KEY POINTS
- One of the overall best solar batteries remains the Tesla Powerwall 2 — however, it is likely to be discontinued soon following the release of the Powerwall 3.
- The solar battery that’s best for you will boil down to your unique needs and wants.
- We recommend speaking to a qualified solar installer before making a purchase decision.
As the energy market continues to change rapidly and develop, the interest in solar energy storage or solar batteries continues to peak among many Aussies. But as more solar brands and models come into play, finding the right energy storage solution for your home can feel a little daunting.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best home solar battery systems available in Australia right now. Comparing factors such as off-grid capabilities, size and capacity, we run you through some of the key brands and solar battery retailers you should have in mind when thinking of a solar battery system for your home.
In this guide, Canstar Blue compares some of the best solar batteries currently available in Australia.
What are the best solar batteries in Australia?
Note: Canstar Blue has picked some of the best-rated and most popular solar batteries for each category below. Before making a purchase, we strongly recommend you consult a solar installer to find the solar battery that’s best for you.
- Overall Best Battery: Tesla Powerwall 2
- Best Battery – Battery Health: Pylontech US2000B
- Best Battery – Off-Grid: BYD Premium LVS
- Best Battery – Small Size: Enphase IQ Battery
- Best Battery – Large Size: SunGrow SBR HV
- Best Battery – Hybrid: sonnen Hybrid 9.53
Overall Best Battery: Tesla Powerwall 2
If you’ve been on the hunt for a solar battery for a while, you will have come across the Tesla Powerwall 2. Arguably one of the best deep cycle batteries for solar on the market, this model is well known for its high efficiency, capacity, and ability to be seamlessly integrated into existing or new systems.
Despite Tesla releasing its successor, the Powerwall 3, in August 2024, this unit still stands as one of the best for energy storage, thanks to its high weather rating, allowing it to withstand extreme temperatures in outdoor settings. The Tesla Powerwall 2 also comes with a warranty of 10 years.
Price Estimate: $13,000-$15,000*
*This estimate does not factor in installation costs
Sizes Available: 13.5kWh
What’s good about this battery:
- AC Coupled, meaning it can be added to an existing solar system without any extra parts
- Large size battery with high usable capacity (90%)
- Can run in conjunction with up to 10 other Powerwall units within a home
What to look out for:
- One of the most expensive on the market
- Requires an additional ‘Tesla gateway box’ to enable backup power in the case of a power outage
- Not compatible with other solar batteries
Best Battery – Battery Health: Pylontech US2000B
When it comes to a battery with a reliable capacity, you can’t look past the Pylontech US2000B.
The Pylontech US2000B has modest dimensions and is designed to be stacked on top of one another if you need to expand your system’s overall capacity. On top of that, the US200B weighs 24kg, below the average solar battery on the market.
In a controlled testing environment, the Pylontech US2000b has displayed an exceptional level of capacity retention, where its rated capacity did not experience significant degradation over time. Paired with a discharge rate of 95% (above the industry average) and a 10-year warranty, you have a highly reliable solar battery for the foreseeable future.
Price Estimate: $1,100-$16,00* 
*This estimate does not factor in installation costs
Sizes Available: 2.4kWh
What’s good about this battery:
- Controlled testing shows the US2000B has excellent capacity health over numerous charge cycles
- High depth of discharge (95%)
- Compatible with many solar inverters
What to look out for:
- Multiple modules may be needed to meet household requirements
- No Australian office or customer service presence to process warranty claims
- It can only be installed indoors
Solar Energy Plans
Some energy providers will offer specific electricity plans to customers with solar panels that come with a higher feed-in tariff than other market offers. Below are some of the solar energy plans available in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on SA Power network in Adelaide but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Best Battery – Off-Grid: BYD Premium LVS
If you’re looking for a solar battery system with enough horsepower to keep your home afloat without aid from the grid, it’s probably worth checking out the BYD Premium LVS.
This battery has a special modular design that allows its size and capacity to be expanded simply by adding additional modules. With the capability to generate up to 256kWh when 16 battery stands are integrated in parallel, this storage system is more than reliable enough to power a home looking to ease into self-sufficient power.
The Premium LVS uses lithium-ion phosphate (LifePO4) batteries, known for their battery health, thermal stability, and safety. BYD Premium LVS batteries also come with a 10-year warranty and are suitable for outdoor installation.
Price: $3,000-$20,000 (depending on size)*
*This estimate does not factor in installation costs
Sizes Available: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24kWh (for off-grid reliability, we recommend a minimum of 10kWh)
What’s good about this battery:
- LifePO4 batteries guarantee greater product longevity, safety and temperature stability
- Modular battery so capacity can easily be expanded by adding extra battery modules
- Well-suited for off-grid power usage
- Ideal for outdoor installation
- Be Connect app available for system monitoring
What to look out for:
- Quite a large vertical system, which will need additional space
- Cannot be used with other battery models
- To be used in conjunction with a compatible inverter (Fronius, SMA, Sungrow, Goodwe, Kostal, Solis, Kaco, Ingeteam, Solar Edge, Schneider Electric, Selectronic, and Victron Energy)
Best Battery – Small Size: Enphase IQ Battery
For a small-sized battery with a reasonable price tag, it doesn’t get much better than the Enphase IQ Battery.
With low upfront costs, high efficiency and real-time monitoring available through the Enphase Enlighten app, this model is considered to be a suitable storage unit for homeowners just making their way into the battery space.
Plus, with its smaller size and easy integration with existing systems and batteries, Enphase battery storage allows homeowners to play around with its systems and see what works best for them without the need to commit to a larger, pricier system first.
The Enphase IQ Battery also comes with a 10-15 year warranty (depending on the size).
Price: $2,000-$10,000 (depending on size)*
*This estimate does not factor in installation costs
Sizes Available: 3, 5, 10kWh
What’s good about this battery:
- Small physical footprint for space-constrained homeowners
- Modular design, meaning that you can add extra batteries if extra storage capacity is needed
- Enphase App has a storm guard feature that detects approaching storms and automatically charges the battery to full capacity
What to look out for:
- Can’t mix and match older-generation battery tech with new-generation battery tech
- The older generation batteries may have weaker power output when compared with other batteries of a similar size
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Best Battery – Large Size: SunGrow SBR HV
If your home churns through power like there’s no tomorrow, you’ll probably need quite a large and reliable solar battery. And when it comes to high-capacity residential home batteries, you can’t overlook the SunGrow SBR HV.
An up-and-coming model in the Australian market, this modular range allows households to store more than the popular 13kWh Powerwall 2 for half the price.
Plus, with backup protection capabilities, you can rest assured that in the event of a blackout, the SunGrow SBR HV battery will be able to keep the lights on and the kettle boiling.
The SunGrow SBR HV comes with a five-year product warranty, with a possible extension to 10 years.
Price: $9,000-$22,000 (depending on size)*
*This estimate does not factor in installation costs
Sizes Available: 9.6, 12.8, 16, 19.2, 22.4, 25.6kWh
What’s good about this battery:
- Capable of being used off-grid
- Modular design, allowing for extra storage to be added
- Suitable for outdoor installation
What to look out for:
- Can only be used in conjunction with compatible inverters (Sungrow)
- Limited to a maximum of four stacks of eight modules in parallel
- Limited product warranty compared to other models after the first five years
Best Battery – Hybrid: sonnen Hybrid 9.53
Hybrid inverter and battery models are great for seamlessly integrating a battery into either a new or existing solar panel system. Arguably one of the best solar battery storage models in this criteria is the sonnen Hybrid 9.53.
Containing both a high-efficiency solar inverter and battery system, the Hybrid 9.53 can effectively store and convert solar energy for use in any home, forgoing the need for an additional inverter to be installed.
Coming in sizes up to 15kWh, with modular expansion available for future growth, sonnen’s battery is not only safe and reliable but also environmentally sustainable, thanks to its cobalt-free design. Plus, the Hybrid 9.53 is covered by a 10-year warranty.
Price estimate: $8,000-$14,000
*This estimate does not factor in installation costs
Sizes available: 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15kWh
What’s good about this battery:
- A hybrid system; contains an inverter as well as battery storage
- Modular system; can be expanded upon
- Can be integrated into an existing solar panel system
- Compatible with Virtual Power Plants (VPP)
What to look out for:
- Need to add sonnenProtect to ensure protection during blackouts or off-grid
- Higher price tag than most battery systems
- Cannot be covered by warranty if not connected to the internet for software updates and real-time monitoring
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Should I get a solar battery with my solar panels?
Whether or not your household should add a battery to your solar panel system will depend on your needs and wants, such as:
- Reducing your electricity bills by storing energy during off-peak hours for use during peak hours if you are:
- On a controlled load tariff for appliances that consume a lot of energy
- On a time of use tariff
- Having blackout capabilities
- Wanting to reduce your reliance on grid energy
- Making your home more green-efficient by embracing renewable energy
If you are hoping to slash your energy bills, how much you can save by integrating a solar battery depends on:
- The size of your entire solar system (e.g. 3kW, 5kW, 6kW, 12kW)
- How much energy you consume on average, which can be determined by installing a solar monitoring system or downloading your energy retailer’s energy app (if any)
- The payback period of your solar battery, which is impacted by:
- The price of your solar battery if you’re looking for the best or cheapest solar battery in Australia
- The value of available government rebates in your state/territory
That’s why it’s best to do your research and shop around for the best solar battery brand and model that meets your needs before making a purchase.
More importantly, we highly recommend speaking to a licenced solar installer to discuss which options would be best suited to your circumstances.
Image credit: Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock.com, Tesla website, Pylontech website, BYD battery box website, Enphase website, Origin Energy website, sonnen website.
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