Which home battery is best?
We do not publish a league table, because the best battery for your neighbour may be wrong for your house. Here is how to compare them.
No single home battery is best for every house. The right one matches your evening use, solar size, inverter, phase supply and blackout needs, and sits on the Clean Energy Council approved list. Compare usable capacity, power output, warranty and backup function before you compare brand names or price.
Answered by Chris Bull, Managing Director Chris Bull on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab).
Start with what you need it to do
People search for Sigenergy, Tesla Powerwall, BYD and others. All of that research is more useful once you know the job. Do you want to cut your evening bill, ride through blackouts, charge an EV, or all three?
Those goals lead to different systems. A battery that suits a couple using little power at night may be wrong for a family with ducted air conditioning.
Five numbers to compare
Ask for these on every battery you consider.
- Usable capacity in kWh: what you can actually draw, and the figure used for the federal discount
- Continuous power in kW: how much it can run at once
- Backup power: whether it covers some circuits or the whole home
- Warranty: length, and what capacity it promises at the end
- Phase compatibility: single phase or three phase supply
kW and kWh are different
Many searches ask about a 10kW battery when they mean 10kWh. A kilowatt-hour is an amount of energy, like the size of a tank. A kilowatt is the rate it flows out.
A battery can hold plenty of energy but still struggle to start a large load if its power output is low. You need to check both.
What must be true for the discount
For the federal discount, the battery must be on the Clean Energy Council approved list and able to join a virtual power plant. If it connects to an existing inverter, that inverter has to meet the rules too.
It must also stay at the property until the warranty ends or the end of 2030, whichever is later. So treat the warranty as part of the commitment.
Does it fit your existing solar?
Adding a battery to existing solar raises its own questions. You may need a separate inverter or a replacement hybrid inverter, and the older hardware must be compliant. A modular system can suit a home that may add capacity later, but only one battery system can get the discount at a premises, and only the first time it is installed, added to or replaced.
The federal department warns that bigger is not always better. A battery too large for your solar or inverter limits the benefit.
What we install
We install GoodWe and Sigenergy batteries and inverters. GoodWe systems use the SEMS app for live monitoring. Sigenergy’s SigenStor is a modular 5-in-1 design. We recommend what suits your home, and we explain why, at a 90-minute consultation built around your power bill.
Common questions
Which is the best solar battery in Australia?
There is no single answer. The best fit depends on your usage, solar, backup needs and supply, and the battery must be on the approved list for the discount.
What type of battery is best for a home?
The Clean Energy Council approved list covers lithium-based batteries. Most quality lithium-ion batteries last 10 to 15 years, depending on use and maintenance.
What size battery do I need?
Start with your evening and overnight use from your bill or smart meter data, then match it to what your solar can refill. See is a battery worth it.
Can I add a battery to my existing solar?
Usually, yes. The federal discount covers batteries added to existing solar, but your inverter and system must meet the rules.
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