Category Archives: Energy Storage

The VillaGrid complete review

Villara Energy Systems, located near Sacramento, California, is part of the Villara family of companies (established in 1947), which has been installing home energy equipment (including solar, batteries, and generators) for about 20 years. In 2021, it launched the VillaGrid, the only 20-year home battery currently available on the market. The VillaGrid is the industry’s first lithium titanate (LTO) home battery, with power, safety, and longevity as the core of its purpose. With its long warranty and extended battery life, coupled with the ability to work in extreme weather conditions, it’s a great option if you’re considering installing a home storage system.

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Q&A with FNS Power

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As more and more storage companies enter the market, you might be finding it difficult to keep up with what’s out there – and as supply chain constraints and raw material shortages continue, it’s more important than ever to understand what’s available! FNS Power, a battery manufacturer based in China, has been around for over 30 years, entering the U.S. market five years ago. We sat down with FNS Power to learn more about their company, the products they offer, and their advice to those shopping for storage.

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We read Panasonic’s battery warranties so you don’t have to

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Let’s face it – warranties aren’t the easiest (or most gripping) documents to read. There are often a lot of details and fine print included that can be hard to digest, leaving many to wonder: what does the warranty actually cover? Am I vulnerable? Anything I might be missing?

To make it as easy as possible, we’ve read warranty documents for the top solar battery manufacturers, talked to them to confirm what is and isn’t included, and plan to point out the most important aspects of each in a series of articles. In this article, we are taking a look at the battery warranty of one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world: Panasonic.

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We read FranklinWH’s battery warranty so you don’t have to

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To make it as easy as possible, we’ve read warranty documents for the top solar battery manufacturers, talked to them to confirm what is and isn’t included, and plan to point out the most important aspects of each in a series of articles. In this article, we’ll review the warranty from FranklinWH, a company that entered the storage industry in 2019.

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How much do power outages cost?

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Experiencing a power outage is quite a nuisance. Power outages can be challenging to deal with, from disrupting your daily life to endangering your well-being – especially if they happen often. Notably, they can also cost you money, sometimes a great deal if they end up causing significant property damage. In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about power outages, how much they could be costing you, and ways to protect yourself against them.

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The Tesla Powerwall home battery complete review

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Tesla’s rebranding of residential-use batteries is in line with their legacy of reimagining existing products. Tesla’s battery may represent the first time in history that everyday homeowners are truly excited about the potential of storing energy at their home. The Powerwall, combined with the exciting Tesla Solar Roof, are both potential cornerstones of Elon Musk’s sustainable energy vision for the future.

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Tesla Powerwall alternatives: Generac PWRcell, LG Chem RESU, sonnen eco, Enphase IQ Battery

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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.

One popular home battery is the Tesla Powerwall. This battery became available to the public in the mid-2010s and has seen multiple upgrades since then. But, either due to access, affordability, or personal preference, many homeowners choose to explore Tesla Powerwall alternatives. Fortunately, both established manufacturers and up-and-coming smaller players offer unique products that make them a viable Powerwall competitor. In this article, we’ll review some of today’s most popular home battery options to see how they stack up against each other, and against the highly popular Tesla Powerwall.

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How much of my house can I run on a battery–and for how long?

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If you are researching a solar battery there’s one major question that you likely have: how much of your house can you power with a typical solar battery, and how long can you provide power to your home? As with most things, the short answer is an ever unsatisfying: it depends! The longer answer is a complicated one, so we’re here to help.

We’ve split this article into two separate questions–how much and for how long–since both questions are important as you decide which battery to install, but the answers rely on different factors.

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What does serviceability mean for batteries?

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If you’re considering purchasing a solar-plus-storage system, you’re probably contemplating the “what ifs”: what if my battery isn’t performing properly? What if my battery stops working altogether? The good news is that battery technology is highly reliable, which is why it’s sometimes difficult to find answers to these questions. In this article, we’ll cover some common questions you may have about solar batteries to help you make an informed decision about including storage with your solar system.

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What is the difference between continuous and startup power?

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As you compare options for energy storage systems, there are a few key technical specifications to focus on and questions to answer. How much energy can the battery store? How much of your home can the battery power, and for how long? Can the battery keep powering some or all of your home if the grid is down? And can your battery provide a momentary burst of power large enough to start up your largest appliances, like your air conditioner?

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