SunPower is well-known for its top-notch solar panels that help you save money on your utility bills and reduce fossil fuels to help the environment. The SunPower SunVault battery storage system adds another layer of savings as well as backup power outage protection when you need it most. 

SunVault storage pairs perfectly with your SunPower Equinox solar panel system for maximum efficiency and savings. The home battery and software solution helps manage your home’s electricity usage and keep your lights on during power outages. 

Here’s a full overview of the SunVault Storage system, including how it works, key things to know and much more:

How SunVault Battery Storage Works

Home batteries store excess energy your SunPower solar panel system produces to use at a later time. It can also power your home during grid outages or when the sun isn’t shining (at night or on cloudy days).

The battery can also be a power source during peak times when utility costs are higher, which is very helpful for residents with time-of-use rates. Depending on your battery system settings, you will only draw energy and pay for it from the grid when your battery is depleted.

SunVault installations come with both the home battery and a control system known as the Hub+. You’ll also have access to the SunPower monitoring app to see the battery’s performance and manage settings. Additionally, your battery installer will have you choose which appliances are important to run during an outage, like your fridge or well pump.

For more information on how the SunVault works to power your home, check out Four Things You Need to Know About the SunVault Solar Storage System.

Key Things to Know About SunVault Storage

From the overall cost of the SunVault to how its warranty compares to other home battery warranties, here are some important answers to questions about SunPower’s home battery solution:

How Much Does SunPower’s Home Battery Solution Cost?

This is one of the first questions that comes to mind when many people talk about home energy storage for the first time. However, home batteries are an investment in your home’s future and provide protection from outages, blackouts and rising utility bills.

It’s important to know that while batteries like the SunVault can be expensive, part of the cost can be offset with financial rebates, incentives and more. Plus, there are variables that impact the total battery costs for each homeowner, including electricity usage.

Overall, a SunVault battery system can cost anywhere from $12,000 to $28,000 or more depending on a variety of factors. Learn more about the cost of a SunVault battery in our previous article, “How Much Does SunPower’s SunVault Battery Storage Cost?”

What Does the SunVault Home Battery Warranty Cover?

The SunVault comes with a 10-year Complete Confidence warranty while SunPower’s 25-year warranty covers the Equinox solar panel components. The SunVault warranty guarantees the home battery is free of material and workmanship defects and that it will operate at 70% of its original usable capacity until one of the following happens:

• The battery reaches 10 years of age;
• The battery releases 38,000 kWh of electricity, or
• The battery system has gone through 4,000 cycles (whichever comes first);
• Warranty conditions vary slightly if you install more than one SunVault battery.

To find out how the SunVault warranty compares to other battery brands, check out our SunVault Home Battery Warranty Review.

Can You Go Off-Grid With SunVault Storage?

While adding a solar + home battery to your home is a great way to reduce or even eliminate your utility bills, you’re not completely disconnected from your utility grid. To live “off the grid,” you would need a larger solar panel system and several home batteries or a generator to provide the backup power needed to power your entire home all night and through power outages and stormy/cloudy days.

For many homes, it’s more practical to continue to stay connected to the grid as a backup source even if you install a home battery. This guarantees you could pull power from the grid if your home requires more energy than your panels produced that day or if you don’t have enough energy stored in your battery.

Is a SunVault Battery Right for Your Home?

According to a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), electricity customers nationwide experienced more than eight hours of power interruptions in 2022. This was the most since 2013 when the organization started collecting this electricity reliability data.

From neighborhood outages to an increase in blackouts from record-breaking California heat waves and the soaring costs for electricity, energy grids continue to be overwhelmed. Homeowners with solar panel + home battery solutions can not only ease the strain on the grid, but can have peace of mind knowing their lights will stay on even if the grid goes down.

Conclusion

The SunVault home battery is an innovative storage solution that allows you to take charge of your energy use. With many factors like cost and warranty details to consider, it’s important to do your research when it comes to selecting a home battery to power your home.

In order to determine if a SunVault home battery is right for your home energy needs, speak to one of our certified Solar Technologies representatives today. If you’re ready to change the way you power your home and start saving more with solar, contact us for a free customized solar quote.