When it comes to efficient power at home, there are a lot of options on the market. Many people are switching to solar power, meaning solar panels powered by solar batteries. If you’d like to do this too, you may be wondering which type of solar battery is right for you.
Two of the most common solar batteries on the market are the Generac Solar Battery and the Tesla Powerwall. They’re both great options, but there are some key differences between them. Here’s a look at Generac Solar Battery vs Tesla Powerwall so you can decide which is right for you.
Read on for more information!
Table of Contents
Introduction to Tesla Powerwall
So, what is the Tesla Powerwall? It is a lithium-ion home battery system designed by Tesla and released to the public in 2015. Each battery’s job is to store energy from your solar panels, which then can provide backup power during outages.
These batteries must be installed by a professional installer who is certified in the process, and then they are easy to run at home by using your cell phone app. They have become one of the top go-to manufacturers for homeowners who want whole home backup power.
Introduction to Generac Solar Battery
The Generac Solar Battery is called the Generac PWRcell. Like its Tesla competitor, it also is a home battery system designed to store clean energy from the sun through solar panels or a utility grid.
This Wisconsin-headquartered company is a leader in efficient whole-home backup power that services many homes across the nation, now one of the largest generator companies as well as battery system companies since they acquired Pika Energy in recent years.
Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Solar Battery
Both of these companies are great and produce high-quality energy storage systems. So how do you decide between them? When it comes to solar batteries, there are a few key factors you’ll want to keep in mind.
- Manufacturer: First, consider the manufacturer. It’s important to choose a reputable brand that makes high-quality products. This will help ensure that your solar battery lasts for many years to come. Solar batteries are a significant investment, so you’ll want to make sure you’re getting a good return on your investment.
- Battery Size: Next, consider the size of the solar battery. This is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The size of the battery will determine how much power it can store. If you have a small home with few appliances, you may only need a small solar battery. On the other hand, if you have a large home or lots of appliances, you’ll need a larger solar battery. Solar batteries range in size from 5 kWh to 15 kWh.
- Depth of Discharge: Another important factor to consider is the depth of discharge (DoD). This refers to the amount of electricity that can be taken out of the solar battery before it needs to be recharged. A higher DoD means more usable capacity. Solar batteries typically have a DoD of 50-80%.
- Warranty: Finally, make sure to check the warranty before you make your purchase. A good solar battery should have a long warranty, preferably 10 years or more. This will help ensure that you’re getting a quality product.
Generac Solar Battery vs Tesla Powerwall
Now that you know what to look for in a solar battery, let’s compare Generac Solar Battery vs Tesla Powerwall side by side. In this comparison, we’ll look at the size, price, warranty, and features of each solar battery to see which one is right for you!
1. Size
As we’ve mentioned before, the size of a solar battery makes a big difference. You want to choose one that will be able to keep up with the particular demands of your home.
Tesla Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall comes in only one size: 5 kW of power (which is 13.5 kWh of usable capacity). The benefit of this is that it’s quick and easy – you don’t have to mess with multiple sizes.
The downside, however, is that you can’t up-level to another size if you need more power. If you do need more storage capacity for your home, you will have to buy a second Tesla Powerwall battery.
Generac PWRcell
When it comes to sizes, you have many more options with the Generac PWRcell. This battery storage system comes in four sizes. You can get 4.5 kW, 6 kW, 7.5 kW, or 9 kW of power. This means you can get a few sizes of PWRcell batteries that are larger than the Tesla, though you still may need to buy several of them if you want your home to be fully supported by the sun.
2. Price
The price is another important factor to consider. After all, you want to make sure you’re getting a good return on your investment.
Tesla Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall battery has a pretty hefty price tag of around $11,500. The price per unit decreases as you purchase more, though, such as two batteries becoming $8,500 each.
The catch, however, is in the additional purchases you will have to make. For example, Tesla only sells their batteries if you also buy the Tesla solar roof or the Tesla solar shingles. You cannot buy the battery by itself, unless you go through a third party.
Not to mention, the price of the battery does not include installation costs, which can be significant.
Generac PWRcell
A single battery from Generac costs around $2,000, but if you want the whole Generac PWRcell system, it starts at about $18,000. This price includes installation, but it does not include any additional batteries, the inverter, solar panels, or any additional cabinets you might need to house more batteries.
The beauty of this system is that you can add and subtract pieces to get close to exactly what you need for your home. It does make the cost quite varying, however, which can make it a difficult one to price out at the beginning of a project.
3. Warranty
When it comes to solar batteries, you want one that will last for many years to come. That’s why it’s important to choose a solar battery with a long warranty.
Tesla Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall comes with a 10-year warranty. This warranty covers only products sold by Tesla or an American-based Tesla Authorized Reseller. Also, it will over-guarantee products that are installed on homes within the United States.
Generac PWRcell
Generac PWRcell guarantees their battery cabinet, the smart management modules (SMM), and the inverter all come with a 10-year warranty. This gives you peace of mind knowing that your investment is protected even if there is a breakdown in the solar system somewhere.
4. Features
Finally, let’s take a look at some of the features of each solar battery. These features can make a big difference in how well the battery works for your home.
Tesla Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall battery has several great features, including:
- AC-coupled battery
- Battery chemistry: nickel manganese cobalt (NMC)
- Peak power: 7 kW, 106 A LRA start
- Battery modules: 2
- Depth of discharge: 100%
- Storage capacity: 13.5 kWh
- Maximum continuous power: 5 kW
Generac PWRcell
The Generac PWRcell system also has several great features, including:
- AC or DC-coupled battery options
- Battery chemistry: lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (Li-NMC)
- Peak power: 10 kW, 50 A LRA start
- Battery modules: 3 to 6
- Depth of discharge: 84%
- Storage capacity: 9 to 18 kWh
- Maximum continuous power: 6.7 kW
Solar Battery Comparison: Which One is Right for You?
Now that you’ve compared the Generac Solar Battery and the Tesla Powerwall, it’s time to decide which one is right for you.
If you’re looking for a solar battery that can provide backup power for small appliances, the Generac Solar Battery 4.5 kWh model might be the perfect choice. If you’re looking for a solar battery that can provide backup power for larger appliances and whole-home backup power, the Tesla Powerwall or the Generac Solar Battery 8 or 16 kWh models might be the best option for you.
In addition, if you want the creative option of building a modular system for your home, you will want to use one of the Generac PWRcell battery backup systems, as the Tesla Powerwall is not as flexible.
However, if it’s important to you to have the ability to discharge the battery further while still maintaining the battery’s health and optimal performance, you will like that the Tesla Powerwall has 100% DoD. Can’t get better than that!
Conclusion
When it comes to solar batteries, there are a lot of options on the market. Two of the most popular solar batteries are the Generac PWRcell and the Tesla Powerwall. Both are great options, but there are some key differences between them.
We hope this blog post has given you some solid insight into a Generac Solar Battery vs Tesla Powerwall, and that you can now make a well-informed decision about which is right for you.
What other questions do you have about Generac PWRcell or Tesla Powerwall? Let us know in the comments below!