PWRCell vs Tesla Powerwall
Solar Battery Comparison
Here in New England, the number one reason to add a battery to your solar system is backup power for when the grid goes down. After all, the number of grid outages over the last 10 years has increased over 14% (and that trend only seems to be gaining steam).
We recommend the Generac PWRcell, over the perhaps better known Tesla Powerwall. The chart below will help you understand why we believe that the Generac Powercell is a better long-term solution for our customers.
Comparison: Generac PWRcell versus the Tesla Powerwall:
| Capability/Feature | Generac PWRcell | Tesla Powerwall | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Useable Capacity | 18 kWh | 13.5 kWh | PWRcell not only has more power, but it’s modular design makes it scalable and easy to upgrade when needed |
| Peak Current | 50 Amps | 32 Amps | Peak current is what allows a battery to power heavy loads, like a water pump, septic system, or AC |
| Maximum Continuous Power | 9 kW | 5 kW | More continuous power means running more loads at the same time |
| Round-Trip Charging Efficiency | 96.5% | 92.5% | Charging efficiency measures how much power is lost during the charging and discharging of power from the battery |
| Whole Home Backup with a Single Battery Cabinet | Yes | No | PWRcell is designed to power an entire home; you would need multiple Powerwalls to handle the same load |
| Whole Home Load Management | Yes | No | Generac adopted their ‘Load Management System’ from their traditional generators. This allows users to power what they need most and avoid working with a limiting sub panel setup |
| Warranty | 10 Years | 10 Years | The batteries inside each cabinet use the same lithium ion chemistry |
| Born in New England | Yes | No | Generac was first developed by Pika Energy in Portland Maine and the PWRcell research and development arm of Generac is still based there |
About Generac
Generac’s size and financial strength, together with its technology make it the undisputed leader in whole home backup power systems.
Generac has been in business since 1959 and is the largest whole home backup generator manufacturer in the world, boasting 80% market share and over 2.2 million customers. Their PWRcell whole house solar battery system was first developed by a startup company in Maine
