What are the best solar batteries in 2023?

Solar batteries and storage systems can be integral to any solar panel installation. They store the excess energy generated by solar panels for you to use later while reducing your overall energy costs beyond what you save from solar.

Because storage systems have become so popular, many companies are now in the market, making it more challenging to compare and decide between the available brands and products. We'll explain the most important factors for comparing solar batteries and why certain ones are the best.

These are the best solar batteries available (in alphabetical order):

• Enphase IQ Battery

• FranklinWH aPower

• Generac PWRcell

• HomeGrid Stack'd Series

• LG Energy Solution Prime

• Panasonic EverVolt

• Schneider Electric Boost

• SolarEdge Home Battery

• Sonnen ecoLinx

• SunPower SunVault

• Tesla Powerwall+

Read on to learn how and why we chose these batteries.

There's a lot to consider when choosing a solar battery, including chemistry & configuration, power & performance, warranty, size, and price. These aren't the only factors to consider when shopping for a battery, but they're a great place to start and can help you understand the costs and benefits of each option.

Chemistry & configuration

Understanding the different chemistries and configurations available for solar batteries can be difficult. Here are some of the factors to consider:

• Chemistry: Lithium-ion batteries come in various chemistries, but the top batteries on our list are either Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC), or Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP). NMC batteries are perhaps the oldest solar batteries, but LFP batteries are gaining traction because they tend to have higher power ratings and longer lifespans. 

• Integrated inverter: Batteries can come with or without an integrated inverter. If your battery doesn't have an integrated inverter, you'll need to buy an external, third-party inverter, which often has a separate warranty. Storage systems with an integrated storage inverter convert the usable alternating current (AC) energy from your home to storable direct current (DC) energy and back again. If your storage system has an integrated hybrid inverter, it can cover both the production from your solar panels and the requirements of your storage system, providing efficient integration for solar-plus-storage systems. 

• Coupling: Batteries can be either AC- or DC-coupled. AC-coupled storage systems have traditionally been most common for residential solar systems because they're easy to install, especially if you already have solar panels and are retrofitting your storage system. If you plan to install a new solar-plus-storage system, a DC-coupled storage system may be a better option because it will provide a higher overall efficiency. 

• Configuration flexibility: Many battery manufacturers offer different configurations for your storage system so you can size it according to your needs. Some offer batteries with various capacities, and many enable you to connect multiple batteries to one inverter to provide optimal storage capacity. 

Power & performance

You'll want to compare the power and performance of different batteries before deciding. Here are key factors that impact your battery's power and performance:

• Power: Measured in kilowatts (kW), determines the maximum amount of electricity that can be output at a single time.

• Usable capacity: Measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), usable capacity measures the maximum amount of electricity stored in your battery on a full charge.

• Peak power rating: Measured in kilowatts (kW), a battery's peak power rating is the amount of power it can output quickly as it reacts to turn on appliances. High peak power ratings are important if you need to start energy-intensive appliances with your battery, like a sump pump.

• Continuous power rating: A battery's continuous power rating, also measured in kW, determines the maximum amount of electricity it can output consistently. High continuous power ratings are important to run multiple power-hungry appliances simultaneously.

• Depth of discharge: Depth of discharge (DoD) indicates the percentage of the battery's capacity that can discharge relative to its overall capacity. It measures how much of the battery's capacity you can use. Many battery manufacturers specify a maximum DoD level for optimal battery performance, and generally, batteries with higher percentages are considered better-quality products. 

• Roundtrip efficiency: The roundtrip efficiency measures electrical losses involved with charging and discharging a battery. The higher the percentage, the more efficient the battery is at converting incoming electricity into stored electricity and back into usable electricity.

Warranty

Sifting through battery warranties can be tedious and time-consuming--but it's essential when making such a big purchase. Here are some of the key things to look for in battery warranties:

• Capacity warranty: Guarantees that a certain percentage of the original battery energy capacity will remain after a set period

• Warranty period: Most popular energy storage systems come with a 10-year warranty covering your system's integrity and output. 

• End of warranty capacity: Many manufacturers promise a certain level of performance by the time your warranty term is up. To calculate the warrantied capacity at the end of the warranty term, multiply the end of warranty capacity by the battery's usable capacity.

• Cycle clause: Each time you drain and charge your battery, it's called a cycle. Each cycle slightly reduces your battery's ability to hold a full charge. Some manufacturers include a cycle clause, which means that if you hit your warrantied number of cycles before your battery reaches the end of its warranty period, it could end your warranty term. 

• Throughput clause: The throughput clause includes the total energy a manufacturer expects the battery to deliver throughout its lifetime. Stated in terms of megawatt-hours (MWh), these clauses stipulate that if you reach your battery's throughput before the end of its warranty period, it could end your warranty term. We've stated the throughput clause by kWh of usable capacity for easy comparison. To calculate the total throughput, multiply the number we've provided by the battery's usable capacity.  

Price

Comparing the price of batteries isn't exactly straightforward. Similar to comparing prices for solar panels, there's a difference between the cost of the equipment itself and the cost of a full system installation. Luckily, we have plenty of data from quotes through our Marketplace to help you understand price differences between the top battery brands.

Just keep in mind that solar battery installation prices can depend heavily on your property; for example, your electrical panel setup and existing wiring might mean more or less work for an installation crew.

We evaluated solar battery brands and products based on the metrics above to create a list of the best solar batteries available today. Each battery has different pros and cons: The best storage solution for you may not be the best solution for your neighbor!

If you're interested in learning more about the batteries we've included in our list, check out our more in-depth reviews of each product, or you can head over to the EnergySage Buyer's Guide, where you can compare different types of equipment based on efficiencies, warranties, and more. 

Enphase IQ Battery

Why we like it: This is a great battery if you have a complicated roof and want microinverters and only one app for your solar and battery system.

Enphase is one of the biggest names in solar panel inverter technology, but in 2019, it entered the battery market with the Enphase Encharge, recently rebranded as the IQ Battery. One of the biggest draws of the IQ Battery is its integrated microinverter technology, which makes your battery work seamlessly with your solar panels.

The IQ Battery is quite pricy, given its size and power ratings, and has a lower roundtrip efficiency than some other batteries on the market.

To read our full review of the Enphase IQ Battery, check out this article. 

FranklinWH aPower

Why we like it: The aPower has a load management system for better energy control, is highly scalable, and offers a strong 12-year warranty.

In 2022, FranklinWH released its first storage product, the aPower. It includes FranklinWH's load management system, the aGate, allowing you to easily monitor your storage system and take action based on those insights. You can stack up to 15 aPower batteries for a whopping 204 kWh of usable capacity. The battery has an impressive 12-year warranty but lower roundtrip efficiency than some other top batteries.

To read our full review of the Franklin WH Battery, check out this article. 

Generac PWRcell

Why we like it: The PWRcell is very scalable and efficient, and you can power it directly with Generac's PWRgenerator.

Generac has long been a leader in the backup power space but recently made its foray into energy storage when it acquired battery manufacturer Pika Energy in 2019 and subsequently launched the Generac PWRcell. The PWRcell has one of the highest roundtrip efficiencies of the batteries on this list at 96.5% and is very scalable.

The PWRcell also integrates directly with Generac's PWRgenerator, the first generator designed to recharge a solar battery directly. So, if your battery runs out of charge and you're in the middle of a snowstorm, the PWRgenerator can kick on to power your battery and run your home even.

Of the batteries on our list, the PWRcell is the most expensive on EnergySage and offers the lowest DoD at 84%.

To read our full review of the Generac PWRcell, check out this article.

HomeGrid Stack'd Series

Why we like it: HomeGrid offers the most affordable and scalable batteries on EnergySage, with high power ratings, DoD, and roundtrip efficiency.

After being acquired by Lithion Battery in 2021, HomeGrid has solidified its place in the battery storage market. The HomeGrid Stack'd Series is flexible and easy to maintain and install. Due to its affordability, scalability, and high performance, HomeGrid's batteries are some of the best for those looking to go off-grid.

HomeGrid batteries don't come with an inverter, but you can pair them with inverters from Sol-Ark, Schneider, SMA, Victon, and Outback.

To read our full review of the Homegrid battery, check out this article.

LG Energy Solution Prime

Why we like it: LG Energy Solution offers a battery with a high DoD and brand recognition beyond many other solar batteries.

LG is a huge name in the home electronics industry; its battery subsidiary, LG Energy Solution, produces one of the most popular solar batteries in the U.S. market: the Prime. The Prime includes a high DoD and a relatively high roundtrip efficiency for those looking to add a battery to an existing solar panel system at 94.5%.

LG Energy Solution uses NMC battery chemistry, which generally doesn't perform as well as LFP batteries, and it has recalled some batteries due to reports of fires and smoking. The Prime also isn't very scalable and doesn't come with an inverter, though it's compatible with inverters from SolarEdge, SMA, GoodWe, Growatt, and General Electric.

To read our full review of the LG Chem RESU, check out this article.

Panasonic EverVolt

Why we like it: Whether you're looking to add a battery to your current solar panel system or install a new solar-plus-storage system, the Panasonic EverVolt is an affordable battery with a relatively long warranty and a well-regarded brand name.

Panasonic is one of the world's largest battery manufacturers. In 2019, it officially entered the solar battery market with the launch of the EverVolt. The EverVolt is highly flexible in its configuration, allowing you to design the storage system that fits your needs. If you already have a solar system, you can easily retrofit the EverVolt with the AC-coupled model, or if you are installing a new solar-plus-storage, you can choose the DC-coupled model, providing higher efficiency.

The EverVolt is an affordable battery and comes with a strong 12-year warranty. However, compared to other batteries on our list, its DoD is on the lower end at 90%.

To read our full review of the Panasonic EverVolt, check out this article.

Schneider Electric Boost

Why we like it: In addition to its high DoD and roundtrip efficiency, You can pair the Boost with other products in the Schneider Home ecosystem for a complete smart home energy management system controlled by one app. 

Schneider has been around for almost two centuries but just entered the solar battery market this year. Its Boost battery is part of the Schneider Home ecosystem, which features a smart electrical panel for remote control of the Boost, the hybrid semi-optimized inverter (it can optimize four strings of solar panels), a high-performance home electric vehicle (EV) charger, and home light switches and outlets for even more monitoring and control. The Boost is currently available to California dealers and installers and will be available more widely in late 2023 or early 2024.

The Boost is an industry leader for both DoD and roundtrip efficiency. However, if you have a complicated roof but only want one app for solar and storage, the required inverter may not work well for your home because it can't optimize your system at the panel level.

SolarEdge Home Battery

Why we like it: The SolarEdge Home Battery features a high DoD and includes one of the most popular hybrid inverters for seamless integration with a solar panel system.

SolarEdge offers some of the world's most widely used solar inverters; in 2021, they launched their first home battery, the Home Battery. The Home Battery has a fully integrated SolarEdge Energy Hub Inverter, which boasts 100% DoD and 94.5% efficiency. It comes with an industry-standard warranty of 10 years, but unlike most battery warranties, it does not restrict usage with a cycle or throughput clause.

The Home Battery uses NMC battery chemistry, known for lower performance than LFP batteries, and has relatively low peak and continuous power ratings.

To read our full review of the SolarEdge Home Battery, check out this article.

Sonnen ecoLinx

Why we like it: The Sonnen ecoLinx comes with one of the best warranties in the battery industry at 15 years, a high DoD, and a high peak power rating.

The ecoLinx is the high-end battery option offered by Sonnen, one of the most well-known companies in energy storage. The ecoLinx is one of the most expensive batteries on our list, but it comes with an impressive DoD of 100%, a high peak power rating at 12 kW, and one of the best battery warranties, covering 15 years or 15,000 cycles.

However, it has a low roundtrip efficiency of 81.6% and isn't as scalable as some other batteries on our list.

To read our full review of the Sonnen batteries, check out this article.

SunPower SunVault

Why we like it: The SunPower SunVault has a high peak power rating, unlimited cycles and throughput under its warranty, and it can seamlessly integrate with SunPower's solar solution.

SunPower is one of the biggest names in the solar industry; in 2019, it made its foray into the solar battery space with the Equinox Storage system. Now rebranded as the SunVault Storage system, this storage solution includes a battery and a control system that directly ties into SunPower's solar solution, the SunPower Equinox.

The EverVolt has a lower DoD and roundtrip efficiency than many other top batteries, at 92% and 86%, respectively. It's also less scalable than some others on our list.

To read our full review of the SunPower SunVault Storage system, check out this article.

Tesla Powerwall+

Why we like it: Tesla's Powerwall+ has a high DoD, a strong warranty, is relatively affordable, and offers the highest roundtrip efficiency for those looking to add a battery to their existing solar panel systems.

Tesla quickly became one of the biggest names in the home energy storage market after launching the Tesla Powerwall in 2015. The Powerwall+, which includes an integrated inverter, has a sleek design and a companion app to wirelessly manage your home energy system. It also has built-in software that helps you automatically optimize your energy usage patterns to take advantage of complicated utility rates.

Tesla's Powerwall+ boasts a DoD of 100%, the highest roundtrip efficiency of the AC-coupled batteries at 97.5%, and has unlimited cycles and throughput covered under its warranty.

While the Tesla Powerwall+ is relatively affordable, it has NMC battery chemistry, which generally performs worse than LFP batteries, and relatively low peak and continuous power ratings. Many Tesla product owners also report poor customer service.

To read our full review of the Tesla Powerwall, check out this article.

Adding energy storage technology to your home is a complicated process that requires electrical expertise, certifications, and knowledge of the best solar-plus-storage installation practices. The best way to decide on a solar-plus-storage system is to compare multiple quotes.

On the EnergySage Marketplace, you'll receive free online quotes from pre-vetted installers and free advice from our team of Energy Advisors. Choosing a reliable installer can significantly reduce your risk of encountering battery issues down the line and help you feel confident in your system. Are you interested in a specific battery product? Make a note in your profile so installers know to include that product in your quotes.