Generac PWRcell Review

How much does the Generac PWRcell cost?

The 9 kilowatt-hour (kWh) base model of the Generac PWRcell in 2023 costs $12,399 and comes with three battery modules, a battery storage cabinet, and one inverter. The larger 18 kWh Generac PWRcell starts at around $18,000. This cost does not include installation. 

Installing the Generac battery can add a few thousand to the total price of the Generac PWRcell battery, however, prices can vary based on location and time of install. With installation included, expect the Generac PWRcell battery to cost $18,000.

Generac PWRcell tax credits and incentives in 2023

A Generac PWRcell and related installation costs are eligible for the 30% federal solar tax credit. With the solar tax credit, you could save around $4,000 on the battery alone with the 9kWh Generac battery. The solar tax credit also covers the cost of solar panels. Whether you are shopping for the best solar panels, the best solar shingles, or the best solar batteries, it’s a great time to invest in solar for your home. 

Your state may offer solar incentives and rebates as well. Discover more about solar incentives near you by selecting your state from the list at the bottom of this page. Some common statewide solar incentives and rebates are property tax exemptions for solar improvements and low-interest solar loans. 

The solar tax credit is only available to homeowners who purchase or finance their solar system and solar battery. Two other methods of acquiring a solar panel system are leasing your solar system or entering a solar power purchase agreement (PPA). In these instances, the solar tax credit will go to the owner of the solar system instead of the homeowner. However, you still benefit from lower electricity costs and clean, renewable solar energy.

Interested in solar batteries?

SaveOnEnergy partners with Haven Energy to bring you options for solar batteries. Adding storage to your solar system can protect you from power outages or periods of lower production. We’ll work with you to determine how many batteries are best for your home.

About the Generac PWRcell home battery

Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it to usable energy for your home. A home solar battery, such as the Generac PWRcell, stores excess solar energy from your solar panels. The Generac PWRcell works with popular solar panel manufacturers, however, the battery may need to be installed simultaneously with the solar panels. The battery is not designed to be installed at a later time. A Generac representative said the company is developing a retrofit battery solution for existing solar panel systems.

This battery can be installed indoors or outdoors, making it suitable for various climates. Its battery cabinet is Outdoor Rated (OR), allowing for compatibility with nearly all climates. If you want to install it indoors, PWRcell may require substantial wall space to accommodate the nearly six-foot-tall battery. While Generac provides comprehensive installation instructions, having the PWRcell installed by a Generac-authorized dealer or licensed contractor is important for safety and optimal performance.

The Generac PWRcell has a 10-year solar warranty, which is on par with competitor solar batteries on the market, such as the Tesla Powerwall. Your solar panels will last much longer than that, and most monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels come with a 25-year warranty

Key specs and features of the 2023 GeneracPWRcell

The GeneracPWRcell home battery has several key features that set it apart from other solar home batteries. 

• Lithium-ion battery: Like the Tesla Powerwall, the GeneracPWRcell is a durable and low-maintenance lithium-ion battery.
• Automatic Transfer Switch: This preprogrammed function allows the GeneracPWRcell to seamlessly take overpowering your home after a power outage. 
• PWR manager: The PWRmanager lets you customize further your power output in an outage. Using the PWRview app, you can prioritize circuits within your home to keep your essential appliances running. The app also lets you monitor your energy consumption and battery use to forecast your monthly energy bill.
• Two battery models: Choose from the GeneracPWRcell EX or DCB. The difference between the two models is the operating temperature, which is 32-104°F for the EX model and 41-113°F for the DCB model. Otherwise, all specs are very similar.
• Warranty: The GeneracPWRcell 10-year warranty states that “beginning upon the successful registration of the unit, Generac Power Systems, Inc. (Generac) warrants that its Generac PWRcellⓇ products will be free from defects in material and workmanship.” This coverage applies to the items and time period(s) outlined in the warranty.

Generac PWRcell storage capacity

A single Generac solar battery contains three modules. This battery capacity will be enough for most homes to maintain power to essential appliances during a power outage. The Generac PWRcell battery includes an automatic transfer switch to maintain power to your required circuits seconds after a power failure occurs. You may need additional battery units to power your entire home.

The average U.S. household electricity use is 899kWh per month, which is roughly 29kWh per day. If you estimate that most of that energy is used during your waking hours, that breaks down to under 2kWh per hour. Therefore, a 9kWh GeneracPWRcell could maintain power to key appliances for several hours. Want to get a better idea of how much energy your home uses? Check your energy bill or use our energy consumption calculator to determine how many solar panels and the number of battery modules you need for your home. The following chart shows each Generac battery’s cost and storage capacity.

Can you use Generac PWRcell without solar?

Currently, the PWRcell system isn’t optimized for standalone use, which will likely change as Generac develops the next generation of PWRcell batteries. If your main goal is a backup power source, you might want to explore other backup generator options specifically designed for that purpose without solar integration.