Category Archives: Energy Storage

battery incentives in massachusetts

Solar battery incentives in Massachusetts

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

Five years ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a solar battery installation in Massachusetts – fortunately, that’s no longer the case. Thanks to declining storage costs and proven resiliency benefits, solar batteries are rapidly becoming a popular addition to solar panel systems all across the state. However, Bay Staters installing solar batteries today have more to look forward to than being able to keep their home running during power outages: a number of financial incentives available make solar batteries not only a great peace-of-mind purchase, but also a smart one for your wallet.

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connectedsolutions battery program

The ConnectedSolutions program: what you need to know in 2020

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Interest in adding batteries to solar panel installations is increasing throughout the country at a rapid clip. In fact, there were 500% more batteries installed in 2018 than in 2017, an upward trajectory that continued into 2019 as well. However, in many states, there are very few rebates and incentives available for homeowners interested in purchasing an energy storage system. 

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home battery comparison

Home battery comparison: Tesla Powerwall, Generac PWRcell, LG Chem RESU, sonnen eco

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

Now more than ever, home batteries are becoming a smart purchase either with or without a solar panel system. Batteries offer many benefits, from electricity bill savings to resiliency against grid outages and more.

There are plenty of companies offering energy storage solutions, including both established manufacturers and up-and-coming smaller players offering unique products. In this article, we’ll review some of today’s most popular home battery options to see what sets them apart.

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sunpower equinox storage system

The SunPower Equinox Storage complete review

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

SunPower has always been known for its top-tier solar panels – now, they’re branching into the storage space. In 2019, the company launched their first home solar battery: the Equinox Storage system. This battery and software solution, when paired with a SunPower Equinox solar panel system, enables you to keep your lights on during power outages and manage your home’s electricity use.

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electriq powerpod

The Electriq Power PowerPod home battery complete review

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Electriq Power is a San Leandro, California-based energy storage company that designs and engineers its storage systems in the United States. Electriq’s flagship product, the PowerPod, includes a battery, hybrid battery/solar inverter, home energy management system, and an energy meter. In addition to offering backup power, the PowerPod System includes a smart home energy software, known as Electriq View, to manage your home’s electricity use and optimize energy efficiency. 

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panasonic evervolt review

The Panasonic EverVolt home battery complete review

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Reading Time: 7 minutes

In 2019, Panasonic, one of the world’s largest battery cell manufacturers, officially launched their own residential battery storage product: the EverVolt. A scalable storage system with both AC and DC-coupled configurations, the EverVolt can provide plenty of back-up energy for your home in the event of a grid outage, especially when paired with a solar panel system.

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sonnen ecolinx review

The sonnen ecoLinx home battery complete review

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Battery maker sonnen’s “luxury” battery offering – the ecoLinx – is more than just an energy storage device: the ecoLinx syncs your entire property’s energy usage together to efficiently and intelligently manage how you use energy in your home, all without disrupting your lifestyle. Especially when combined with a solar energy system, the sonnen ecoLinx is a powerful and smart home energy management system. (Note: check out our review of sonnen’s other primary product line–the eco–here.)

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saltwater battery

Saltwater batteries: what you need to know

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Lithium-ion batteries dominate the energy storage market with their proven technology and continuously falling costs. Lithium-ion isn’t the only storage technology available, however: saltwater batteries are another option that has been around in some form for years now, and have the potential to impact the energy storage landscape in a big way in the coming years.

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Pika Energy Harbor Smart Battery system: the complete review

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Pika Energy is the U.S.-based manufacturer of the Pika Energy Island™ home energy management system. This includes powerful smart batteries, islanding inverters and solar optimizers in one. Notably, Pika Energy partners with Panasonic to produce the Harbor™ smart lithium-ion battery. The Harbor™ is designed to provide extended backup power and maximize your on-site solar energy use.

But how does Harbor Smart Battery measure up against all the other home energy storage options? Read on to learn more about the Pika Energy Harbor Smart Battery’s cost, technology, and warranty coverage.

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generac pwrcell review

The Generac PWRcell home battery complete review

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Reading Time: 7 minutes

In 2019, Generac acquired battery manufacturer Pika Energy, and has since integrated their technology into the launch of their own Generac-branded home storage solution: the Generac PWRcell. Having long been a leader in the backup power space, Generac is now moving into clean energy and energy storage, with the PWRcell line of batteries at the forefront of their new product fleet.

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