Energy Storage System – Battery Comparison

Outsmart the Grid

with an Energy Storage System (ESS)

When producing electricity with solar panels, your home uses that electricity first. Extra electricity goes to the grid and is credited at the retail rates with Net Metering, lowering electric bills even when the sun is not out. But with the mandatory time of use rate plans, the most expensive times to use electricity do not always correlate to the times of peak solar generation. With a home battery, store your extra solar electricity from the day to use during the hours when electricity is the most expensive, such as late evenings when the sun has set.

The Batteries

Enphase Ensemble

Works With: New and existing Enphase systems with IQ6 microinverters or newer.

Expandable: Multiple Enphase Ensemble batteries can be combined for increased battery capacity.

Power During a Blackout: Yes

Enphase Ensemble is the only single-source Inverter & battery integration between battery and inverter and functions as a single integrated system. This tight integration offers exclusive features, including allowing batteries and inverters to fully coordinate and adjusting production to allow for maximum efficiency.

In addition, Enphase Ensemble batteries are modular, with multiple sizes available. Choose the right combination of batteries to ideally size a battery system.

And like the Tesla Powerwall, Ensphase Ensemble allows you to avoid expensive peak-hour electricity charges and seamlessly switches over to backup power when the grid is down.

Tesla Powerwall 2

Works With: Virtually any existing and new solar system.

Expandable: Multiple Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries can be combined for increased battery capacity.

Power During a Blackout: Yes

The Tesla Powerwall 2 is highly flexible and works with most existing solar systems. The Powerwall will charge during the day from extra solar production. During the nights or on cloudy days, your solar system will draw its electricity from the Powerwall, minimizing your usage of the grid and allowing you to avoid expensive peak hour charges.

When the electricity goes out, the Powerwall will seamlessly take over. The switchover is automatic. Simply continue using your electricity.

Sonnen

Works With: Virtually any existing and new solar system.

Expandable: Multiple Sonnen batteries can be combined for increased battery capacity.

Power During a Blackout: Yes

Sonnen offers a customized solution that works with virtually any existing solar system, Sonnen has a large number of products with an assortment of features. Like the Tesla Powerwall, Sonnen allows you to avoid expensive peak-hour electricity charges and seamlessly switches over to backup power when the grid is down.

LG Chem (SolarEdge StorEdge)

Works With: Existing SolarEdge systems. SolarEdge inverter may need to be upgraded.

Expandable: Multiple LG Chem batteries can be combined for increased battery capacity.

Power During a Blackout: Yes

LG Chem batteries are Direct Current, or DC based, and seamlessly interact with SolarEdge StorEdge inverters. By maintaining electricity in DC, there is no power loss when solar production is stored directly into the battery, maximizing efficiency.

Existing SolarEdge systems may be retrofitted with a StorEdge inverter to become compatible with StorEdge. And like the Tesla Powerwall, the LG Chem with SolarEdge StorEdge allows you to avoid expensive peak-hour electricity charges and seamlessly switches over to backup power when the grid is down.

Which battery is best?

Choosing the right battery involves a balance of price, the amount of battery storage needed, goals, and whether you are installing a new solar system or adding to an existing one. Our energy consultants will help you choose the right battery to gain true energy independence.