The 6 Best Solar Batteries in January 2024 – MarketWatch

See how our top-rated solar batteries compare on key metrics and see which one of our trusted installers can add them to a new or existing system.

Below are our top six solar batteries:

Tesla Powerwall 2

The Tesla Powerwall is one of the most popular solar batteries available, featuring a sleek design with strong performance and efficiency. The Tesla Powerwall 2 is also compatible with any solar panels, not just Tesla systems.

Due to its popularity, the Tesla Powerwall is frequently on backorder and only comes in one size. However, you can add more Powerwalls to expand your system.

Photo courtesy of Tesla

Models

The Tesla Powerwall comes in two models, both with 13.5 kWh of storage capacity: the Powerwall 2 and the Powerwall+. The key difference is that the Tesla Powerwall 2 is just a solar battery, while the Tesla Powerwall+ is both a solar battery and inverter.

The Powerwall+ is ideal for new solar installations, while the Powerwall 2 is more suitable for retrofitting into an existing solar system.

Specifications

Installers

Although you can order a Powerwall directly through the Tesla Website, the company requires that Tesla Certified Professionals install all batteries.

Several nationwide solar panel companies, including ADT Solar, Sunrun and Palmetto, install the Tesla Powerwall. You can also use the search tool on Tesla’s website to find an installer in your area.

SonnenCore+

Sonnen offers a variety of battery models that can adjust to your energy needs and budget. For example, you can adjust the energy capacity of your Sonnen ecoLinx by 2 kWh increments up to a massive 30 kWh battery. However, the high price point is out of reach for many customers.

The SonnenEvo and SonnenCore+ are more standard batteries available in 10 kWh and 20 kWh sizes. Plus, the SonnenEvo is alternating current or AC-coupled, meaning you can use it as an energy storage device whether or not you have solar panels.

Photo courtesy of Sonnen 

Models

Compare Sonnen’s solar battery models:

• SonnenEvo: The SonnenEvo is a 10 kWh outdoor battery that you can pair with any solar system.
• SonnenCore+: The SonnenCore is an indoor battery with options for 10 kWh or 20 kWh of capacity.
• ecoLinx: You can size up your ecoLinx battery system by 2 kWh power increments, storing up to 30 kWh of energy. The ecoLinx uses advanced battery technology to sync with your home and adjust storage if, for example, severe weather is on the way.

Specifications

Installers

Sonnen partners with solar companies throughout the U.S. to install its solar batteries like, but our top recommended installers are Elevation, Trinity Solar, and Sunnova Solar. You can find more Sonnen solar battery installer on the Sonnen website.

Enphase IQ

Enphase manufactures a variety of solar energy products, including solar panels, microinverters, and of course, solar batteries. With a 96% round-trip efficiency and a 100% depth of discharge, Enphase offers some of the most efficient batteries available today.

The standard Enphase IQ battery setup offers 10.08 kWh of battery storage, though it can be expanded.

Photo courtesy of Enphase 

Installers

Several top solar providers install Enphase solar batteries, including ADT Solar, Freedom Solar Energy and Semper Solaris.

Click below to speak with a solar professional about your Enphase solar battery installation today.

Generac PWRcell

The Generac PWRcell is outfitted with a cabinet that protects your solar battery from the elements and can help extend its lifespan. You can expand your battery cabinet by adding additional battery modules or cells. You can achieve up to 18 kWh of storage from a single battery cabinet — or twice that when you add another.

Photo courtesy of Generac

Models

Generac customers can choose from four different system capacities. Each system is built with 3 kWh battery modules.

• PWRcell M3: This option includes three modules for a total of 9 kWh storage capacity and a continuous power rating of 3.4 kW.
• PWRcell M4: This four-module system has a capacity of 12 kWh and a continuous power rating of 4.5 kW.
• PWRcell M5: This five-module option stores 15 kWh of energy with a 5.6 kW continuous power rating.
• PWRcell M6: The largest six-module option has a continuous power rating of 6.7 kW and provides 18 kWh capacity.

If you want an even larger battery bank, you can install more than one PWRcell cabinet, expanding your Generac energy storage system up to 36 kWh.

Specifications

Installers

Major solar companies installing Generac’s PWRCell battery include Powered by Elevation, Trinity Solar and Sunnova Solar. Aside from these providers, Generac also has a large network of local dealers that install its solar battery.

LG RESU Prime

LG stopped making solar panels but still manufactures its state-of-the-art line of solar batteries. LG’s solar batteries are compact and, thanks to a direct current (DC) system, have an industry-leading round-trip efficiency of 95%.

One downside of the LG RESU is that only the RESU prime models guarantee 70% battery capacity after 10 years. The standard models — the RESUL Gen2 — only guarantee 60% capacity under a limited warranty.

Photo courtesy of LG

Models

Compare LG’s solar battery models:

• LG RESU Gen2: The LG RESU10H type-R and RESU10H type-C are both 9.8 kWh capacity models with a 60% capacity guarantee after 10 years.
• LG RESU Prime: The RESU prime comes in 9.6 kWh or 16 kWh varieties, each with a peak power rating of 7 kW and 11 kW, respectively.

Specifications

Installers

LG requires that a qualified professional install its solar batteries.

Sunrun, one of our top-recommended solar providers, installs LG solar batteries. You can also find an LG solar battery installer in your area by inputting your zip code on the LG website.

SunPower manufactures some of the best solar panels on the market in terms of efficiency and durability. The SunPower SunVault battery complements any SunPower system with a large energy capacity of 13 kWh and an above-average continuous power rating of 6.8 kW. It also includes an excellent warranty that doesn’t limit the number of cycles your battery can discharge like some other companies.
The SunPower SunVault is our top choice for homeowners who already have SunPower solar panels or are planning to install a SunPower system. Unfortunately, SunPower SunVault is not compatible with non-SunPower brand solar panels.

Photo courtesy of SunPower

Models

SunPower offers two models of its SunVault battery system: the SunVault 13 and the SunVault 26. The SunVault 13 offers 13 kWh of battery power, while the SunVault 26 offers 26 kWh.

The SunVault 26 system consists of the SV-BASE13-12-A and SV-ENERGY13-12-A models to expand the amount of power a system can hold. The SunVault 12 only consists of the standard SV-BASE13-12-A model.

Specifications

*SunPower guarantees its batteries will retain at least 70% of their initial energy capacity by the end of the 10-year warranty period. This percentage may vary based on the manufacturer.

Installers

SunPower manufactures its solar products and uses certified partners to install batteries and other solar equipment in all 50 U.S. states. Blue Raven Solar is another popular solar company that installs SunPower SunVaults. If you’re interested in the SunPower SunVault, click below for a free, no-obligation quote.

When choosing a solar battery, it’s important to consider factors like storage capacity, power rating, cost and other specifics.

Batteries make up a significant portion of a solar system’s cost. However, solar battery costs have dropped significantly over the past years, making them a preferred addition to most home solar systems. Based on our research, a typical solar panel and battery system costs between $25,000 and $35,000, depending on your location and system size, type and complexity.

Adding an energy storage system to an existing solar panel system may be more expensive as a solar battery alone can cost between $12,000 and $22,000. That price range reflects the typical cost of lithium batteries, the preferred solar battery technology in the industry. However, choosing more traditional lead-acid batteries can help lower the cost.

When shopping for solar energy storage, it’s important to know the pros and cons of each type of battery technology before making a decision.

Up until almost the past decade, lead acid batteries dominated the solar battery market. Lead acid batteries are simple, affordable units with a basic modular design. However, the advantages of lithium batteries has made that technology the market leader and preferred choice for home solar systems. Let’s look at and compare both options.

Lead-Acid Batteries

For many years, lead-acid batteries were the most common battery type for all applications — from home energy storage systems to car batteries. Lead-acid batteries are generally the least expensive and useful for simple applications, but are heavy and require regular maintenance. They also have a shorter lifespan. For these reasons, solar experts may not recommend lead-acid batteries for home solar systems.

Lithium Batteries

Lithium batteries are significantly lighter and safer than their lead-acid counterparts. They have a much longer lifespan or battery cycles and require no ongoing maintenance. Today, most solar battery manufacturers use lithium batteries for residential applications. These batteries come with sleek designs and a variety of smart features. While lithium batteries are more expensive, they are recommended for small- to medium-sized solar arrays used to power homes and businesses.

Solar Batteries for Commercial Use

One of the major milestones in the adoption of solar batteries is their application in commercial or large-scale installations. Although the cost of batteries can limit their application to small and medium-scale installations, large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are now increasingly common. Typically, commercial solar battery banks come in large sizes rated in megawatt-hours (MWh).

These systems generally use lithium batteries, thanks to their low maintenance, long life and safer operation. However, most manufacturers design and build commercial-scale battery units too large to be installed in residential systems.

Yes, you can add solar battery storage to your existing solar power system. However, not every solar battery is compatible with every solar array. For example, Enphase and SunPower brand batteries are only compatible with Enphase and Sunpower brand solar panel systems, respectively.

On the other hand, Tesla Powerwall and Sonnen solar batteries are compatible with almost any solar array. You can also retroactively connect either brand of battery to your renewable energy system.

If you already have a solar system with a solar battery, but your energy needs have increased or changed, you can typically expand your battery backup system by connecting more units. We recommend speaking with your solar installer to decide which solar energy storage solution best fits your needs.

If you are seeking energy independence, solar batteries are worth it, especially when paired with solar panels. Solar batteries are an optional accessory homeowners can add to their solar system to store excess energy generation for later use, or to power their home during a blackout.

The ability of solar batteries to deliver energy independence and resilience, particularly in the face of power outages, is a major advantage. Batteries also help save money on energy bills in areas with time-of-use pricing. Overall, we think solar batteries are a wise investment in most cases. However, if you live in a state with favorable net metering policies, you may not need a battery. We suggest speaking with your solar installer to help determine if a battery would be beneficial to you.