"With SunPower, you're going to a one-stop shop, so you get solar on your roof, you get the monitoring, and you get the storage," Nate Coleman, chief technology officer at SunPower, told CNET. "It's all coming from a single company, all backed by a single warranty." Contact online >>
"With SunPower, you're going to a one-stop shop, so you get solar on your roof, you get the monitoring, and you get the storage," Nate Coleman, chief technology officer at SunPower, told CNET. "It's all coming from a single company, all backed by a single warranty."
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SunVault's size options are on the larger side. Even its smallest size (13 kWh) is comparable to a Tesla Powerwall. A single SunVault battery can hold between 13 kWh to 19.5 kWh. If 19.5 kWh isn't enough, you can install an additional SunVault unit (also referred to as a double unit), to increase storage capacity up to 39 kWh.
Most of SunVault's components are consolidated into one or two boxes, meaning you won't need to have several boxes on the wall. Here's what you can expect to be installed with a SunPower SunVault:
The SunVault offers large capacity sizes but doesn't leave wiggle room for any smaller sizes in between. This makes capacity upgrades and finding a capacity size that's "just right" for your home a bit more difficult. The SunPower SunVault can be installed as either a single unit or a double unit. Each unit contains a specific amount of battery modules.
A singular battery module holds 6.5 kWh. A single SunVault unit contains either two or three 6.5 kWh battery modules for a capacity of 13 kWh or 19.5 kWh. If you need more energy storage, an additional SunVault unit (double unit) can be installed. A double SunVault unit contains either four or six battery modules of 6.5 kWh each for a capacity of 26 kWh or 39 kWh. You won't be able to install more than six battery modules, so if you hit 39 kWh, you're at maximum capacity.
The SunVault's performance and efficiency is a bit of a mixed bag. Let's start with what lags behind the competition: It's not the most efficient battery around. Most solar batteries we've seen have a round-trip efficiency of 90% or higher. The SunVault is rated at 86%. This means about 14% of the electricity generated by your solar panels will be lost on its way into battery storage.
The SunPower SunVault's depth of discharge is 92%, which is just a bit lower than the average we've seen on other deep-cycle batteries (95%). Depth of discharge is essentially a limit of how much energy you can drain (discharge) from your battery all at once without risking damage. So in this case, you'll be able to safely use 92% of the SunVault's stored energy. Most manufacturers recommend you don't completely drain your battery before recharging it.
Now for the good: Performance-wise, the SunVault does about what you would expect for a battery of its size. A single SunVault unit has a continuous off-grid power output rating of 6.8 kW, and a double unit has a continuous off-grid power output rating of 13.6 kW. This means it shouldn't have too much trouble powering your appliances during a power outage.
The SunVault is backed by a great warranty. Unlike most batteries, the SunVault's warranty doesn't include a cycle or throughput clause. This means there's no limit to the number of times you can cycle (drain and recharge) your battery while it's covered under warranty.
Years covered: This is the length of time your warranty is valid for. The SunVault is covered under warranty for 10 years, which is the industry standard.
Cycles covered: Most manufacturers set a limit on how many times you can cycle (drain and recharge) your battery before the warranty ends. The SunVault's unlimited-cycle warranty means there's no limit to how often you use your battery. The SunVault is one of only a few batteries we've seen on the market that offers unlimited cycle coverage.
End-of-warranty capacity guarantee: Battery capacity tends to deteriorate over time. The capacity guarantee is the manufacturer's promise that your battery will be able to retain a certain amount of its original storage capacity by the time your warranty expires. SunPower guarantees your SunVault battery will retain at least 70% of its original energy storage capacity when your warranty period ends.
Notice something weird with your battery system? Your installer should be the first person you reach out to. Since they are able to physically visit the site of the installation and are most familiar with your particular system, your installer will most likely be the most helpful in fixing any issues.
But there might be times when you can't reach your installer. This is when you might reach out to the manufacturer for assistance. SunPower doesn't have many avenues for customer support. It does have a phone number, though, as well as some FAQs and helpful articles for troubleshooting.
With the SunPower SunVault, you'll also gain access to SunPower's energy monitoring app, mySunPower. With the app, you'll be able to monitor your battery's charge, designate energy to run specific loads, monitor solar production and review time-series data on the performance of individual solar panels and the system as a whole. You'll also be alerted when your solar panels are producing energy at their best.
The mySunPower app offers several different power mode features as well. Cost Savings mode helps users avoid expensive time-of-use rates by limiting grid usage and using battery power instead.
"One of the unique features with cost saving mode is that the app will recognize when there's a high or low time of use rate and then adjust to what is most efficient for the customers so they can save the most money," said Kinney. "So by using this load offset, the battery charges and discharges in a manner that's most efficient for the customer, utilizing energy when it's not as expensive and storing energy when it's more expensive."
Self-supply mode prioritizes pushing all your excess generated electricity into the battery instead of sending it to the power grid. Reserve mode allows you to reserve a certain percentage of your battery's stored energy to be used exclusively during the event of an outage. The mySunPower app is highly rated on app stores, with the majority of users having a positive experience with the app's functionality.
Other factors affecting battery pricing are location, the installer and how many solar panels your home has. Speak with an installer in your area to get the most accurate price.
The SunVault might be your best battery option, or it might not be. It's hard to determine which battery is the "best" choice for your home without doing an on-site consultation and an energy audit. Your personal energy goals also play a role in which battery you should choose. Are you only interested in backup power during outages, or are you also interested in offsetting your energy costs?
About Sunvault cost
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Sunvault cost 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 Sunvault cost 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 Sunvault cost 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.
