Investing in a solar battery can significantly add to the cost of your solar energy system. Solar batteries are valuable additions to solar systems, storing excess power for later use, maximizing your energy use, and cutting your electricity bills.
Based on our 700+ hours researching the best solar companies, a solar energy system pays off the cost of adding a battery in 5–15 years. Added savings from federal tax credits, backup power during grid outages, and additional energy savings from stored power could help justify the cost of these systems. The guide below shares the best solar batteries and installation fees, plus their long-term savings potential.
Key Takeaways
- Solar batteries cost an average of $10,000–$19,000 in addition to installation costs.
- You may need multiple batteries to power your whole house with solar batteries.
- Solar batteries can help you save money by reducing your reliance on a utility company.
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How Much Do Solar Batteries Cost?
A report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that a solar battery including installation can cost almost $19,000* to install, including the price of the battery itself and labor. Installation and permitting fees vary by location and installer, but the NREL estimates the battery itself typically costs $16,007.
*Based on a 2022 report.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Solar Batteries?
Several factors influence the cost of a solar battery storage system. Understanding these elements can help you make an informed decision:
- Accessibility: Installation costs increase if the battery location is difficult to access or requires modifications to your electrical infrastructure.
- Battery chemistry: Different battery types, such as lithium-ion and lead-acid, vary in price, lifespan, and efficiency.
- Brand: Established brands, such as Tesla and Sunrun, often come with higher price tags due to their reliability, performance, and warranty coverage.
- Capacity: The more energy a battery can store, the more expensive it will be. Choosing the right capacity for your needs can prevent unnecessary expenses.
- Inverters: Batteries require solar inverters to convert stored direct current (DC) into usable alternating current (AC) for your home. Costs vary depending on compatibility and system requirements.
- Maintenance: Routine solar maintenance, potential part replacements, and warranty coverage should be factored into long-term costs.
- System integration: Retrofitting a battery to an existing solar panel system is typically more expensive than integrating one into a newly installed solar energy setup.
What Are the Different Types of Solar Batteries?
There are four main types of solar batteries. Each type of battery has unique characteristics and advantages.
- Flow batteries: These advanced batteries use liquid electrolytes stored in two separate tanks to generate and store energy. They offer a long lifespan—often exceeding 20 years—and can hold large amounts of energy. However, they are among the most expensive solar battery options.
- Lead-acid batteries: One of the oldest and most widely used solar battery types, lead-acid batteries are known for their affordability and reliability. Available in sealed and flooded versions, they have a shorter lifespan of three to five years but are compatible with most solar systems.
- Lithium-ion batteries: The most common choice for residential solar energy storage, lithium-ion batteries were first developed for electric vehicles. They offer a competitive balance of cost, efficiency, and durability, lasting longer while being lighter and more compact than lead-acid alternatives. Popular options like the Tesla Powerwall are lithium-ion batteries.
- Nickel-based batteries: Less commonly used than other options, nickel-cadmium batteries are ideal for extreme temperature environments. They are highly durable and can last more than 20 years, making them a viable option for off-grid and industrial applications.
Are Solar Batteries Worth It?
Solar batteries can be a significant investment; whether they are worth the upfront cost depends on individual circumstances. However, most residential solar panel systems use solar batteries. Here are some factors to consider:
- Adding batteries to your system doesn’t make your panels more efficient, but it provides backup power during blackouts and helps you avoid peak demand charges from your utility company, which can save money.
- Adding a battery can increase your home value.
- Adding a battery helps you get to your solar payback period faster.
- If you live in a state with full-retail net metering, you may save just a little money with a solar battery because you can save the same amount of money with or without one. However, many homeowners use the excess energy in their battery backup to gain energy independence and generate extra credits to reduce their electricity bills.
- If you use more energy, you may need two solar batteries to manage your energy consumption, which increases the cost.
- If you live in a state with solar incentives and rebates, you can reduce the total price of solar batteries.
- If you want to attempt to have an off-grid solar energy system.
- All solar energy storage systems qualify for the federal solar tax credit, which helps reduce the overall system costs on your owed federal taxes (up to 30%).
Pros and Cons of Solar Battery Installation
Pros
- Help reduce your energy bills
- Provide more energy independence
- Assist in receiving net metering credits
Cons
- Features a high up-front cost
- Require more additional maintenance
- Have a limited capacity, so you may need more than one
Should You Invest in a Solar Battery?
Solar batteries are necessary for most residential solar panel systems, and you’ll need a professional solar installer to install the equipment. This is especially true if you want an off-grid solar energy system. Solar battery installation is as complicated as solar panel installation. The number of batteries you need will depend on your energy consumption and solar panel system.
FAQs About Solar Batteries Cost
How many solar batteries are needed to power a house?
Most homeowners only need one solar battery to help supply electricity during power outages or low sunlight hours. For example, a 400 amp-hour, 6-volt battery can provide around 2.4-kilowatt hours (kWh) of power.
How long will solar backup batteries last?
The lifespan of solar backup batteries varies based on the type of battery and how it is used. Lithium-ion batteries, the most common solar battery type, typically last between 10 and 15 years.
What happens to solar power when batteries are full?
If the power generated by your solar panel system exceeds your solar battery’s capacity, it can overcharge the system. An overcharged solar system can severely damage a battery’s life.
How long can a solar battery power a house?
Without running AC or electric heat, a 10-kWh battery can power a home’s basic operations for at least 24 hours.
Our Rating Methodology
We aim to provide comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. This means earning your trust through transparent reviews and data to back up our recommendations. Our rating system for solar batteries is on a 100-point scale based on five factors:
- Depth of discharge (20 points): Does the company disclose its depth of discharge (DoD) rating? Does the DoD meet the industry standard of 80%? The higher the rating, the higher the score.
- Round-trip efficiency (20 points): How efficient is the battery? Does it meet or exceed the industry standard of 80%? The higher the round-trip efficiency, the more points we awarded.
- Battery chemistry (15 points): We awarded more points to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries than Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) batteries due to their higher efficiency and longer lifespan.
- Battery options (15 points): We awarded more points to brands with multiple battery sizes for better customization rather than only one size.
- End-of-warranty capacity (15 points): How powerful will the battery be at the end of its warranty? Does the projected end-of-warranty capacity meet the industry standard of 60%? We awarded more points to batteries with higher end-of-warranty capacities.
- Warranty length (15 points): How long is the battery’s warranty? Does it meet or exceed the standard 10-year warranty? Batteries with the longest, most comprehensive warranties ranked higher.
Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.
