The license was granted to Tesla Energy Ventures Ltd. by UK energy regulator Ofgem after a seven-month review process. According to Ofgem, the license took effect at 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday and applies to Great Britain. The approval allows Tesla's energy business to sell electricity directly to customers in the region.
Tesla Energy Ventures, a subsidiary of Tesla, made an application [PDF] in July to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority for an electricity supply licence to serve domestic and non-domestic premises in the UK. Elon Musk's electric buggy-maker has been playing on the margins of the power business with residential solar panels and battery systems for home users (Powerwall) and utitilites (Megapack) for years.