Getting the Most from Solar with Battery Backup
Getting the Most from Solar with Battery Backup
At SunCommon, we believe that every home and business can harness the power of the sun and run more efficiently to save homeowners money. Plus, the latest battery technology can make your home more secure and resilient – we’re finding that’s especially useful as weather events become less predictable and more extreme. We love to talk to our customers about their aspirations for a more comfortable home and help them land on the right mix of solar, battery backup, and other devices like EV chargers and heat pumps. We’re always looking ahead to ensure we have the most current technology available and a variety of options to make the most informed decisions for your unique needs.
SunCommon leads the way in providing the latest and greatest clean energy solutions on the market – that’s why we’ve expanded our selection of battery backup solutions so you can choose the company and feature set that are the best fit for your home. Need a hint on where to begin? Check out this new cheat sheet so you can compare head-to-head and make an informed decision.
Enphase is the latest battery that we’ve added to the mix, and they take a battery-forward approach to their business, but built their company on microinverter technology. Their microinverters are installed on the roofs of many SunCommon customers, so it’s a natural tie-in to our existing ecosystem of clean energy tech. And it’s manufactured in the US, so it isn’t subject to tariff fluctuations.
Tesla Powerwall 3 | Franklin aPower 2 | Enphase IQ | |
Size | 43.5″ x 24″ x 7.6″ | 45.2” × 29.5” × 11.8” | 28” x 24.5” x 14.4” |
Capacity | 13.5 kWh | 15 kWh | 10 kWh |
Scaleable | System expansion available anytime 40.5 kWh max addition per unit | Up to 225 kWh; 15 units per aGate (Franklin’s energy controller product) | Up to 80 kWh |
Warranty | 10 years | 15 years | 15 years |
Installation | Integrated inverter and system controller. Works at temps between -4°F to 122°F | Works at temps between -4° F and 131° F | Seamless integration with Enphase microinverter |
Purchasing options | Battery lease (Green Mountain Power); Bring your own battery | Bring your own battery | Bring your own battery |
Generator Integration | No | Yes | Coming in 2026 |
For homes that use a traditional generator, the Franklin battery comes on automatically during an outage, providing continued power until the battery depletes. Then, a portable or automatic generator can be used to recharge your battery during extended outages.
Dennis and Jody Woo went solar with battery backup, and have been thrilled with the results. “We got two Powerwalls, in case of a significant outage, so that we know we can power everything. We also feel like it’s an important contribution to the grid, essentially. We’ve had free solar all this time, and it’s a bit altruistic- at least in part.”
There’s a lot in the news about Tesla these days, but when it comes to solar battery backup, the company has led the way. The Powerwall integrates easily into systems and is known for its efficient use of power and reliability.
Franklin is a newer player in the energy storage market, but has been well-received for its high-capacity battery that does a great job managing power load during outages and integrates with any other power source.
Noah Cardeira, a customer who recently added the Franklin battery at his home, said, “Living in a remote area of Vermont with a family and pets that rely on electricity can be stressful with the increasing intensity of storms that we have been experiencing. But now that I have my Franklin Whole Home battery backup system paired with solar and generator integration I feel much more prepared to weather any storm.”
Battery Incentives and Purchasing Options
If you live in New York state, there is a new and generous incentive for adding battery backup to your home. The state will give solar battery customers $250 back per kWh stored, up to $5,000. In broad terms, that’s about 20% off a 2-battery system!
You may have noticed in the above table that there are two different types of battery acquisition. Bring Your Own Battery means that you (the customer) buy the battery and have it installed, and your electric company will buy power from you that they pull from your battery during peak times, offsetting the cost.
If you are a Green Mountain Power customer in Vermont, they offer a lease program for battery backup. You pay $55 per month and allow the company to access power from your battery during peak times.
In both cases, you get battery backup at a reduced cost, and help power the electric grid with energy from the sun!
Of course our Solar Advisors are always here to answer questions. Please send us your most complicated battery backup questions and needs- we’re ready to help you decide!