How to Select the Perfect Solar Battery for Your Needs: Evaluating the Top 8 Options of 2023

The 8 Best Solar Batteries of 2023 (and How to Choose the Right One For You)

By homesolarsessions | Sep 18, 2023
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From backup power to bill savings, home energy storage can deliver various benefits for homeowners with and without solar systems. And while new battery brands and models are hitting the market at a furious pace, the best solar batteries are the ones that empower you to achieve your specific energy goals. In this article, we’ll identify the best solar batteries in 2023 based on some of the most desired features and some of the things to consider when choosing a home battery.

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Best Solar Batteries of 2023

Naming a single “best solar battery” would be like trying to name “The Best Car” – it largely depends on what you’re looking for. Some homeowners are looking for backup power, some are motivated to decrease their reliance on dirty electricity from the grid, and a growing number – especially in California – need battery storage to maximize the savings potential of their solar system. The best solar battery also depends largely on whether you are installing it with a new solar system or adding it to an existing system. So, after reviewing the technical specifications of dozens of battery models on the market, we’ve identified a few of the best options for each purpose.

Best solar batteries for backup power

Backup power for grid outages is traditionally one of the most desired features of a solar battery. While most batteries have this feature, a few stand above the rest in 2023.

Franklin Home Power
Quick facts:
AC-coupled Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
Solar self-consumption, time-of-use, and backup capable

What we like:
If you’re looking to back up everything during a grid outage (including central air conditioning), the Franklin Home Power system is clearly the preferred choice among Solar.com’s network of battery installers. By combining three 13.6 kWh aPower batteries with a single aGate controller, the Home Power system can provide up to 15 kW of continuous power and 40.8 kWh of usable energy, and a single aPower has a peak power output of 9 kW to handle large surges like an AC or freezer kicking on.

Franklin Home Power specs
Feature Measurement
Usable capacity 13.6 kWh
Peak power 9 kW (10 seconds)
Continuous power 5 kW
Warranty 70% after 12 years or 43 MWh
Round-trip efficiency 89%
Depth of discharge 100%

Drawbacks:
At 408 pounds, a 13.6 kWH aPower battery is significantly heavier than comparable models. For example, at 359 pounds, LG’s 14.4 kWh HBC battery is over 50 pounds lighter. It’s also notable that 13.6 kWh is the only battery size offered in the Franklin Home Power system, so it’s tough to build the system to a precise size.

LG ESS Home 8
Quick facts:
AC-coupled Lithium Ion
Solar self-consumption, time-of-use, and backup capable

What we like:
In addition to the comfort of a globally recognized brand name, the LG ESS Home 8 offers 14.4 kWh of usable capacity, 7.5 kW of continuous power, and 9 kW of peak power, which makes it suitable for large backup loads during grid outages.

LG ESS Home 8 specs
Feature Measurement
Usable capacity 14.4 kWh
Peak power 9 kW (10 seconds)
Continuous power 7.5 kW
Warranty 70% after 10 years or 59.8 MWh
Round-trip efficiency 90%
Depth of discharge 90%

Drawbacks:
While prices vary by installer and project type, the Home 8 tends to be on the expensive side.

Best DC-coupled batteries

The major advantage of DC-coupled batteries is much higher round-trip efficiency, which can add up to longer backup power and greater bill reductions. Higher efficiency becomes especially beneficial if you’re charging an EV from your solar battery. It’s worth noting that DC-coupled batteries can be difficult to add to an existing solar system. So, if you plan on going the DC solar battery route, it’s best to install the battery at the same time as the solar system.

Panasonic EverVolt
Quick facts:
AC or DC-coupled Lithium Ferrite Phosphate (LFP)
Solar self-consumption, time-of-use, and backup capable

What we like:
The Panasonic EverVolt has a hybrid inverter that allows it to be AC- or DC-coupled, which makes it a viable option for both existing and future solar systems. It comes in three sizes – 10, 15, and 18 kWh (nameplate power) – which can be combined to accommodate various system sizes and offers a whopping 7.6 kW of continuous power when paired with solar panels.

Panasonic EverVolt specs
Feature Measurement
Usable capacity 9 / 13.5 / 18 kWh
Peak power 5.5 / 8.3 / 11.1 kW
Continuous power (with solar) 7.6 / 7.6 / 7.6 kW
Warranty 70% after 12 years
Round-trip efficiency 89% (AC); 94% (DC)
Depth of discharge 90%

Drawbacks:
To be honest, we’re having trouble finding a drawback to this battery option!

LG RESU Prime
Quick facts:
DC-coupled Lithium-ion
Solar self-consumption, time-of-use, and backup capable

What we like:
With 97.5% roundtrip efficiency, the LG RESU Prime appears to be the most efficient solar battery on the market. If you’re load shifting on a daily basis (because of time of use rates or unfavorable export rates) that extra 7-10% efficiency quickly adds up to greater bill savings than a typical AC-coupled battery. It comes in two sizes – 10H and 16H – which can be combined in parallel for up to 32 kWh of usable capacity and offer 100% depth of discharge.

LG RESU Prime specs
Feature Measurement
Usable capacity 9.6 / 16 kWh
Peak power 7 / 11 kW
Continuous power (with solar) 5 / 7 kW
Warranty 70% after 10 years or 32MWh throughput
Round-trip efficiency 97.5%
Depth of discharge 100%

Drawbacks:
The two apparent drawbacks of the LG RESU Prime battery are a relatively short warranty life (10 years or 32 MWh) and the fact that as a DC-coupled battery, it is quite difficult to add to an existing solar system.

Most modular batteries

Generac PWRcell DCB
Quick facts:
DC-coupled Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC)
Solar self-consumption, time-of-use, and backup capable

What we like:
At just 3 kWh per module, the Generac PWRcell is the most flexible and customizable solar battery on our list and perhaps the market. Stack three batteries together for 9 kWh of usable capacity – ideal for Solar self-consumption and light backup – and then add up to three more per cabinet as your storage needs increase. Plus, you gotta love the 96.5% roundtrip efficiency!

Generac PWRcell DCB specs (3 modules)
Feature Measurement
Usable capacity 9 kWh
Peak power N/A
Continuous power (with solar) 4.5 kW
Warranty 10 years or 7.65MWh throughput per module
Round-trip efficiency 96.5%
Depth of discharge 84%

Drawbacks:
As a DC-coupled battery, the PWRcell is challenging to add to existing solar systems. There is also something left to be desired regarding the warranty length and depth of discharge.

Enphase IQ 3/10
Quick facts:
AC-coupled Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
Solar self-consumption, time-of-use, and backup capable

What we like:
Mixing and matching Enphase IQ 3s and 10s, you can essentially create a custom sized battery for an existing solar system. IQ series solar batteries are also on the more affordable side and have solid round-trip efficiency and depth of discharge.

Enphase IQ specs
Feature Measurement
Usable capacity 3.26 / 10.08 kWh
Peak power 1.9 / 5.7 kW
Continuous power (with solar) 1.3 / 3.8 kW
Warranty 70% capacity, up to 10 years or 4,000 cycles
Round-trip efficiency 89%
Depth of discharge 98%

Drawbacks:
The warranty, peak, and continuous power leave a little to be desired, all of which Enphase improved on with its new IQ 5P model. However, the 5Ps can’t be paired with the 3s and 10s.

Best solar battery warranties

Tesla Powerwall 2
Quick facts:
AC-coupled Lithium-ion
Solar self-consumption, time-of-use, and backup capable

What we like:
The Powerwall 2 is a great overall battery with industry-leading efficiency, depth of discharge, and one of the first “unlimited cycle” warranties. Better yet, it’s often one of the most affordable options and pairs seamlessly with other Tesla products (like EV charging).

Tesla Powerwall 2 specs
Feature Measurement
Usable capacity 13.5 kWh
Peak power (10 seconds) 7 kW
Continuous power 5 kW
Warranty 70% after 10 years…