"The thinking behind the battery and surrounding energy storage was that not all homes are created equal," Rex Liu, Generac's vice president of product management, told CNET. "The needs of every homeowner could be very different, so having a modular battery was something that cou Contact online >>
"The thinking behind the battery and surrounding energy storage was that not all homes are created equal," Rex Liu, Generac's vice president of product management, told CNET. "The needs of every homeowner could be very different, so having a modular battery was something that could bring a lot of value to the market overall. An installer can optimize the solution for their particular homeowner customer."
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Solar batteries are big, bulky, expensive and part of a holistic home energy system. That makes them difficult to put through hands-on testing. This review is based on specs and information provided by Generac online and an interview with Liu to get the most accurate and up-to-date information.
The Generac Pwrcell is one of the most modular batteries we've seen. In our review of the best solar batteries, the Pwrcell stood out in its modularity, capacity sizes, efficiency and performance. Here's a quick look at the Generac Pwrcell's specs.
The Generac Pwrcell is more than just a battery box that sits in your garage or hangs on the wall. It's an intricate, DC-coupled system with quite a few components. Here's a quick breakdown of the Pwrcell system:
Battery cabinet: The Pwrcell stores energy a bit differently compared with other solar batteries. Instead of a battery box, the Pwrcell system has a battery cabinet, which houses several lithium-ion battery modules. The battery cabinet houses three to six battery modules. The number of battery modules in the cabinet reflects the storage capacity available. A second battery cabinet can be installed for additional capacity.
Inverter: The main function of the inverter is to convert DC energy from the solar panels and battery into AC energy to power your home. Since the Pwrcell is a DC-coupled system, you'll have to use the Generac inverter that is provided with the Pwrcell.
PV link: This helps optimize how power is generated by your solar panels and stored in the battery. It also works with a rapid shutdown device connected to the solar panels.
The capacity and modularity categories are where the Pwrcell shines the brightest, scoring as the most modular battery on our rankings of the best solar batteries. The Pwrcell stores energy in individual battery modules contained within a battery cabinet. One battery cabinet holds between 9 kWh and 18 kWh of energy, with capacity expandable in increments of 3 kWh. This design allows homeowners easier access to the capacity size that is "just right" for their home's energy needs.
Upgrading the Pwrcell's capacity is easy. Instead of buying a whole new battery, you'll just purchase a new battery module. You'll have to hire an installer to insert the new battery module. Once you hit the maximum capacity (18 kWh), you'll need to install an additional battery cabinet. You can have up to two battery cabinets, for a maximum capacity of 36 kWh.
The Pwrcell has a higher-than-average round-trip efficiency of 96.5%. This means only 3.5% of your electricity gets lost on its way to battery storage. The average round-trip efficiency of the lithium-ion batteries currently on the market is about 90%.
However, the Generac Pwrcell's depth of discharge is the lowest we've seen for lithium-ion solar batteries, at 84%. A battery's depth of discharge is a limitation set by the manufacturer on the amount of energy that can be drained all at once without damaging the battery. The average depth of discharge for a lithium-ion solar battery is about 94%.
The Pwrcell performs well in the power output category at larger capacities. At smaller capacities, it's a lot weaker. The higher the installed capacity, the higher the power output.
If you're looking for a smaller battery but don't want to sacrifice power, there are better options than the Pwrcell. It has an on-grid peak power output of 4.5 kW - 9 kW and an on-grid continuous power output of 3.4 kW - 7.6 kW.
About Generac power cell solar system
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Generac power cell solar system have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Generac power cell solar system for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Generac power cell solar system featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
