The US residential battery market is exploding and demand has never been higher. Because of the powerful demand, the supply of some batteries has been constrained, leaving homeowners and solar providers alike wondering what the next best choices are. Selecting the right battery goes beyond technical specs; it’s about ensuring lasting reliability for every home and every charging cycle.
Whether you’re a contractor helping homeowners move to solar or a homeowner seeking the best energy solution for your property, choosing from Solar Insure’s Approved Vendor List (AVL) means selecting products backed by quality, resilience, and peace of mind that comes with long-term value.
I’m thrilled to present our top seven battery picks from the Solar Insure Approved Vendor List (AVL). Just as Motor Trend’s ‘Car of the Year’ and JD Power’s rankings are industry benchmarks, Solar Insure’s AVL is the trusted guide in solar. These batteries aren’t just options—they’re standouts designed to deliver high performance and enduring dependability, giving both contractors and homeowners confidence in every choice.
Products and manufacturers registered and featured on the Solar Insure AVL have undergone a rigorous 7-step evaluation to ensure they are of the highest caliber and elevate the solar industry’s safety, reliability, and financial stability.
Paired with Solar Insure’s insurance-backed 30-year warranties like SI-30 Total, these batteries provide homeowners with long-term value, peace of mind, and financial security.
Table of Contents
Tesla Powerwall 3 – AC or DC Coupled
Source: Tesla
The Tesla Powerwall 3 remains a top-tier battery solution due to its cutting-edge technology, high performance, flexibility, and pricing. While Tesla recommends a DC-coupled solution, the PowerWall 3 can also be AC-coupled to retrofits, making it an excellent fit for various project types.
- Capacity and Scalability:
The Powerwall 3 offers 13.5 kWh of usable energy per unit, with the ability to stack multiple units for higher storage needs. This scalability makes it a versatile choice for homeowners with increasing energy demands, including EV owners. - Backup Power and Resilience:
The Powerwall ensures smooth backup power during outages, supporting critical loads automatically without user intervention. One Powerwall 3 has a max continuous output of 11.5kW, more than doubling that of the Powerwall 2. Its real-time monitoring via the Tesla app enables homeowners to track energy consumption and adjust usage as needed. - Installation and Compatibility:
Its compact design and ease of installation have made the Powerwall a contractor favorite, with both AC and DC coupling providing more flexibility during deployment.
Adding Solar Insure’s 30-year warranty to the Powerwall 3 ensures homeowners can fully optimize the battery’s lifespan without worrying about potential degradation or costly replacements.
Learn more about Tesla Powerwall 3.
Panasonic Evervolt – AC or DC Coupled
Source: EnergySage
The Panasonic EVERVOLT is an adaptable energy storage system that caters to a variety of energy needs through multiple capacity options ranging from 9 kWh to 18 kWh. With both AC and DC coupling support, it’s ideal for homeowners seeking tailored solutions.
- High Efficiency with Input Oversizing:
The hybrid inverter allows up to 200% input oversizing, increasing system efficiency by maximizing energy capture even under lower sunlight conditions. This makes the Evervolt particularly useful for homes with limited roof space. - Modular Design for Expandability:
Its modular system is available in three cabinet sizes, 9 kWh, 13.5 kWh, and 18 kWh, each giving 7.6 kW continuous output. Up to four units can be stacked together to provide 72 kWh of usable storage. - Seamless Integration with Solar Systems:
The Panasonic Evervolt supports AC and DC inputs, integrating smoothly with new and existing solar setups, reducing installation complexities, and minimizing equipment costs.
While it comes with a standard 12-year warranty and 6000 cycles, Solar Insure’s 30-year coverage ensures homeowners stay protected beyond typical product lifespans, giving them additional financial security.
SolarEdge Home Battery – DC Coupled
Source: SolarEdge
The SolarEdge Home Storage battery is designed for homeowners seeking seamless integration with SolarEdge Home Hub inverters. Its high-efficiency DC-coupled setup makes it a strong choice for new solar installations as well as add-ons for those looking to plan for the future.
- Scalable Storage Capacity:
With capacities starting at 9.7 kWh per unit and 5kW continuous output, the SolarEdge battery can be scaled by adding up to three batteries per inverter to match a household’s energy consumption and backup needs. - Optimized for Solar Performance:
The battery pairs efficiently with SolarEdge inverters to enhance solar energy performance, reducing the need for additional components. This efficiency helps lower equipment costs and installation complexity. - Remote Monitoring and Control:
Homeowners can manage and monitor their system remotely through SolarEdge’s monitoring platform, gaining real-time insights into energy production, consumption, and battery status.
The SolarEdge Home battery has a 10-year warranty with unlimited cycles. Paired with Solar Insure’s 30-year insurance-backed warranty, this solution ensures long-term reliability and value, covering parts, labor, and installation costs without hidden fees.
Discover SolarEdge Home Storage.
FranklinWH Home Power – AC Coupled
Source: FranklinWh
The FranklinWH Home Power battery system is a robust option for homeowners prioritizing reliability, ease of use, and expandability. Designed specifically for AC-coupled setups, it integrates seamlessly with existing home energy systems and offers a powerful solution for backup and peak shifting needs.
- Whole-Home Backup and Peak Load Support: The FranklinWH battery’s 13.6 kWh capacity provides power to the entire home during outages and manages peak loads to reduce strain on the grid and lower electricity costs. It ensures essential appliances and devices stay powered seamlessly during blackouts.
- Intelligent Energy Management: With its aGate X intelligent power management system, the battery optimizes energy usage by dynamically prioritizing critical loads and managing energy sources, including standby generators, which helps to reduce reliance on the grid and can significantly lower utility bills.
- Expandable and High-Capacity Storage: The FranklinWH battery is designed to scale with your home’s needs, allowing up to 15 battery units connected to a single gateway for increased storage capacity. This makes it among the most expandable batteries available, with a max capacity of 204 kWh and 38.4 kW continuous power output.
The aPower X Battery comes with a 12-year manufacturer warranty, and with Solar Insure’s 30-year insurance-backed warranty, this battery solution provides long-term protection and reliability, covering any potential repair or replacement needs, and ensuring that homeowners benefit from uninterrupted energy security.
Learn more about FranklinWH Home Power here
Generac PWRcell 2 – DC or AC Coupled
Source: Generac
Generac is further elevating its energy storage solution, the PWRcell with the release of the PWRcell 2 Home Energy Storage System. These innovations provide more power, seamless integration, and intelligent energy management, reinforcing Generac’s resilience and energy independence commitment.
- Unmatched Power and Capacity:
The PWRcell 2 offers up to 18 kWh of energy capacity per cabinet, with a max of four cabinets per site. Scaled in 3kWh increments and peaking at 10 kW max continuous power, this unit can support heavier home loads. The PWRcell 2 MAX, debuting in 2025, will increase continuous power output to 11.5 kW, making it ideal for homes with heavy power demands. - Generator Integration for Long-Term Backup:
Both PWRcell 2 models are designed to integrate smoothly with Generac’s range of generators, offering a smart energy ecosystem. During extended power outages, the PWRcell 2 battery can work in tandem with a Generac generator, enabling the generator to recharge the battery while simultaneously powering the home, ensuring uninterrupted comfort. - Increased Adaptability
PWRcell 2 is moving to an AC coupled architecture which will allow it to be used more in retrofits and system expansions.
Each battery pack comes with a 10-year manufacturer warranty, and with Solar Insure’s 30-year warranty, homeowners who choose the PWRcell 2 or PWRcell 2 MAX can rest assured that their investment will remain protected from potential failures and repairs over three decades.
Enphase IQ Batteries – AC Coupled
Source: Enphase
Enphase IQ batteries are a good choice for homeowners seeking an AC-coupled solution that pairs effortlessly with Enphase’s microinverter technology. With new generations coming Enphase is continuing to innovate its product line.
- Scalability for Various Needs: Enphase IQ batteries offer a modular design that allows for easy scaling, so homeowners can start with a small system and expand as needed. Products range from 3.36kWh – 10kWh.
- Enhanced Reliability with Integrated Microinverters: The IQ series batteries feature built-in microinverters for each battery, which improves energy reliability and efficiency. This setup enhances maintenance by allowing field swaps of internal components.
- Advanced Monitoring and Smart Energy Management: The Enphase IQ batteries integrate seamlessly with the Enphase app, allowing real-time monitoring, energy usage insights, and customizable settings for maximizing energy savings. The IQ controller allows for generator integration to enhance backup duration.
IQ batteries range from 10-15 year warranties. Backed by Solar Insure’s comprehensive 30-year warranty, the Enphase IQ batteries offer homeowners peace of mind with long-term coverage, ensuring that they remain protected against any system or component failures for decades to come.
Discover more about Enphase IQ batteries here
Sonnen – AC Coupled
Source: https://ecoterium.com/product/model-bso01/
The Sonnen batteries are renowned for their focus on sustainability and intelligent energy management. Its AC-coupled installation and stackable expansion create a flexible installation to suit a variety of home energy needs.
- Flexible Product Lines for Every Installation: Featuring separate products for indoor or outdoor installations, the sonnenCore+ and sonnenEvo can meet any market’s installation requirements.
- Stackable to Meet Future Energy Demands: The sonnenCore+ indoor product ranges from 10kWh-60kWh and up to 14.4 kW of continuous output. With the sonnenEvo topping out at 30 kWh, both products allow for substantial home backup.
- Smart Energy Management and Optimization: With intelligent software and a new smartphone app, Sonnen batteries allow users to monitor energy production, storage, and usage in real-time. This functionality helps optimize energy savings, enabling users to lower electricity costs by efficiently managing power consumption and time-of-use settings.
Sonnen batteries sport a 10-year, 10,000-cycle warranty and Solar Insure’s 30-year warranty boosts the value of the sonnenCore+ and sonnenEvo, giving homeowners peace of mind and protection from costly repairs or replacements over time.
The Power of a Trusted Choice
The residential battery market offers many excellent solutions, but each product has its unique advantages. To recommend the most suitable solution, contractors must assess the homeowner’s energy requirements, backup needs, and budget.
Choosing a battery isn’t just about meeting today’s needs; it’s about securing reliable performance for the future.
For contractors, Solar Insure’s AVL is a streamlined resource, providing a selection of trusted products that let you deliver top-tier quality to your clients. For homeowners, turning to Solar Insure’s AVL means investing in true energy independence and resilience. Every battery on this list has been thoroughly evaluated for quality and durability, meeting the high standards that set our AVL apart.
Keep in mind, that all of the batteries listed above are vetted by Solar Insure and covered under its 30-year insurance-backed warranty SI-30 Total. By choosing from Solar Insure’s AVL, contractors and homeowners alike can trust they’re selecting from the best, backed by experience, Zurich North America, and a commitment to excellence.
By leveraging Solar Insure’s coverage, homeowners and contractors alike can protect their energy investment for decades, ensuring consistent performance, financial security, and energy independence well into the future.
Let’s build a future powered by reliability, one home at a time.
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