%, landfill reduction by 80% and the potential to reduce energy use by 34%,” Addison adds.

“The Powerwalls, combined with solar panels, will mean that future residents will be able to benefit in a variety of ways, including smaller power bills and knowing that the majority of their energy usage is coming from a clean and renewable source.

“The electric car charging points will be another available option. Combined with the Powerwall and solar panels, it is likely that ‘refuelling’ future residents’ electric cars will be free.”

Solar energy and home power storage systems so far are usually single homeowner installations. As possibly the first major development designed around sustainability that includes the use of solar power with home batteries, Yarrabend could serve as a model for a later communities in other parts of the world. Perhaps this is what Elon Musk was thinking of when he proposed that Tesla buy SolarCity.

Official contract signing for the houses is expected to begin in August, with residents expected to begin moving in by late 2017.

For more information on the Yarrabend development click here.