Image Credit: Tesla If you’re investing in solar panels, you’re already moving toward a more sustainable future. However, to make the most out of your solar panels, it’s essential to have the right backup storage bank. With the right solar storage bank, you can store excess energy generated by your panels during the day to power your home at night or on cloudy days. In 2023, there are several noteworthy backup solar storage banks to consider. These banks vary in features and capacity, so it’s important to understand your energy needs before purchasing. This buyer’s guide will help you choose the best backup solar storage bank for your specific requirements and ensure that your investment in solar panels is a wise and effective one. Best for Scalability: SolarEdge StorEdge Model: SolarEdge Backup Interface - BI-EUSGN-01 Specs: 73 lb, (LxWxH): 8.62 x 13.88 x 20.59 inches Supported Inverters: StorEdge Single Phase Inverter, StorEdge Single Phase Inverter with HD Wave Technology SolarEdge’s best-selling Energy Hub Backup Interface is designed to work with the SolarEdge energy management inverters (StorEdge / Energy Hub) to automatically provide backup power to home loads during a grid outage. We love this model for its versatility. Homes with the SolarEdge Backup interface + EnergyHub have full flexibility to select which loads to back up and the ability to add scaleable storage capacity. SolarEdge provides a scalable solution to support higher power and higher capacity. This unit is also very user friendly. A built-in Auto Transformer and Energy Meter allows for easier and faster installation. In addition, you’ll find seamless integration with the StorEdge inverter to manage and monitor both PV generation and energy storage. Best for Energy Management: Tesla Powerwall + Backup Gateway 2 Model: Tesla Backup Gateway 2 Specs: 45 lb, (LxWxH): 26 in x 16 in x 6 in Supported Inverters: Tesla Powerwall Scalability: Supports up to 10 AC-coupled Powerwalls The Tesla Backup Gateway 2 works with Tesla’s new app function, “Charge on Solar,” to give maximum efficiency to disseminating your home solar production banked in Tesla's Powerwalls home solar battery. The Backup Gateway 2 for Tesla Powerwall is a game-changer in energy management and monitoring. Offering a range of impressive features, it can facilitate solar self-consumption, time-based control, and backup power. But perhaps what's most impressive is its ability to automatically detect outages and effortlessly transition to backup power. You can even install it at your service entrance and use it as a load center when the optional internal panelboard is installed. Its direct communication with Powerwall means you can easily monitor your energy usage and manage backup reserves from anywhere with the Tesla app. This is a powerful tool for anyone looking to streamline their energy management and stay prepared for any power outages. Best for Extreme Conditions: SMA Automatic Backup Unit Model: SBS-ABU-200-US-10 Specs:124 lb, (LxWxH): 31 x 23 x 13.5 inches Supported Inverters: PV and SMA’s Sunny Boy series The SMA Automatic Backup Unit is a great option and suitable for a range of applications, such as whole-house backup or connection to a secure loads monitor. This is also one of the most user-friendly options, as the Sunny Boy Storage inverters provide a plug-and-play installation. Most notably, this unit has been outdoor rated and tested for harsh environments. This SMA backup unit can be paired with the Sunny Boy Storage inverter to disconnect the PV system, loads, and the Sunny Boy Storage inverter from the power grid and generate a battery backup grid in the event of a grid failure. In the event of a grid failure, the battery backup grid provides power to loads that must continue to be powered. When the grid goes down, the Sunny Boy Storage provides energy to the loads after a brief turn. The included Backup Unit Controller coordinates grid disconnection and reconnection to ensure minimal downtime while allowing for up to 5 kVA of unbalanced loads. This is also one of the most efficient units for PV storage on the market. When paired with SMA Sunny Boy inverters, the Sunny Boy Storage curtails PV power production to match load in the event the battery is full to maximize the use of solar production. Best for Smart Home Integration: Sonnen ECOLX Model: SBS-ABU-200-US-10 Specs:124 lb, (LxWxH): 31 x 23 x 13.5 inches Supported Inverters: PV and SMA’s Sunny Boy series If you are looking for a reliable, all-in-one solution that integrates seamlessly with a smart home, the Sonnen ECOLX12 - a battery storage system with a 12 kWh capacity and 8 kWh of continuous power delivery is your best bet. This system integrates with new and existing solar arrays and smart home automation systems. One of the best features of the Sonnen ECOLX is that it can effectively run itself - it's designed to be a fully managed energy management and storage solution that integrates with Eaton intelligent circuit breakers and front-end home automation systems, such as Crestron and Control4. The battery system manages energy usage throughout the day, providing instantaneous backup power in case of a grid outage. Energy automation software allows the owner to choose how long the backup power will last during a grid outage and automatically manages how the stored energy is used. It is also a truly smart system. The Sonnen ECOLX uses Ecosmart weather forecasting to detect severe weather and automatically increase the amount of energy stored in the battery. This ensures that plenty of power is available to keep the lights on and the residents safe in the event of a power outage. This backup battery option also has one of the best warranties on the market at 15 years compared to the usual 10-year guarantee. Shop US Solar backup storage today!
