Can a Generac PWRcell Energy Storage System power my whole home?

"The Generac PWRCell is a gamechanger!"

Joe Allen with ABC7's Kidd O'Shea review the Generac PWRCell.

What is the Generac PWRcell?

The Generac PWRcell is a whole home backup battery. It can be paired with a solar panel system to store energy and power your home overnight, during high time-of-use rates, and during power outages. It also can be used as a back-up power source for your home during power outages and recharged off the grid.

How does the Generac PWRcell work during an outage?

Generac’s PWRcell comes with an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) and Smart Management Module (SMM). During a power outage, your PWRcell will automatically supply power to your home or essential appliances.

Generac’s PWRcell is able to detect an outage and turn on in a fraction of a second, meaning you might not even notice an outage.

How long can the Generac PWRcell power my whole home?

The PWRcell battery comes in different sizes, which all have different output capabilities. You can have as few as three battery modules installed, with 8.6kWh of storage capacity and 4.5kW continuous output capability, all the way up to six battery modules with 18kWh capacity and 9kW continuous output. If you need more power, multiple PWRcell batteries can be connected to a single inverter for up to 36kWh of storage capacity and 11kW of continuous output.

Depending on the number of battery modules in your PWRcell, it has the capability to supply your entire home with power during an outage or just run your essential appliances. A PWRcell system with six battery modules can supply 9kW of continuous backup power to a home's essential power needs, or to the whole home.

9 kW output is enough starting power to backup large loads like air conditioners and well pumps and can run about four large appliances at a time. Since your PWRcell is solar charged, it has the capability to recharge and run your entire home indefinitely, though it is currently only designed for on-grid homes.

How does Generac PWRcell work with solar panels?

The Generac PWRcell is designed to be paired with solar panels and to be used daily to save money on your electricity bill. When your solar panels produce more energy than you’re using, PWRcell stores the excess electricity. At night or when your panels aren’t producing enough electricity to meet your home’s needs, you can use the stored energy in your battery instead of having to buy it from your utility company.

If your solar panels produce energy even after your PWRcell battery is full, you can sell the excess energy back to your utility company for even more cost savings—as long as your utility company supports this function.

Solar Power During Power Outages

Most solar panel systems are required by code to disconnect from the grid during an outage, meaning they will not work during a power outage. However, PWRcell’s automatic load management allows it to disconnect from the grid but continue to store solar energy and supply power to your home during an outage.

How does Generac PWRcell work with a backup generator?

While PWRcell is meant to work with solar panels, it can be used with a backup generator. However, it can’t be directly connected to the generator and is not able to charge from a generator, so you will still need solar panels to charge your PWRcell, or you can charge from the power grid.

The advantage of having a generator with your PWRcell is that a generator can be used as a backup to your battery. During an outage, the PWRcell will respond first and provide backup power. If it runs out of charge or is not able to produce enough electricity to power your home, the backup generator will kick in. Once PWRcell is able to recharge or energy usage goes down enough for PWRcell to supply electricity on its own, the generator will automatically shut off and PWRcell will take over.

Generac PWRcell Installation

Generac’s PWRcell is able to be installed either inside or outside. It comes in several storage capacity options, so it can be modified to fit your size and budget needs.

The PWRcell battery is modular in design, so you can start off with a smaller version of the battery and easily upgrade if you want to.

To have Generac PWRcell installed, you should work with an authorized installer. If you are interested in having Generac PWRcell installed, call AirPlus.

Generac PWRcell Cost

The price of your Generac PWRcell will vary based on the size of your system. For three battery modules providing 9 kWh of energy, a battery storage cabinet, and an inverter, the starting price is around $10,000. However, if you don’t already have a solar panel system on your home, you may want to factor in that price. Generac PWRcell offers complete flexibility as it can be charged by either solar panels or off the grid to provide back-up power for your home.

A licensed Generac installation expert can help you determine how many battery modules your Generac PWRcell would need and which solar panels to pair with the PWRcell system to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. A licensed Generac installation expert will also be able to discuss other home backup power solutions with you. Call AirPlus today for assistance.

Is Generac PWRcell worth it for whole home backup power?

Generac PWRcell is a great choice for a whole home backup battery. Generac PWRcell’s components, including the batteries, the inverter, the rapid shutdown device, and the monitoring system all come from the same company, so they are designed to work perfectly together. Generac is also known to have excellent customer service and 365/24/7 support.

If you have decided on solar energy and a backup battery as a way to save on electrical costs and invest in green energy for your home, it’s hard to go wrong with a Generac PWRcell.

However, if your interest is more in backup power only, a home backup generator may be a more economical choice.

Generac offers a range of home standby generators, which are ideal for providing backup power during extended power outages. Like the Generac PWRcell, a home generator will turn on

automatically after sensing a power outage to restore power to your home. Generators are also available at a fraction of the cost of a backup battery system and do not require the more hefty price tag of a solar panel system.

Ultimately, which home backup power system you should install depends on your unique goals for your home’s power.

Call AirPlus Today.

To learn more about your options for backup power, we invite you to contact us at AirPlus Heating, Cooling & Electrical today. Our team of experts can answer any question you have about selecting the perfect backup power source for your home.