What is the Best Battery for Solar Storage?

Home batteries used for solar storage and blackout backup power are proven additions to home solar panel systems. Generally the battery packs are used to store up low-cost electricity generated from solar panels and from the grid during off-peak hours. Then during high-cost peak utility rate hours or during a blackout the battery packs supply the stored electricity to power your home.

Choosing the best battery packs for solar storage will depend on your location, size of your solar system, and home energy needs.

The top battery packs known by their brand names, SunPower Equinox, Tesla Powerwall, LG Chem, etc, all use Lithium-Ion battery cell technologies. They are differentiated by their battery cell manufacturers, brand marketing, software to manage the power cycles, pricing strategy and certified installers. The most popular and proven manufacturers of the internal battery cells are Sonnen, Panasonic and LG according to the chart below:

The best battery solution for your home will depend on several factors:

Our experts at EnergyPal are here to help you answer these questions and choose the right battery system for your home.

Are Home Solar Batteries Worth It?

A clear security benefit of home batteries is having your own backup power during power outages or power disruptions. During these times, electricity from your home batteries could keep your refrigerator cold, lights on, fans and pumps running, mobile devices charged, security system active, and heating or cooling systems powered. With solar attached, your home could be self powered for days, and help prevent discomfort, expense, losses or damage!

Time-of-use arbitrage is a clear financial benefit if your utility company rates differ throughout the day. Your battery will store up power when it’s cheap and sell the power back to your utility when it’s the most expensive. Most home batteries have software that will automatically manage this process and save you money every day!

You may also qualify for current rebates and incentives for installing home batteries. Many states and local utilities are offering additional large cash incentives, especially when home batteries are attached to renewable energy systems like solar panels. Plus, the federal investment tax credit (ITC) applies to home batteries attached to solar, so now is a good time to look into how much you can save!