SolarEdge's Newest Residential Solar Battery Is a Big Step Up From Its Previous Model - CNET

This new battery model is twice as powerful as its predecessor and adds flexible battery capacity options.

SolarEdge's latest battery has a modular design.

SolarEdge is most widely known for its solar inverters and DC power optimizers, but it's also dipped its toes into the home battery space, with a steadily growing market share. Now the company is unveiling a new home battery model that packs more power, announced during 2024's RE+ in Anaheim, California.

This new battery includes a powerful new inverter, a flexible, modular design and, the company says, shorter installation and commissioning times. Battery capacity options range from 4.4 to 17.6 kWh, and you'll be able to install up to four battery systems at one location.

Just like the previous model, which was one of our favorites because of its strong warranty, this new battery system utilizes SolarEdge's DC-coupled architecture. That decreases how much energy your system loses when converting between AC and DC electricity. Pricing and warranty details have yet to be announced, and the battery won't be available until next year.

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Here's what you need to know about SolarEdge's new solar battery.

SolarEdge's newest battery features a modular design, something the company's previous battery model was lacking. Modular battery designs allow for flexible battery capacity. This means you'll have a few energy storage capacity options to choose from, instead of just the one size. Modular designs also support ever-changing energy needs by allowing you to upgrade your energy storage capacity without buying another giant battery.

The battery's modular design is a bit like building blocks, with small 4.4 kWh modules that connect to a singular system and build off each other. You can have up to four 4.4 kWh modules per single battery system, for a total of 17.6 kWh. If you need additional capacity, you can install up to four battery systems per site for a total energy storage capacity of 70.6 kWh.

SolarEdge's new battery also gets a major upgrade in the power department. The new system includes an 11.5 kW inverter, doubling the power output of SolarEdge's previous battery model and it matches the power of a Tesla Powerwall 3. This new increase in power makes space for even more appliances and areas of your home to be backed up during a power outage. The entire battery system supports up to three inverters.

SolarEdge's new battery also promises a short and simple installation, with the news release stating the system is "designed to reduce system installation and commissioning processes by up to 50% (down to approximately 20-30 minutes)." The battery system is available with or without a solar panel system.

SolarEdge says its new battery system is expected to launch during late 2025 and will be manufactured in the US.

Home batteries can act as an electric alternative to gas-powered generators. These batteries store energy to be deployed to certain parts of your home during a power outage. To charge back up, your battery pulls power from the grid or solar panels. If you have solar panels and they generate more electricity than what your home consumes in a day, the leftover power can be sent to store in a battery and used later, instead of selling it to your utility or letting it go to waste.

You can also use your battery to fight expensive time of use rates, which are higher electric rates that certain utilities charge during specific times of day when the demand for electricity is high. Your home will pull energy from your battery when time of use rates are in effect, and then recharge when rates go back to normal.

Article updated on September 10, 2024 at 12:54 PM PDT

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