Comparing Energy Storage Battery Systems
Want to know what is the best energy storage battery system out there today? Use this handy reference table to compare the facts. These energy storage systems consists of a hybrid inverter to work on or off the grid, a battery, an internal transfer switch, an enclosure to make all wiring connections, and a system management software app. Compare brands like Generac, Tesla, Enphase and SolarEdge. Quickly see the differences in power output, storage capacity and expand-ability. Make an informed decision so you know what you are buying. However, these products are ever-changing, with new models or capabilities being added all the time. We'll do our best to keep up for you.
| BRAND |  |
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| MODEL | GENERAC PWRcell |
SOLAREDGE Energy Hub |
ENPHASE Encharge |
SOL-ARK SA-12K |
TESLA Powerwall |
| SINGLE UNIT | |||||
| MAX SOLAR INPUT DC | 10 kW | 15 kW | per module | 13 kW | n/a* |
| MAX CONTINUOUS POWER AC OUTPUT OFF-GRID |
8 kW | 6 to 10.3 kW | 3.8 kW | 9 kW | 5 kW |
| OFF-GRID STARTING CURRENT AC |
41.6A | 30A | 16A | 50A | 30A |
| BATTERY STORAGE CAPACITY AC | 9 to 43 kWh | 10 to 32 kWh | 3.8 to 40 kWh | 11 to > 100 kWh | 13.5 kWh |
| EXPANSION | |||||
| LOAD MANAGEMENT |
Yes | No | No | No | No |
| INVERTER STACKING | No | Up to 3 | Up to 4 Encharge 10T | Up to 8 | Up to (10) Powerwall |
| MAX STACKED CONTINUOUS POWER | n/a | 15 kW | 15.3 kW | 96 kW | 48 kW |
| MAX STACKED STARTING CURRENT | n/a | 90A to 130A | 94A | 320A | n/a |
| MAX STACKED STORAGE CAPACITY | n/a | 96 kWh | 40 kWh | > 100 kWh | 135 kWh |
| GENERATOR INPUT | up to 15kW | up to 15kW | up to 15kW | up to 15kW | n/a |
| OTHER SPECS | |||||
| INVERTER MANUFACTURER | Generac | SolarEdge | Enphase | Sol-Ark | Unknown |
| BATTERY MANUFACTURER | Panasonic |
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Enphase Encharge | Varies* | Panasonic |
| BATTERY TYPE | Lithium | Lithium | Lithium | Any 48V Lithium or Lead-Acid |
Lithium |
| LOCATION | Indoor / Outdoor | Indoor / Outdoor | Indoor / Outdoor | Indoor / Outdoor | Indoor / Outdoor |
| INVERTER WARRANTY | 10 years | 12 years | 25 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| BATTERY WARRANTY | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | 5 to 10 years | 10 years |
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VIEW KITS |
SolarEdge Kits |
Contact Tesla |
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| NOTES |
Generac uses optional Smart Management Modules (SMM) to turn loads on or off. Generac uses individual battery modules that can be combined in a single enclosure. Up to two enclosures can be added for each inverter. Generac can be installed as a multi-system configuration. Inverters must support separate load panels and must not have load panels outputs coupled. For 200A or larger service. |
SolarEdge uses optional Backup Interface unit to connect PV solar inverters, batteries, house and generator. |
The Enphase Encharge unit is made of multiple battery packs with IQ8 micro-inverters in a single enclosure. Enphase uses the Smart Switch System Controller unit to connect multiple Encharge batteries, PV solar, the house and optional generator. Multiple Smart Switch units can be used for greater battery capacity. |
Sol-Ark inverter works with any 48V battery including brands like Sol-Ark also makes a 5k and 8k model inverter. |
*Tesla is an AC-coupled battery; no direct connection with PV solar panels. Tesla Backup Gateway required for partial or whole home backup. SunWatts does not offer Powerwall; contact Tesla for details. |
Before starting, you should know how many kilowatts (kW) you need to power your home, and how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy is needed for a typical day. kW is the power output rating; think of it as the size of solar generator needed. While kWh is the amount of energy used over time; it relates to the size of the storage tank you'll need. Learn more at Solar Battery Sizing Simplified.
It is also important to decide if you want whole house vs partial house backup power.
NOTE: All product specifications are dependent on manufacturer information and are subject to change without notice.