[RE-wrenches] Comparing storage options: Tesla, sonnen, LG Chem, Pika

Mon Mar 4 20:16:38 EST 2019

Marco:

Thanks for the primer.  A few questions:

1.   I heard that the LG factory had shut down due to high failure rates of
the product.  Any word on that?

2.   You say the Powerwall has “one of the best ratios of cost to
capacity.”  I ran a few numbers:

For the Tesla Powerwall:

        For the MK 8L16 battery:

It looks like the Powerwall has a much higher cost per watt hour than a
garden variety flooded lead acid battery.  Could this be true?

3.   Does the $7,000 include electronics for this higher cost?

4.   Is the Powerwall suitable for standalone systems?

5.   What kind of inverter will work with the Powerwall?

6.   Will this inverter integrate with a generator?

a.   Does it have dual AC inputs?

b.   Does it have built in transfer switching?

7.   How much energy does the cooling system consume?  Is this taken into
account in the rating?

8.   Can independent contractors access Powerwall batteries or do you have
to have some kind of affiliation with Tesla?

Thanks in advance for the information.

William Miller

*From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On
Behalf Of *Marco Mangelsdorf
*Sent:* Monday, March 4, 2019 1:01 PM
*To:* 'RE-wrenches'
*Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Comparing storage options: Tesla, sonnen, LG Chem,
Pika

A useful, quick comparison of the currently available major players in
residential energy storage for grid-tie.
Tesla Powerwall

[image: tesla powerwall battery]

*Capacity: *13.5 kilowatt-hours
<https://news.energysage.com/what-is-a-kilowatt-hour-the-difference-between-kwh-and-kw/>
usable; whole house back-up capable with 200A utility service or less
*Warranty: *10 years, 70% capacity

The Tesla Powerwall is an energy storage industry leader for a few reasons.
First and foremost, the Powerwall is the battery that brought energy
storage into the mainstream for many homeowners. Tesla, already well known
for its innovative electric cars, announced the first-generation Powerwall
in 2015, and overhauled the “Powerwall 2.0” in 2016. The Powerwall is a
lithium ion battery with a similar chemistry to the batteries used in Tesla
vehicles. It is designed for integration with a solar panel system, but can
also be used solely for home backup power.

The second-generation Tesla Powerwall also offers one of the best ratios of
cost to capacity of any product available in the United States. One
Powerwall can store 13.5 kWh – enough to power essential appliances for a
full 24 hours – and comes with an integrated inverter. The battery cells
within the Powerwall are manufactured by Panasonic within the Gigafactory
in Nevada.

The Powerwall comes with a 10-year warranty that assumes your battery is
used for daily charging and draining. As part of their warranty, Tesla
offers a minimum guaranteed capacity. They ensure that the Powerwall will
sustain at least 70 percent of its capacity over the course of its warranty
period.
 sonnen eco (now wholly owned by Royal Dutch Shell)

*[image: cid:image003.png at 01D4CD10.013F3F40]*

*Capacity: *starts at 4 kWhs; not whole house back-up capable
*Warranty: *10 years, 70% capacity

The sonnen *eco* is a 4 kWh+ home battery manufactured by sonnenBatterie,
an energy storage company based in Germany. The *eco* has been available in
the U.S. since 2017 through the company’s installer network.

The *eco* is a lithium ferrous phosphate battery that is designed for
integration with a solar panel system. It also comes with an integrated
inverter. One of the main ways that sonnen distinguishes the *eco* from
other solar batteries on the market is through its self-learning software,
which can help homes with solar panel systems connected to the grid
increase their solar self-consumption and manage time-of-use electricity
rates.

Like Tesla, sonnen also offers a minimum guaranteed capacity. They ensure
that the *eco* will maintain at least 70 percent of its storage capacity
for its first 10 years.

LG Chem RESU10H

*[image: cid:image007.png at 01D4CD10.013F3F40]*

*Capacity*: 8.8 kWh usable; not whole back-up capable
*Warranty*: 10 years, 60% capacity

Another major player in the worldwide energy storage market is leading
electronics manufacturer LG, based in South Korea. Their RESU battery is
one of the more popular options for solar-plus-storage systems in Australia
and Europe.

The RESU is a lithium ion battery.  The only battery option currently sold
in the U.S. is RESU10H, which has a usable capacity of 8.8 kWh. It comes
with a 10-year warranty that offers a minimum guaranteed capacity of 60
percent.
Pika Energy Harbor Smart Battery

*[image: cid:image009.png at 01D4CD10.013F3F40]*

*Capacity*: 8.6, 11.4, 14.3, 17.1 kWh usable; whole house back-up capable
up to 200A using a Generac automatic transfer switch
*Warranty*: 10 years

The Harbor Smart Battery comes from Pika Energy, an inverter manufacturer
that has recently entered the energy storage space. Unlike some other home
batteries, the Harbor Smart Battery is specifically intended to be
installed alongside a solar panel system and can be used for both on-site
consumption of stored solar energy and grid services like demand response.

The Harbor Smart Battery uses a Panasonic-manufactured lithium ion battery
cells and comes paired with a Pika Energy Island inverter, which can be
used for both on-grid and off-grid home energy storage.  The Harbor is
backed by a 10 year Panasonic warranty.
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