{"id":11499,"date":"2023-11-13T23:41:08","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T23:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/?p=11499"},"modified":"2023-11-15T17:27:04","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T17:27:04","slug":"which-type-of-battery-is-best-for-a-home-solar-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/which-type-of-battery-is-best-for-a-home-solar-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Type of Battery Is Best for a Home Solar System?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solar and battery systems offer homeowners an unprecedented opportunity to own and control the production, storage, and consumption of their essential electricity needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While installing solar panels is relatively straightforward, pairing them with battery storage is a little more nuanced given the various types of batteries available and what they\u2019re able to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, in this article, we\u2019ll explore which batteries pair best with solar panels to accomplish the three most common energy goals: Cost savings, essential backup, and whole-home backup.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click to jump to a section:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#cost\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best batteries for cost-savings<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#backup\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best batteries for essential backup<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#whole\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best batteries for whole-home backup<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s start with a quick recap of the different types of batteries on the market.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What types of solar batteries are there?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three distinguishing features that determine a battery\u2019s \u201ctype.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chemistry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (what it\u2019s made of)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Current type<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (AC vs DC)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Capabilities <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Backup vs Consumption-only)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Battery chemistry: Lithium-ion versus Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are no fewer than <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/types-of-solar-batteries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">five types of battery chemistries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that could be used (theoretically or practically) for residential energy storage. However, Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) have emerged as the dominant chemistries today, as they provide an ideal balance of energy density and efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Side note: The &#8220;F&#8221; in LFP is for &#8220;ferro,&#8221; which is a synonym for iron.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared to Lithium-ion, LFP batteries generally last longer, allow greater depth of discharge, handle a wider range of temperatures, and have a virtually non-existent risk of thermal runaway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, Lithium-ion batteries tend to cost less and are less affected by maintaining a high state of charge, which is common for essential backup systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feature<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LFP<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LI-ION<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifecycles before degradation<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1,000 to 10,000<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">500 to 1,000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Energy density<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40-55 Wh per lb<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">45-120 Wh per lb<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depth of discharge<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to 100%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">80-95%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operating temperature<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-4 F to 140 F<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">32 F to 113 F<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk of thermal runaway?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Near non-existent<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Noteworthy if not properly installed<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ideal usage<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-consumption &amp; TOU modes<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Backup mode<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cost<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$$$<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$$<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AC vs DC batteries<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another distinguishing feature to consider is whether a battery is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/should-i-get-an-ac-or-dc-coupled-solar-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AC- or DC-coupled<\/a>. Certain batteries can charge on Direct Current (DC) electricity while others charge on Alternating Current (AC) electricity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, DC batteries are more efficient while AC batteries are much easier to configure into existing solar systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AC-coupled batteries<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DC-coupled batteries<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Round-trip efficiency<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">85-90%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to 97.5%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compatability<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compatible with most existing solar and inverter configurations<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficult to configure into existing solar systems, especially systems with microinverters<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether or not you already have a home solar system \u2013 and how that system is configured \u2013 will determine whether an AC- or DC-coupled battery is best.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consumption-only vs backup\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The third distinction to consider is whether the battery is backup-enabled or configured for self-consumption only. While backup power is typically thought of as the primary benefit of battery storage, there is a growing demand for battery storage <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">without <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the additional costs attributed to the equipment, labor, and programming required to enable backup power when the grid goes down. Given this smaller scope of work, consumption-only battery projects typically costs around two-thirds of comparable backup-enabled battery projects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With that in mind, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/what-is-consumption-only-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consumption-only batteries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (aka \u201cnon-backup\u201d batteries) are typically used by homeowners who:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have the primary goal of energy cost savings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are largely unaffected by power outages<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, under <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/nem-3-0-proposal-and-impacts-for-california-homeowners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">California\u2019s NEM 3.0 solar billing policy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it\u2019s much more cost-effective to store and use your own solar production in a consumption-only battery than to trade electricity back and forth with the utility grid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a id=\"cost\"><\/a>Best batteries for cost savings<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>If your primary goal is energy cost savings and you have no need for backup power, then the best battery to pair with solar panels is a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) consumption-only battery.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Whether an AC- or DC-coupled battery is best depends on whether or not you already have solar panels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/best-solar-batteries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">best LFP batteries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> currently on the market include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enphase IQ (AC-coupled)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panasonic EverVolt (AC or DC-coupled)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SunPower SunVault (AC-coupled)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of these batteries are offered as consumption-only packages.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is LFP battery chemistry best for cost savings?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Batteries used primarily for cost savings typically operate in solar self-consumption mode. This means that the battery will <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">only <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">charge on solar power and discharge as soon as the solar panels can\u2019t meet household electricity demand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In self-consumption mode, the battery is charged and discharged (aka \u201ccycled\u201d) on a daily basis and carries a very low charge overnight (known as a low &#8220;state of charge\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdf.sciencedirectassets.com\/271429\/1-s2.0-S0306261920X00043\/1-s2.0-S0306261920301446\/am.pdf?X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEQaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJIMEYCIQDUd9lLCRpNacv4THfDQsT4Nt5M3CSRTybNQvE2OdZZ2QIhALh9nbITuQIZrAgM%2BMa4Bwq8YRqkAosyCFUdV3ZOJaVFKrIFCE0QBRoMMDU5MDAzNTQ2ODY1Igx7tN4JZ9wtE4DIjegqjwWosT7mNGcWDRaFLD5OuiDVuAqUvzTcf9rwMf9T5KJaCa4pzb5TrWj38U84c59H1omBG0dD4hgv%2BiQs1OWlaXLFDEw8IBp1vKWuO6%2FO6fZIrb7zRRko2rWa0caV1RVh%2BxKXRyqFrd6n6QSMZBOJcQCKsxri02VCcDWrAtRH%2FW5UVYrmckecpI767u0jJYsqpTWz6rAjOCnQLolO%2B9s7v1KJeBC2BoeG25debX8TGLvLjCyyIyfgLVHxTubXzaMlktdjKa4QMChNTH8sYxGWincWjXa%2FRM2EcOweT6z9ZG44Lu2y3C%2BJ%2Bpa6cpUHuwY6riCcH70TTIS46SWWsD2p2YcqiY67bK3YIL3s%2FRXlrFKTjGumS%2B33YVYYo4CufQ0HvrOdyivEaBr6ApdZR9h2NnLoShoNDNEhoL%2BdhCPMG33RJyMd%2FxW2JrZ5%2FCAhBUVXFUJdr4itp%2Bm1nB5opymIT48Dk%2BLuSmcOp85QWQpxC8zGu%2FuqZlqODNJ6rlRCSp5RFS%2FewchafKMdEMiVCTbdLrde9y50iKnaHlXpuMxS1Nwqr1FEEyVLDf%2FXwhSmV8tAvEkKu8xt4q8daEc4TAMsQ%2BK5TF59K6bKOLk95gsiM1NgY1RuzFzEojpJPDzq9ylZvqTgvldNtveQZoAlI61MS9BGwhM0VydYwU5Mn6eyCp%2BXgLlqAsc1%2BVSA0FB1axO536Sb6s7uLKdCZWi8izXz2S%2BYdCi%2FHndaz%2BYd70MoFJnm0Zu7n%2BGbNeAwafoirnIPd4IQuDb9D83MMjmxqhA3OGiRCnikASlcYFgPTuVeLF2vMk%2B7HwUft7yoL%2BEg9RFKItxW2hfFEshSOPPKHcwqJKv8gNKQACQqwTBq0i6IvF%2FgMIf39qgGOrABy1xAL84xY6FyL6wJv%2Fu9s5xBAy4E2MdzgB%2FmxISJPeTllVT7%2FDOgiNRw%2BXgMs6fFBYdSRrZduvayw08dW%2FISTygZWKxq6vAmtam5x760KGNylk8r0nOkx%2FkVcNOgkP0pKeG5Ga6cDXXuLmnZyp7gzJZosU%2FMq4dTIIcgBOMVMYQ0GKJyeYVVF06jANJaO6i6Hm7wK%2F9OU%2F%2FMWzEJUjbB9pQcGWh%2F%2FWaFj%2BYEoVEQN3s%3D&amp;X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Date=20231004T201927Z&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Expires=300&amp;X-Amz-Credential=ASIAQ3PHCVTYRN7BS5HW%2F20231004%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Signature=ec306cf75d7c7d8a952144b305f82242da3941451044d0cc26cab46e4c22e9f0&amp;hash=0965a59858f86e51621d228eb5081c78c28c993bff089d21d33ebc7ded8a88d3&amp;host=68042c943591013ac2b2430a89b270f6af2c76d8dfd086a07176afe7c76c2c61&amp;pii=S0306261920301446&amp;tid=pdf-69fa2f87-52b8-4b78-aa3e-4fddfd897af6&amp;sid=54a4a9b92cfe064cd5384805bb36d73cc001gxrqa&amp;type=client\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2020 study <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), LFP batteries are more resilient to daily cycling and actually prefer a low state of charge, which makes them particularly suited for self-consumption mode.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.solar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NMC-vs-LFP-self-consumption-mode.jpg\" alt=\"Graph showing the capacity degradation of LFP vs NMC solar batteries operating in self-consumption mode\" width=\"765\" height=\"772\" \/><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why consumption-only battery for cost savings?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By leaving out the equipment, labor, and programming required to enable backup power, <strong>consumption-only batteries typically come at around two-thirds of the cost of a traditional backup battery<\/strong>. And if your primary goal is to save money, then a battery with a lower upfront cost provides a quicker return on investment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While consumption-only batteries can provide greater energy cost savings, it\u2019s worth emphasizing that they <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">do not provide backup power during grid outages.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/dashboard\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connect with an Energy Advisor to design a custom solar &amp; battery system for your goals.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is AC or DC battery better for cost savings?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While DC batteries are more efficient \u2013 and thus provide more energy bill offset per kWh of solar production \u2013 they typically come with a greater upfront cost, especially if when adding a DC battery to an existing solar system.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your primary goal is cost savings, it\u2019s worth crunching the numbers for your specific situation to see whether an AC or DC battery provides the greatest return on investment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a id=\"backup\"><\/a>Best batteries for essential backup power<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>If the primary goal is powering essential systems (lights, Wi-Fi, refrigeration, etc) during grid outages, the best battery to pair with solar panels is a backup-enabled Lithium-ion battery. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, whether an AC- or DC-coupled battery is best depends on whether or not you already have solar panels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some popular batteries that fit this criteria include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tesla Powerwall (AC-coupled)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generac PWRcell (DC-coupled)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LG RESU 10H Prime (DC-coupled)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LG ESS Home 8 (AC-coupled)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obviously, if you want to provide backup power, then a backup-enabled battery is required and consumption-only configurations are not an option.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is Lithium-ion (NMC) chemistry better for backup mode?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike LFP batteries, which prefer a low average state of charge, Lithium-ion batteries (particularly the NMC chemistry used by Tesla, LG, and Generac) tend to prefer maintaining a high state of charge \u2013 which aligns well with backup batteries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In backup mode, batteries go through fewer charge\/discharge cycles and maintain a high state of charge until the grid goes down. According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdf.sciencedirectassets.com\/271429\/1-s2.0-S0306261920X00043\/1-s2.0-S0306261920301446\/am.pdf?X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEQaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJIMEYCIQDUd9lLCRpNacv4THfDQsT4Nt5M3CSRTybNQvE2OdZZ2QIhALh9nbITuQIZrAgM%2BMa4Bwq8YRqkAosyCFUdV3ZOJaVFKrIFCE0QBRoMMDU5MDAzNTQ2ODY1Igx7tN4JZ9wtE4DIjegqjwWosT7mNGcWDRaFLD5OuiDVuAqUvzTcf9rwMf9T5KJaCa4pzb5TrWj38U84c59H1omBG0dD4hgv%2BiQs1OWlaXLFDEw8IBp1vKWuO6%2FO6fZIrb7zRRko2rWa0caV1RVh%2BxKXRyqFrd6n6QSMZBOJcQCKsxri02VCcDWrAtRH%2FW5UVYrmckecpI767u0jJYsqpTWz6rAjOCnQLolO%2B9s7v1KJeBC2BoeG25debX8TGLvLjCyyIyfgLVHxTubXzaMlktdjKa4QMChNTH8sYxGWincWjXa%2FRM2EcOweT6z9ZG44Lu2y3C%2BJ%2Bpa6cpUHuwY6riCcH70TTIS46SWWsD2p2YcqiY67bK3YIL3s%2FRXlrFKTjGumS%2B33YVYYo4CufQ0HvrOdyivEaBr6ApdZR9h2NnLoShoNDNEhoL%2BdhCPMG33RJyMd%2FxW2JrZ5%2FCAhBUVXFUJdr4itp%2Bm1nB5opymIT48Dk%2BLuSmcOp85QWQpxC8zGu%2FuqZlqODNJ6rlRCSp5RFS%2FewchafKMdEMiVCTbdLrde9y50iKnaHlXpuMxS1Nwqr1FEEyVLDf%2FXwhSmV8tAvEkKu8xt4q8daEc4TAMsQ%2BK5TF59K6bKOLk95gsiM1NgY1RuzFzEojpJPDzq9ylZvqTgvldNtveQZoAlI61MS9BGwhM0VydYwU5Mn6eyCp%2BXgLlqAsc1%2BVSA0FB1axO536Sb6s7uLKdCZWi8izXz2S%2BYdCi%2FHndaz%2BYd70MoFJnm0Zu7n%2BGbNeAwafoirnIPd4IQuDb9D83MMjmxqhA3OGiRCnikASlcYFgPTuVeLF2vMk%2B7HwUft7yoL%2BEg9RFKItxW2hfFEshSOPPKHcwqJKv8gNKQACQqwTBq0i6IvF%2FgMIf39qgGOrABy1xAL84xY6FyL6wJv%2Fu9s5xBAy4E2MdzgB%2FmxISJPeTllVT7%2FDOgiNRw%2BXgMs6fFBYdSRrZduvayw08dW%2FISTygZWKxq6vAmtam5x760KGNylk8r0nOkx%2FkVcNOgkP0pKeG5Ga6cDXXuLmnZyp7gzJZosU%2FMq4dTIIcgBOMVMYQ0GKJyeYVVF06jANJaO6i6Hm7wK%2F9OU%2F%2FMWzEJUjbB9pQcGWh%2F%2FWaFj%2BYEoVEQN3s%3D&amp;X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Date=20231004T201927Z&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Expires=300&amp;X-Amz-Credential=ASIAQ3PHCVTYRN7BS5HW%2F20231004%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Signature=ec306cf75d7c7d8a952144b305f82242da3941451044d0cc26cab46e4c22e9f0&amp;hash=0965a59858f86e51621d228eb5081c78c28c993bff089d21d33ebc7ded8a88d3&amp;host=68042c943591013ac2b2430a89b270f6af2c76d8dfd086a07176afe7c76c2c61&amp;pii=S0306261920301446&amp;tid=pdf-69fa2f87-52b8-4b78-aa3e-4fddfd897af6&amp;sid=54a4a9b92cfe064cd5384805bb36d73cc001gxrqa&amp;type=client\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NREL<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Lithium-ion (NMC) batteries maintain their original capacity longer under these conditions than LFP batteries, as shown in the figure below.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.solar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/nmc-vs-lfp-backup-mode.png\" alt=\"Graphs showing capacity degradation rates of NMC and LFP solar batteries in backup mode\" width=\"925\" height=\"481\" \/><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is an AC or DC battery better for essential backup?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The choice between AC and DC batteries is typically dictated by whether you already have solar panels installed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have an existing system, then AC-coupled batteries will be easier (and less expensive) to add to the mix. If you don\u2019t have solar panels, then DC-coupled batteries becoming a much more attractive option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In an essential backup scenario, having a more efficient DC battery allows you to squeeze more power out of every kWh of solar production during the outage. That means more time with the lights on and, possibly, more systems to power with your backup battery!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<gs-injectable background = 'true' border='true' primary_color = '#8b72d3' secondary_color='#f98d7e' utm_campaign = 'get_started_injectable' utm_medium='best type of battery' content_texts = 'true' upper_text='Compare battery prices from multiple' upper_text_span = 'trusted installers' lower_text='Take a step toward' lower_text_span = 'energy independence' get_started_text='Get started' only_community_solar='false'><\/gs-injectable>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a id=\"whole\"><\/a>Best Batteries for whole-home backup<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the primary goal is to power <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">every system <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in your home \u2013 during outages or when the grid is online \u2013 then the best batteries to pair with solar panels are the ones that can be stacked together to provide enough peak and continuous power output for large loads like air conditioning and EV charger.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on that criteria, here are a few of the best batteries for whole-home backup:<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 71.8519%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 19.8389%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Battery<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 14.5983%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chemistry<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 22.7632%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Number of battery units stacked together<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.4804%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usable capacity<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 13.7966%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Continuous output<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0121%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Round-Trip efficiency<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 19.8389%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Franklin Home Power (AC)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 14.5983%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LFP<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 22.7632%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.4804%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40.8 kWh<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 13.7966%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15 kW<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0121%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">89%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 19.8389%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tesla Powerwall 2 (AC)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 14.5983%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NMC<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 22.7632%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.4804%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40.5 kWh<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 13.7966%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15 kW<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0121%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 19.8389%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LG ESS Home 8 (AC)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 14.5983%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NMC<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 22.7632%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.4804%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">43.2 kWh<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 13.7966%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22.5 kW<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0121%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 19.8389%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enphase IQ 5P (AC)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 14.5983%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LFP<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 22.7632%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.4804%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40 kWh<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 13.7966%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30.72 kW<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0121%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 19.8389%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generac PWRcell (DC)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 14.5983%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NMC<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 22.7632%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.4804%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">36 kWh<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 13.7966%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11 kW<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0121%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">96.5%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll also want to consider battery chemistry. For example, if your goal is simply to store enough energy to power your entire home during a grid outage, the NMC chemistry is more suitable. However, if you plan on using charging and discharging on a daily basis, LFP chemistry is more suitable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, round-trip efficiency plays an important role in battery systems of this scale. With a 10 kWh battery, 90% efficiency means losing 1 kWh per cycle. But with a 40 kWh system, 90% efficiency means losing <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 kWh<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> per cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if you don\u2019t already have solar panels, it\u2019s worth exploring more efficient DC-battery \u2013 as long as they\u2019re stackable. If you already have solar panels, then keep an eye on the most efficient AC-coupled batteries.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find the best battery for your solar system<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With power outages increasing and net metering policies eroding, home batteries are becoming more mainstream and beneficial by the day. And while every battery company claims to have the best product, <\/span><b>the best battery for your solar system is the one that empowers you to achieve your energy goals.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/dashboard\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connect with an Energy Advisor to set goals and find the best battery for your new or existing solar system.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Solar and battery systems offer homeowners an unprecedented opportunity to own and control the production, storage, and consumption of their essential electricity needs. While installing solar panels is relatively straightforward,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":11502,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[93,45],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.5 (Yoast SEO v19.10) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Which Type of Battery Is Best for a Home Solar System? | Solar.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The best type of battery for your home solar system depends on your energy goals. 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