6 Best Solar Battery Brands in 2024 You Need To Know

Solar energy storage solutions are becoming more and more important as the majority of individuals have shifted toward renewable energy sources. The main aim is to minimize carbon footprints on the environment and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Solar batteries play a crucial role in increasing the efficiency of solar power systems by storing excess electricity in the presence of sunlight and allowing it for future use even when the sun isn’t shining.

Choosing the right solar battery is significant to optimize energy storage to gain consistent backup power, maintain electricity bill savings, and reduce dependence on the grid.

To pick the best quality solar battery brand in 2024 such as Sunpower, Tesla, Enphase, Generac, Sonnen Eco, or LG, you need to evaluate the essential factors based on your requirements.

Important Criteria for Evaluating Solar Battery Brands

While evaluating and ranking the best solar battery brands, you need to consider these key factors such as:

1. Technology Innovation: Technological advancements have increased the efficiency, safety, and lifespan. Latest innovations such as smart energy management systems and compatibility with present solar panel systems are crucial aspects for selecting the correct battery.

2. Energy Density: The storage capacity and power output determines the amount of energy stored, which is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Understanding the energy density of the battery gives you a clear idea of how effectively the battery can run your appliances.

3. Durability: Solar batteries should be able to withstand fluctuating weather conditions and have a longer lifespan to ensure consistent performance.

4. Warranty: Typically, the battery warranties have coverage terms (12–15 years), charging and discharging limits (6000 cycles), and a capacity retention guarantee of 70–80%. Few warranties assure the battery capacity in terms of a specific percentage to ensure that it performs for a stipulated number of years or cycles.

5. Customer Service: The availability of customer support indicates the quality of service provided by a manufacturer. A vast network of certified installers can ensure proper installation and maintenance.

6. Environmental Impact: It is a fact that each kWh of battery developed would produce 150 to 200 kgs of CO2, which might have a severe impact on the environment. As a result, it is important to perform an analysis of the sourcing of raw materials and battery recyclability.

Top Solar Battery Brands in 2024

These are the top 6 leading solar battery brands in 2024 namely Sunpower, Tesla, Enphase, Generac, Sonnen Eco, and LG:

Sunpower:

• History: Sunpower is an American company founded in 1985 by a professor of electrical engineering from Stanford University named Richard Swanson and its headquarters is centered in California. However, the company was split into SunPower and Maxeon Solar.
• Unique Selling Points (USP): The higher efficiency solar panels and the integration of solar and storage solutions ensure optimal performance, reliability, and easier use supported by a single warranty from one company.
• Best-Selling Battery: The SunPower SunVault battery is the best-selling solar battery. A single SunVault battery ranges between 13 kWh to 19.5 kWh, and you can add an extra battery of the same brand to increase storage capacity upto 39 kWh, which is the perfect choice for residential and commercial users.

Here are the important specifications of the SunVault AC-coupled battery:

• Usable Capacity: 13 kWh — 19.5 kWh (single unit) and 26 kWh — 39 kWh (double unit)
• Round Trip Efficiency: 86%
• Depth of Discharge: 92%
• Peak power output (off-grid): 10 kW — 12 kW (single unit) and 20 kW — 24 kW (double unit)
• Continuous power output (off-grid): 6.8 kW (single unit) and 13.6 kW (double unit).
• Battery Type: Lithium iron phosphate
• Installation Price: $16,000 — $20,000 (single unit), $27,000 and above (double unit).

Innovations:

• IBC Solar Cells: Sunpower’s IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) cells are efficient solar cells that offer a 90% guaranteed power rating for upto 40 years.
• mySunPower App: By installing the mySunPower app, you can monitor the solar system and battery performance, thereby providing real-time data on energy usage and storage levels.
• SunVault storage: There is continuous backup power during outages which allows users to control energy usage, minimize peak time charges, and enhance solar energy usage.

Tesla:

• History: Tesla entered the energy storage market with the introduction of Tesla Powerwall1 in 2015 with a limited production facility. However, a larger model of Powerwall2 witnessed mass production in early 2017 with a more capable system equipped with an internal DC-to-AC inverter. Tesla and its dealers have installed 200,000 powerwalls worldwide by May 2021. Tesla Powerwall 3 was launched into production in late 2023.
• Unique Selling Points (USP): The USP of Tesla includes integrated energy solutions and the Powerwall works consistently with Tesla’s panels and roof, providing the best energy solution for homes and businesses. The system stores extra solar energy and includes backup during power outages.
• Best-Selling Battery: The release of the Tesla Powerwall 3 has proved to be the best-selling battery in the market and has twice its power output than the previous version.

Here are the main specifications listed below:

• Usable Capacity: 13.5 kWh
• Capacity to install: Upto 4 units (54 kWh)
• Round Trip Efficiency: 89%
• Depth of Discharge: 100%
• Continuous power output: 11.5 kW
• Coupled system: Both AC and DC coupled systems
• Cost: $9,300

Innovations:

• Time-Based Control Mode: You can maximize your stored energy by opting for the time-based control mode. With different rate plans, you can configure Powerwall to use your stored energy when the prices are at peak levels and save money over time.
• Storm Watch: The storm watch mode is activated only during extreme weather conditions that can cause more damage to power lines and power outages. This feature ensures consistent backup power during shutdowns.
• Scalability: Since the Powerwall systems have higher scalability, users can easily add multiple units to increase their storage capacity.

Enphase:

• History: Enphase Energy is an American company founded in 2006 by Martin Fornage and Raghu Belur. The company’s headquarters is located in Fremont, California manufacturing solar energy products for residential users such as microinverters, battery storage, and EV charging stations.
• Unique Selling Points (USP): The microinverter-based storage system helps Enphase batteries provide consistent backup power during outages and is well known for safety, efficiency, and easy integration with existing solar systems.
• Best Selling Battery: The Enphase IQ Battery 5P is the latest and most widely used solar battery.

Here are the main specifications of this AC-coupled battery storage system you need to know:

• Usable Capacity: 5 kWh
• Power Rating: 3.84 kW
• DC Round Trip Efficiency: 96%
• Peak Output Power: 7.68 kW (3 seconds) and 6.14 kW (10 seconds)
• Depth of Discharge: 100%
• Round Trip Efficiency: 90% (AC) and 96% (DC)
• Battery Type: Lithium iron phosphate
• Cost: $9,900

Innovations:

• Storm Guard: The Enphase App provides the Storm Guard feature that helps you keep your home well-prepared for outages by constantly tracking the National Weather Services for upcoming storms. Your batteries will automatically gain a 100% charge for the complete backup power required.
• Microinverter Technology: The Enphase microinverters have the dual ability of advanced grid function and bidirectional power cable. As a result, the microinverter produces power in the DC-AC direction for solar appliances, AC to DC, or vice versa for battery storage.
• Low Voltage DC Power: The Enphase IQ Batteries operate with low-voltage DC power that minimizes the risks of high-voltage DC power to increase safety.
• Over-the-air software updates: The innovative features available on the Enphase Energy System and Enphase app can be obtained through the over-the-air software update.

Generac:

• History: Generac was founded in 1959 and gained huge popularity for its backup generator products. In 2019, the company acquired Pika Energy, which paved the path into the energy storage market with the PWRcell (also known as the Powercell) battery storage solution.
• Unique Selling Points (USP): Generac stands out as the best battery system due to its higher flexibility and scalability. They can be set up to satisfy your budget and lifestyle. You can include 3 battery modules upto 9 kWh and produce upto 4.5 kW output, whereas an 18 kWh capacity is required to set up 6 battery modules and generate upto 9 kW output.
• Best-Selling Battery: Generac PWRcell is the best-selling battery that suits well for your garage or be hung on the wall of your residential house.

Here are the main specifications of the DC-Coupled Generac Pwrcell you need to know:

• Usable capacity: 9 kWh to 18 kWh (installed in multiples of 3 kWh)
• Stacking: Upto 2 batteries (36 kWh)
• Round Trip Efficiency: 96.50%
• Depth of Discharge: 84%
• Peak power output (On-grid): 4.5 kW to 9 kW
• Continuous power output (On-grid): 3.4 kW to 7.6 kW
• Battery Type: Lithium-ion
• Cost: $10,000 — $20,000

Innovations:

PWR manager: The advanced load management system device provides unmatched flexibility and value to the PWRcell system by activating the whole home backup feature controlled by the user-friendly PWRview app.

PWRview App: Using the PWRview app, you can easily track your energy consumption and battery usage through these features:

• Real-Time Analysis of your energy usage.
• User-friendly interface of the dashboard to maintain a track record of daily consumption, solar generation, and battery usage thereby making it simpler to estimate the electricity bills and savings.
• Easy to calculate energy consumption with detailed bill tracking, forecast, and history.

Sonnen Eco:

History: Sonnen Eco is a German company founded in 2010 by Christoph Ostermann and Torsten Stiefenhofer and became successful and popular all over the world for its innovative technology to store energy. Earlier, the legal name of the company was “PROSOL Invest Deutschland GmbH”. After the shareholders meeting in December 2013, the company’s name was changed to SonnenBatterie GmbH and since November 2015, the company has been operated as Sonnen.

Unique Selling Points (USP): The Virtual Power Plant (VPP) system makes Sonnen Eco batteries stand out unique among other competitors in the market. A local network of Sonnen batteries is connected virtually together through Sonnen VPP which helps you save electricity bill costs, increase efficiency, receive cash payments, and backup power, for enrolling into grid services.

Best-Selling Battery: Sonnen Eco 10 is the best-selling battery.

Here are the important specifications listed below:

• Usable Capacity: 5 to 20 kWh
• Battery Type: Lithium-ion Phosphate
• Peak Output Power: 3 to 8 kW
• Round Trip Efficiency: 90%
• Depth of Discharge: 90%
• Cost: $10,000 before installation
• Coupled System: AC Coupled System
• Warranty: 10 years or upto 10,000 cycles

Innovations:

Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Program: Sonnen batteries are designed to participate in VPP programs to minimize carbon footprint and provide the best solution to shift away from fossil fuel-based power plants.

Sonnen App: The Sonnen App is compatible with Android and iOS devices that provide real-time data and analyze previous data for superior performance. You can choose three different modes provided by the Sonnen Eco software:

• Self-Consumption Mode: Solar battery provides power to residential houses to reduce energy consumption from the grid.
• Time-of-use Mode: You can fix a particular time you want to use a solar energy battery.
• Back-up Power Mode: Saves battery’s energy which can be used only during power outages.

LG:

• History: LG Energy Solution Ltd was founded on 01st December 2020, which is a subordinate of the Korean company LG Chem established in 1947.
• Unique Selling Points (USP): The higher efficiency and reliability make the RESU series batteries easily integrate with solar systems that offer backup and smart energy management systems. LG is one such reputed brand that focuses on safety and longevity by using lithium-ion as a core part of the battery’s electrolyte.
• Best-Selling Battery: The LG RESU 16H Prime is the best-selling solar battery.

Here are the main specifications listed below:

• Usable Capacity: 16 kWh
• Round Trip Efficiency: 97.5%
• Continuous Power Output: 7 kW
• Peak Power Output: 11 kW
• Stackable Output: No
• Depth of Discharge: 100%
• Round Trip Efficiency: 90%
• Cost: Above $11,000

Innovations:

• NMC Technology: The advanced features of the Lithium Manganese Cobalt Oxide battery use a combination of Nickel, Manganese, and Cobalt (NMC) as its cathode material. This results in higher performance of LG Chem battery chemical composition since it provides higher energy density and enables adequate energy storage facilities.
• Portable Design: Mainly, the RESU series comes with a modular design that allows for easier transportation, handling, and installation.
• Smart Energy Management Systems: The batteries consist of a smart energy management software program that efficiently manages energy usage and contributes to household solar energy self-consumption.
• Flexibility: The LG solar battery can be used for both on-grid and hybrid solar applications making it the best choice. Additionally, the device is designed to work with different types of inverters. Also, there is an added benefit of installing the batteries both indoors and outdoors.
• Safety and Reliability: Considering the thermal and chemical behavior, the LG batteries are designed by taking possible safety precautions. Most importantly, you can track the performance through the electronic screen or by installing its official app on your smartphone.

How to Select the Right Solar Battery?

Choosing the right solar battery is crucial for solar system owners to increase efficiency and performance, so it is important to consider several factors to ensure that the battery meets your energy needs and budget:

1. Battery Capacity: If the battery capacity is more, then more energy is stored, and you can power your home appliances for a longer time from the stored energy during power outages, cloudy weather conditions, or nights.

2. Depth of Discharge (DoD): The Depth of Discharge indicates how much the battery capacity has been used before its recharge. It is a percentage of the battery’s total power. In simpler terms, a battery with a higher DoD allows you to utilize its higher capacity and vice versa. By understanding this concept, you will be able to maximize the life and performance of your solar energy storage batteries to ensure long-term benefits.

3. Battery Lifespan: A battery’s lifespan measures how long the battery can operate efficiently before its capacity is reduced and helps to determine the long-term success rate of your solar panels.

4. Round Trip Efficiency: Typically, the Round Trip Efficiency (RTE) explains how well a battery works by storing and using energy. The higher RTE means less energy is lost during the process, which makes the battery cost-effective with improved performance.

5. Brand and Warranty: A longer warranty from reputed brands provides peace of mind and protection against any faults. It is a certification that the manufacturer provides support to customers in case of any defects or performance issues faced with the product.

6. Cost: Depending upon the type and efficiency, the solar cells in 2024 cost between $0.20 to $0.40 per watt. It is crucial to balance the cost with the battery’s performance and features to ensure it suits your budget.