How Does the Generac PWRcell Compare to Other Batteries?

Posted by The PowerStore Inc on February 8th, 2021

If you’ve decided to install a battery bank along with the rest of your solar equipment, you have a lot of different solar batteries to choose from. The Generac PWRcell battery module is a newer addition to solar energy equipment, but it very quickly made an impression on the industry with its scalability and efficiency. But how does it compare to most other batteries on the market? This article will give you a look at the PWRcell battery’s specs as compared to the averages for similar batteries.

Size

For homeowners with limited space for a battery bank, size matters. You must get the most power storage possible out of the square footage you have, and the PWRcell is an excellent battery for doing just that. PWRcell batteries are modular, which means they’re much smaller than most solar batteries, and, as a bonus, they’re stackable. Generac also offers a battery cabinet for their battery modules, which allows you to build a hefty battery bank indoors or outdoors while taking up a tiny amount of floor space.

Depth of Discharge

The total storage capacity of a battery is essential. Still, it would help if you also were looking at a depth of discharge to determine how much of that stored energy you can use. Discharging beyond a battery’s maximum depth of discharge can damage it and shorten its lifespan. PWRcell batteries have a depth of discharge of 84%. This is a bit less than many lithium batteries, which can often be discharged by 90%, but more than the popular lead-acid batteries can have discharge depths as shallow as 50%.

Roundtrip Efficiency

A battery’s efficiency is measured by how much electrical loss occurs when charging and discharging its stored energy. The higher the efficiency percentage, the less power you lose. PWRcell batteries have a roundtrip efficiency of 96.5%, which is incredibly high for a solar battery. The average roundtrip efficiency for other solar batteries is around 80%.

Warranty

For a purchase this large, you want some warranty. Generac offers a 10-year warranty, or a throughput warranty between 22.6 and 45.3 megawatt-hours, depending on the size of the battery you purchase. A throughput warranty measures how much energy cycles through the battery and is similar to a car warranty based on mileage. So, the warranty on your battery will be ten years or however long it takes to cycle that much energy through the battery. This is comparable to most solar equipment warranties.

Pricing

A single PWRcell battery module will cost you just under ,000 but will vary based on total power storage capacity. The Generac PWRcell pricing on these batteries is comparable to other lithium-ion phosphate batteries of similar capacity and quality.