Solar Battery Comparison: What is the best solar battery in Australia

Do you know that the average Australian household uses roughly 18kWh of electricity a day?

With power prices increasing every year—often landing somewhere between $150 and $250 a month, it’s no wonder people are looking for better ways to take control of their energy bills.

Solar panels used to be the big money-saver, but as feed-in tariffs keep dropping, homeowners are realising that storing their own energy is where the real value is now.

That change has increased the demand for solar batteries.

More families want to run their homes at night on stored solar to avoid relying on expensive grid power and have backup protection during blackouts.

However, with so many new battery models entering the Australian market, it’s becoming easier to find something that fits the way your home actually uses energy.

The challenge, of course, is choosing the right one. Every battery has its strengths: some are built for serious backup power, whereas others are perfect for maximising solar savings. 

This guide will break down the top solar batteries in Australia right now, including key features and a simple explanation of who each one suits best.

1. Tesla Powerwall 3

Key features

• Capacity: 13.5kWh
• Power Output: 10kWh continuous
• Dimensions: 1099 x 609 x 193mm
• Mounting options: Wall or floor mount
• Warranty: 10 years
• Price (before rebate): $16,000–$17,500

The Tesla Powerwall has long been the brand everyone knows, and the Powerwall 3 refines that simple and sleek formula.

It’s an all-in-one system, meaning the battery, the essential hybrid inverter and the smart control system are bundled into one tidy box.

The Powerwall 3 gives you 10kWh of continuous power that is enough to run nearly any house comfortably during an outage. 

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
High 10kWh continuous power output.	Challenging to retrofit existing solar systems.
All-in-One integration (Inverter, Battery, Control).	High price point.
Strong 10-year warranty backed by a major brand.

✔️ Good fit for: Homeowners who are installing a new solar system and want absolute simplicity, high power, and industry-leading backup capabilities. 

2. Sigenergy SigenStor

Key features

• Capacity: 5kWh to 48kWh (Highly scalable)
• Power Output: 5kW-25kW continuous (Hybrid)
• Supported applications: Solar self-consumption, Back-up power, 3P backup
• Warranty: 10 years
• Installation: Floor/wall-mounted
• Price (before rebate): $14,500–$15,500 (Gateway included)

The SigenStor is the definition of an all-in-one solution.

It integrates a battery power conversion system (PCS), solar inverter, battery pack, EV DC charger, and energy management system into a single stack.

This significantly simplifies installation.

Its ability to scale from a modest 5kWh all the way up to 48kWh means it can start small for an average home or grow huge for a serious energy user or small business.

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Extreme scalability	Potential for overheated terminals (reported hardware issue).
Clean aesthetic with simple installation	Shorter long-term track record as a newer brand in key markets.
High efficiency due to DC coupling with Sigenergy solar components

✔️ Good fit for:

New home builders or owners looking for a visually clean, expandable, and future-proof setup. If you think your energy needs might double in five years, this system is ready for it.

3. Sungrow

Key features

• Capacity: 25.6 kWh 
• Power Output: High (Up to 15.36 kW continuous)
• Warranty:10 Years
• Special Power: Unbalanced 3-phase output; 150% peak in off-grid mode
• Compatibility: DC Coupled; Max 2.0 DC/AC ratio
• Price: $6,000-$29,000

Sungrow is definitely not new to the Australian market. They’ve been giants in the inverter world for decades.

Now, they’ve brought that engineering know-how into their batteries.

The Sungrow solar batteries are reliable, flexible, and energy efficient. With a max capacity of 25.6kWh, they are built to cover some serious energy needs.

What you really need to know is how well they work with solar.

Thanks to features like the max 2.0 DC/AC ratio, the system can really squeeze every last drop of energy out of your panels. That’s the efficiency you feel in your bills.

If your grid goes down, the ability to punch out 150% peak power in off-grid mode is a huge safety assurance.

That means you can likely run bigger appliances without the system shutting down.

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Exceptional efficiency for max solar usage (2.0 DC/AC) ratio.	Requires a matching Sungrow hybrid inverter (DC-coupled).
Powerful off-grid performance (150% peak output for big loads).	Limited component choice and vendor lock-in for future expansion.
Highly flexible capacity that’s simple to expand later.

✔️ Good fit for: The homeowner who wants maximum solar harvesting efficiency and needs serious and reliable power to run a big house during a blackout. 

4. Alpha-ESS

Key features

• Max Capacity: 34.2kwh 
• Design: Sleek and built for easy expansion
• Battery chemistry: lithium-ion technology
• Warranty: 5 years
• Price: $12,000-$13,000

If you’re looking for a battery that ensures consistent power during outages, you need to check out Alpha-ESS.

Their modular design is fantastic—you can easily stack capacity up to 34.2kWh.

They’ve made the unit clean-looking and service-friendly, which is a nice feature. Built with reliable cells, these systems are safe and efficient. 

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Simple and modular stacking (up to 34.2 kWh.	Shorter general product warranty (5 years) than competitors.
Built with safety-focused LFP chemistry for stability.	Less established brand reputation compared to industry leaders.
Excellent balance of cost, safety, and scalability.

✔️ Good fit for: The value-conscious homeowner who prioritises long-term safety and modularity.

This is the perfect option if you want to install a reliable battery now and need the guaranteed option to easily expand your storage later.

5. FranklinWH aPower 2

Key features

• Capacity: 15kWh
• Power Output: 10kW continuous
• Battery: LFP
• Warranty: 15 years
• Price (before rebate): $14,500–$15,500

This system is built around safety and flexibility.

The aPower battery module is paired with 15 units per aGate, which acts as the system controller and monitoring hub.

Being AC-coupled means it plays nicely with almost any existing solar setup you have. This is also a big win for retrofitting.

It also uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, known for being incredibly stable and a safer choice for home use. The design is neat and highly modular for expansion later.

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Excellent for retrofitting due to AC-coupled design and high compatibility with different solar inverters.	Requires two separate main components (aPower battery and aGate controller) for installation.
Built to handle high energy demand with 10 kWh continuous power output.	Increased complexity and space required due to the split component design.
Excellent for retrofitting due to the AC-coupled design and high compatibility with different solar inverters.

✔️ Ideal for:

People prioritizing safety and reliability above anything else, especially those adding storage to an existing solar system.

It’s a versatile option that won’t lock you into one specific inverter brand.

6. SonnenBatterie Evo

Key features

• Capacity: 10kWh
• Power Output: 5kW continuous
• Amber compatible: Limited
• Compatibility: AC Coupled (standard model)
• Warranty: 10 years
• Price (before rebate): $11,000–$12,000

Sonnen is a German company known for its relentless focus on quality and long-term performance.

The Evo is their latest offering, continuing their commitment to LFP technology and a guaranteed cycle life.

It has a lower continuous power output compared to the others, but it makes up for that with a legendary reputation for build quality and an impressive 10-year warranty that covers 10,000 cycles—almost unheard of.

It’s built to last.

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Industry-leading warranty for cycles and time (often 10 years and high cycle count).	The continuous power output is relatively low for heavy household loads.
Premium German construction quality and reliability.	The system is designed to be very specific and less flexible with other components.
Built-in reliable LFP chemistry (Lithium Iron Phosphate).

✔️ Great for:

Quality-focused customers who value long-term peace of mind over raw power figures. This is the choice for anyone who wants to install it and forget about it for the next decade.

7. MANLY Battery

Key features

• Capacity: 10kWh
• Power Output: 5kW continuous (Requires external inverter)
• Warranty: 10 years 
• Compatibility: DC Coupled (connects to hybrid inverters)
• Installation: Flexible
• Price (module only): $12,000–$15,000

MANLY focuses almost entirely on the battery modules themselves, often selling them directly to installers or consumers looking for a cost-effective block of storage.

They use reliable LFP cells and offer standard capacity modules. This isn’t an all-in-one unit; you need a separate hybrid or battery-specific inverter to get it functioning.

The appeal here is straightforward cost reduction and getting a solid LFP battery without the added cost of a brand’s smart features or an integrated inverter.

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Excellent price per kWh (high value proposition).	Not an integrated solution (requires separate inverter and control systems).
High-quality LFP cell chemistry for safety and stability.	Simple and standardised design (easy to install in racks/cabinets).
Simple and standardized design (easy to install in racks/cabinets).

✔️ Excellent fit for:

The highly budget-focused customer or professional solar installers who prefer to mix-and-match components.

This is for someone who knows they want pure storage capacity at the lowest price possible.

8. Anker Solix

Key features

• Capacity: 15kWh-180kWh (modular expansion)
• Power Output: 6.6kW continuous
• Compatibility: Hybrid DC/AC Coupled
• Warranty: 10 years
• Mounting options: Ground/wall
• Price (before rebate): $700–$11,000 

Anker is a brand you probably already know for phone chargers, but they’ve made a serious play in the home energy space.

The Solix system leverages its consumer electronics background to deliver a fantastic user experience. The app and interface are smooth and intuitive, making it easy to manage your power flow.

The battery features LFP chemistry for stability and offers strong power delivery, making it a powerful contender straight out of the box.

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Superb intuitive app and user interface (excellent UX).	New to the Australian solar market, limiting installer familiarity.
Strong 6.6 kW continuous power output and reliable LFP cells.	Limited long-term local support track record compared to established brands.
Solid 10-year warranty backed by a major global electronics name.

✔️ Best fit for:

Tech-savvy users who appreciate a seamless and consumer-friendly software experience. If you like monitoring your usage and tweaking settings easily, this is a brilliant choice.

9. Enphase IQ Battery

Key features

• Capacity: 5kWh scalable up to 20kWh per phase
• Installation: Wall-mounted
• Warranty: 15 years
• Power options: Single-phase or three-phase
• Price (before rebate): $16,500–$17,500

Enphase approaches battery storage from a completely different viewpoint. Instead of one big battery, the IQ system uses smaller, stackable 5kWh modules, each with its own microinverter.

This gives you amazing assurance. If one module fails, the rest keep working. It’s incredibly modular and lets you purchase exactly the size you need, down to the kilowatt-hour.

This is an AC-coupled system, meaning seamless integration with any existing solar panels.

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
True modularity and flexible sizing (can easily start small and scale up).	Requires multiple components to function (e.g., IQ Controller and IQ Gateway).
Extreme reliability due to independent microinverters (if one fails, the others still work).	Power output is spread across the units, potentially limiting big loads (requires multiple units for high kW).
Excellent monitoring features via the Enphase App.

✔️ Best fit for:

Homeowners who want precise control over sizing or those with highly shaded roofs that already use Enphase microinverters. It’s the smart and incremental storage option.

10. Fox ESS

Key features

• Capacity: 10.4kWh
• Power scalability: Up to 42 kWh
• Blackout Protection: ✅ Yes (Hybrid inverter integration)
• Compatibility: DC Coupled (often sold as a complete system)
• Warranty: 10 years
• Price (before rebate): $8,650–$9,200

Fox ESS has become known as a strong contender in the value department without sacrificing important features. Their focus is often on an integrated and modern appearance that’s easy to install.

The system offers a decent capacity and a solid 3.7 MWh per usable kWh, which is more than enough for most homes to run essential backup circuits.

It’s a very practical choice for new solar installations where the owner wants good features without the premium brand price tag.

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Excellent value for the feature set (high features/cost ratio).	Less established brand reputation compared to industry leaders.
Clean and unified appearance (integrated, all-in-one style).	Limited long-term reliability data compared to brands with decades in the market.
Good power rating for a mid-range system (sufficient kWh for most homes).

✔️ Good fit for:

Budget-conscious homeowners installing solar for the first time who want a unified battery and inverter setup that performs well and looks tidy without the hefty price of the biggest names.

What to consider when choosing the right solar battery?

So, we’ve checked out the big names, but how do you actually choose the right solar battery for your Aussie home?

Seriously, it’s not as simple as just grabbing the one with the cheapest sticker price. It really comes down to three main factors.

Don’t just look at the headline price; consider these points.

1. Capacity vs. Power Output

These two things are often confused, but they are completely different.

Capacity measured in kWh is like the size of your fuel tank. It tells you how long you can run things. A 13.5kWh battery can run a small load for much longer than a 5kWh battery.

For large homes or families that use a lot of power after dark, it’s important to look for high capacity.

Power Output measured in kW is the speed at which the battery can deliver energy.

This tells you what you can run.

If you want to run an electric oven (3kW) and an air conditioner (4kW) at the same time, you need a battery with an output of at least 7kW.

Low power output means you can only run essentials.

2. AC Coupled vs. DC Coupled

This is really important for cost and efficiency, especially if you have an existing solar system.

DC Coupled (Battery connects directly to the solar panels) is generally the most efficient option because power goes straight from the panel (DC) to the battery (DC) with minimal loss.

However, it usually requires a specific hybrid inverter and is often best for new installations.

Meanwhile, AC Coupled (Battery connects to your home’s main power after the solar inverter) is super flexible.

Since it connects on the AC side, you can retrofit it to any existing solar inverter without having to swap out your current gear.

The benefit is a slight dip in efficiency because the power has to convert from DC to AC and back to DC.

3. Chemistry and Warranty

Most modern batteries use Lithium-ion. However, there are two main options:

NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) has a higher energy density. This means more power in a smaller box.

LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) is known for being safer and having more stable thermal properties. They often come with longer cycle warranties.

Always check the warranty.

A good warranty covers both the years and the number of cycles (how many times it can be charged and discharged).

Look for a minimum of 10 years and coverage up to 70% retention of capacity.

Wrapping Up: Your Smart Path to the Right Solar Battery

Basically, choosing the best solar battery in Australia really depends on what you want your system to do. Some people want the strongest backup power for blackouts.

Meanwhile, others want the best long-term value, whereas some are simply trying to stretch their budget without sacrificing reliability.

Thankfully, the Australian market now has options for every type of home, from premium all-in-one systems like the Tesla Powerwall 3 to wallet-friendly modular setups like GoodWe, MANLY and Fox ESS.

If you’re installing a brand-new solar system, you’ll probably get better efficiency with a DC-coupled unit. But if you’re retrofitting a battery to an existing setup, an AC-coupled unit usually makes life a lot easier.

FAQs