Generac PWRcell 2024 Cost (Storage Capacity, Reviews & More)

How Much Does the Generac PWRcell Cost?

The Generac PWRcell battery has a floor price of $12,500, excluding installation, which would bring your total up to around $18,000.  One of the biggest benefits of the PWRcell is its scalability, meaning it comes in several different sizes based on your energy needs. We go into more detail about this further  down.

Expect costs to increase from $12,500 as you scale your system up. $12,500 will get you the minimum 9 kWh system (still an excellent figure). From there, each 3 kWh battery module you add to your cabinet will cost around $2,500.

Generac PWRcell vs Other Popular Solar Batteries

Solar batteries are a fairly new technology, so there are more stark differences between the best solar batteries than there are between the best solar panels. For this reason, it’s good to compare and contrast the top models available to you.

Here’s a quick look at some specs to compare between the PWRcell and two other top batteries: the Tesla Powerwall 2 and the Enphase IQ Battery 10:

The Generac PWRcell has greater efficiency than either the Powerwall or the Enphase. This means that during the conversions between the solar panels, inverters and battery, the Generac system loses the least amount of electricity along the way.

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How Does the Generac PWRcell Work?

The Generac PWRcell is a solar home battery designed to store backup electricity produced by a solar panel array and manage that energy for use at a later time. Energy storage systems like the PWRcell have become a reliable method for homeowners to maintain power during outages.

Storage systems also allow homeowners to use their stored energy (instead of pulling from the grid) when rates are at their highest during peak hours of the day, lowering electricity costs.

The battery function is only a part of the picture with the Generac PWRcell. It also acts as a central hub for your home’s energy and comes with a complete clean energy system. In addition to storing your energy, the Generac PWRcell system:

• Monitors and tracks your daily energy consumption, production and savings
• Manages your home’s energy loads to pull from the grid when electricity is cheapest and pull from the battery when rates are highest
• Automatically transitions your home from the grid to backup power during grid failures
• Is expandable to adjust to changing energy needs in your home

Watch Below: See how Generac’s PWRgenerator and PWRmanager ensure whole home backup power with just one battery

What Are the PWRcell’s Main Components?

The Generac PWRcell is a beast of a battery; we’re referring not only to its raw power, but to its incredible array of functionalities and components as well. Between its battery cabinet, inverters, intelligence, and management and monitoring capabilities, the PWRcell can perform just about any task you need it to.

The PWRcell is a complex battery — but learning to capitalize on it can transform the energy management of your home. If you’re considering the PWRcell, it’s best to familiarize yourself with each aspect of the system.

PWRcell Battery Cabinet

The PWRcell battery cabinet contains the central lithium-ion battery modules of the PWRcell system. The enclosure is designed to fit configurations of any size based on the scale of backup power desired.

A huge benefit of the PWRcell system is that you can upgrade an existing battery cabinet with additional battery modules to provide backup between the range of 9 kWh (kilowatt-hours) to a whopping 18 kWh, one of the largest capacities among residential and commercial batteries (technically, it’s only 8.6 kWh and 17.1 kWh, but Generac rounds up for simplicity).

This scalability is invaluable when the energy usage of your home can change over time.  The Outdoor Rated (OR) cabinet allows for either indoor or outdoor installation in any climate, adding more flexibility to your project.

This also makes the PWRcell an excellent choice for off-grid solar projects. The battery cabinet is what allows the scalability — it can store between nine and 18 kWh of energy using between three and six three-kWh battery modules if needed.

Generac PWRcell Inverter

The PWRcell inverter integrates the batteries with your solar array. Inverters are essentially the bridge between the solar system and the battery storage system, converting solar energy into electricity and redirecting it from there.

The inverter is capable of managing your energy in a number of different user-selectable modes. The modes will depend on the energy needs of your home, but include battery backup power, self-supply, time-of-use, zero-import and export-limiting.

The intelligence of PWRcell inverters allows you to manage your home energy system with your PWRview web portal and mobile app, where you can monitor, forecast and customize your whole home’s energy use from a computer, phone or tablet.

Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)

Most battery backup systems or generators typically require you to manually transition your home’s energy supply to a backup source, which can be complex and even dangerous when performed poorly. From there, generators have to be set up to provide energy towards specific circuits (think specific systems or appliances — do you want to keep your refrigerator powered? HVAC system?)

Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) are a key aspect of the PWRcell that make it easy for homeowners to smoothly transition from the electrical grid to their whole-home backup power. From there, homeowners can use their PWRcells to manage the use of the energy their solar panels generate, directing it towards their priority appliances or systems.

Smart Management Modules

Generac’s Smart Management Modules (SMM) manage the PWRcell’s power levels to prevent overload. When used in tandem with the PWRcell’s ATS system, the power system can intelligently and safely manage up to eight circuits in your home at a time. This is what makes the PWRcell so effective at intelligently managing power even during an outage.

Generac’s PWRview Monitoring App

As we’ve mentioned, the PWRcell solar battery has incredible capabilities. But where do you start? We wouldn’t expect an average homeowner to know what a management module is, or what the role of a transfer switch is in load management.

Enter the PWRview monitoring app. The PWRview app helps you understand and manage your home’s energy use. It can analyze your electricity consumption, forecast your bills and provide insights on how to most effectively manage your stored energy and lower your electricity bills.

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Does Generac Offer a Warranty for the PWRcell?

Unlike solar panels, which have around a 25-year life expectancy, solar batteries typically need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years. As a result, most solar batteries come with a warranty lasting ten years.

The PWRcell 17 — with six battery modules — is valid for either 10 years or the amount of time it takes to cycle 17.3 MWh (megawatt hours) of energy through the battery (another way to describe how intensively you use it).  Most similar products have a 10-year warranty which guarantees a certain number of recharges, as opposed to Generac’s guaranteed energy yield.

Can the Generac PWRcell Help You Go Off-Grid?

To go fully off-grid you would probably need more than one PWRcell. The base model of the PWRcell has a nine kWh capacity, which is capable of powering larger loads in the home including HVAC, refrigeration and other appliance functions. Although a single PWRcell fully loaded with six battery modules has a capacity of up to 18 kW, it’s unlikely a home would be able to continually power itself fully on solar power without a second battery.

The PWRcell can of course be recharged and used as off-grid backup power in the event of a public power outage. It offers automatic load management, letting you customize the parts of your home that receive backup electricity during a grid outage. The PWRcell’s battery cabinet is also designed for outdoor use in multiple climates, making it an excellent candidate for projects that are truly off-grid and exposed to the elements.

If you’re interested in going off the grid you should first check with your local jurisdiction. In some cities, it isn’t legal for you to fully disconnect from public power.

Is the Generac PWRcell System Right For You?

The Generac PWRcell offers one of the best home energy solutions for solar backup on the market today — its unmatched power, intelligence and scalability make it capable of providing safe and reliable off-grid power for critical electricity needs and effectively avoiding high peak energy costs. However, that doesn’t make it the right choice for everyone. The biggest drawbacks of the PWRcell are:

• Not as user-friendly as some of its competitors
• One of the more expensive options (and not all customers will need all that the PWRcell offers)
• Can’t be installed without solar panels or another form of residential energy generation

We always like to counsel our readers that solar batteries are not a casual acquisition — they are complicated devices that require an understanding of how to utilize them. That being said, if you’re willing to commit to learning the ins and outs of the PWRcell, it’s one of the best batteries money can buy.

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Additional Solar Resources:

• Average Installation Costs of Solar Panel Systems in 2022
• Solar Incentives, Rebates & Tax Credits You Can Claim in 2022

The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.