Solar generators as an excellent green energy option for backup power solutions. Unlike traditional gas generators, solar generators use renewable energy to power your home, RV, cabin, boat, or truck. Keep reading to learn more about the top-rated solar generators in 2024.
Best solar generators
- Jackery Solar Generator
- Westinghouse iGen Portable Power Station
- Bluetti EB3A Portable Power Station
- EcoFlow DELTA Solar Generator
- Geneverse Solar Generator HomePower 2
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What is a solar generator?
Consider a solar generator as an oversized power bank. Instead of providing backup energy for your phone, it can power computers, appliances, medical devices, and more. The best solar generators are portable and rely on solar energy as a power source.
Why do I need a solar power generator?
There are many reasons you should invest in a solar generator. A portable solar generator is a low-cost option to test or use solar energy without committing to expensive solar panels for your home. Here are a few other reasons to get a solar generator:
- Working remotely: The rise of remote work offers more people the opportunity to work from a cabin, campsite, RV, or boat using a solar generator for power.
- Power outages: A solar generator is a reliable backup power source during outages and does not require you to install solar panels. It can be particularly useful if you live in an outage-prone area.
- Fuel costs: Unlike conventional generators that require gasoline, a solar generator eliminates the need for expensive fuel, contributing to cost savings.
The best solar power generators for your home
We researched these top-rated solar generators to help make your search for electricity backup easier, whether you want solar power generation for home or travel. We compared capacity, price, portability, and more for the following generators. Later, we’ll break down the features of the top solar power generators for your home in a side-by-side comparison.
Jackery Solar Generator
Find it on Amazon
Find it at Home Depot
Pros: The Jackery Solar Generators offer a customizable fit, allowing you to choose the generator size that best matches your energy needs.
Cons: Some Amazon reviewers reported getting less than the advertised battery life, even after a full charge.
The Jackery Solar Generator has a built-in handle, up to three USB ports, and a 12V Direct Current (DC) car adapter. You can recharge the Jackery using portable solar panels, a wall outlet, or a car outlet. Jackery offers generators in multiple sizes, ranging from the compact four-pound Jackery 160 to the robust 64-pound Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro. This solar generator has a 2-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee for products purchased directly from Jackery.com. The entire Jackery solar generator line is a zero-emissions product and uses lithium-ion solar batteries.
Westinghouse iGen Portable Power Station
Find it on Amazon
Find it on Home Depot
Pros: The Westinghouse iGen160s is the lightest portable generator on our list at just 3.75 pounds.
Cons: Customers have reported concerns regarding reduced capacity after repeated use of the generator.
Similar to the Jackery generator, the Westinghouse iGen Portable Power Station is available in different sizes. This portable generator has a rugged aesthetic, a built-in handle, and an easy-to-read LCD screen. The Westinghouse solar generator offers enhanced safety with features for low voltage, short circuits, and overload protection.
Bluetti EB3A Portable Power Station
Find it on Amazon
Find it on Bluetti
Pros: Bluetti offers a combination of compactness, rapid charging capability, and a reasonable price range.
Cons: Several reviewers have complained about poor customer service.
A Bluetti solar generator comes with an AC adapter, a car charging cable, USB-A and USB-C ports, and a solar charging cable. With an impressive charging speed, this generator achieves a complete charge in less than two hours. The generator can also be efficiently recharged using solar panels. Depending on the wattage of the connected solar panels, Bluetti solar generators have the capability to handle 1–6 solar panels. Bluetti’s power station also comes with a two-year warranty.
EcoFlow DELTA Solar Generator
Find it on Amazon
Find it on EcoFlow
Pros: Users praised the fast charging quality of this solar generator.
Cons: The standard DELTA model doesn’t have Wi-Fi capabilities, so the EcoFlow app cannot connect. If you prefer a smart generator, DELTA2, Max, and Pro models can use the app to track and help optimize your energy habits.
The EcoFlow DELTA solar generator line has five options in size and wattage: the DELTA mini, DELTA, DELTA Max, DELTA Pro, and DELTA 2. The standard DELTA solar generator has six AC outlets and boasts a superfast charging speed, from 0-80% in less than one hour. A lithium-ion battery and a 24-month warranty for DELTA mini, DELTA Max, and DELTA Pro models make this solar generator an excellent choice among the best home solar generators of 2024. Registering for a 12-month warranty extension for eligible products is an option.
Geneverse Solar Generator HomePower 2
Find it on Geneverse
Pros: At five years, this solar generator has the longest warranty of all our top-rated models.
Cons: May need to purchase extension cables separately since the included cables are 3 feet long.
According to Geneverse, the HomePower 2 lets you charge and power important devices like cell phones, home appliances, medical equipment, cameras, security systems, tools, and more. The components that come with this generator include an AC charging cable, a car charging cable, and a charging cable carrying case. The Geneverse HomePower 2 is completely safe for indoor use. Calculate how long your devices will run on the HomePower 2 with this Usage Time Estimator.
Best-rated solar power generators 2024
The following table outlines the pricing, capacity, warranties, and other specifications for each of the top-rated solar power generators in 2024.
| Price* | Battery capacity (Watt-hours) | Weight | Warranty | Best for |
---|
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer | $139.99–$4,799 | 167–3,024 | 2.13–63.9 pounds | 2 years | Customizable, select-a-size generator options |
Westinghouse iGen Portable Power Station | $139.99–$961.74 | 155–1008 | 3.75–31.1 pounds | 2 years (limited) | Portability (Most lightweight options) |
Bluetti EB3A Portable Power Station | $299–$798 | 268 | 10.1 pounds | 2 years | Fast charging |
EcoFlow DELTA solar generator | $999–$3,699 | 882–2500 | 23.6–67.2 pounds | 2 years | Fast charging |
Geneverse Solar Generator HomePower 2 | $3,857 | 1,566–2,060 | 45.2–47.4 pounds | 5 years (limited) | Outstanding warranty |
*Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Methodology
The reviews on this page are not based on personal or hands-on testing because it isn’t possible for our team to test the purchasing and installation process for every generator on the market. Instead, we base our reviews on thorough research, interviews, and unbiased facts about solar generators. The standardized criteria for these reviews include the capacity, price, portability and other options provided.
How to find the best solar backup generator
Similar to searching for the best solar panels, there are certain features to pay attention to when selecting the best solar generator, such as:
- Price: Solar generators cater to various budgets, ranging from $139 to $4,399 for the best models.
- Watts/Capacity: A solar generator with a higher wattage can operate more devices and support larger appliances like refrigerators.
- Product weight: If you plan to travel, check the weight and dimensions of your generator to ensure it fits your accommodations.
- Charging time: Some solar generators take longer to charge than others, so knowing the charging time is important if time is limited.
- Warranty: Warranty lengths of the best solar generators vary between one to five years.
Portable solar generator types
Portable solar generators come in a wide range of weights and dimensions. According to Consumer Reports, portable generators can range from a 40-pound option for charging your phone on a campground to a 300-pound generator equipped to power your home through an outage. “Think of a portable generator as any model that’s not a home standby generator.”
Portable generators cost much less than home generators. You will also need portable solar panels to charge your portable generator with solar energy. You can buy these solar panels separately, which are much less expensive than home solar panels.
How do solar-powered generators work?
The best solar generators of 2024 store solar energy for later use. If you’re charging your portable generator using solar panels, those solar panels work by converting sunlight to electricity. You can also charge most portable solar generators using a car or AC charger. The generator’s battery stores the energy until you need it. Once in use, the built-in solar inverter converts the stored energy to usable power for your devices.