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Home batteries have become a crucial part of the clean energy revolution, especially with how common it is to pair them together with solar panels. They play an essential role in helping to maximize solar energy, ensure energy independence, and avoid the effects of power outages. As the demand for home energy storage solutions continues to rise, many of the leading brands in the industry are putting in their best efforts to design the best, most innovative battery. Two brands, Tesla and Enphase, have emerged at the forefront of this market, each releasing new models of their batteries since the start of 2023: Enphase launched the IQ Battery 5P in 2023, and Tesla launched the Powerwall 3 in 2024.
These two batteries represent the newest and most innovative technologies available in the home battery industry. As a result, they’ve often been compared to each other. So, the question is, how do they compare?
Power
- Tesla Powerwall 3: The Powerwall 3 offers a continuous power output of 11.5 kW, the highest currently available on the market. This high output ensures that the battery can handle significant loads, making it ideal for homes with high energy demands, including homes where you may need to run multiple appliances and charge your electric vehicle.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: The IQ Battery 5P offers 3.8 kW of continuous power. While this is significantly lower on a per-unit basis when compared to the Powerwall 3, it is generally designed to be modular, meaning that you can scale up the power output by adding more units. In most cases, multiple batteries would be installed together. For example, four units would deliver 15.2 kW of continuous power, making it flexible and adaptable to various household energy needs.
Capacity
- Tesla Powerwall 3: The Powerwall 3 has a storage capacity of 13.5 kWh, which is the same as the Powerwall 2, but still a figure that allows it to store a significant amount of energy. This capacity is sufficient to power essential household appliances for several hours, ensuring that you have backup power during outages or periods of low solar production.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: The IQ Battery 5P has a much lower capacity when compared to the Powerwall 3 of only 5 kWh. Of course, as mentioned previously, the 5P’s modular design allows homeowners to add multiple battery units together. When looked at through that lens, the difference between it and the Powerwall 3 is not as drastic as it seems.
Integration
- Tesla Powerwall 3: The Powerwall 3 fits seamlessly into the wider Tesla ecosystem. It integrates with the Tesla app, providing a unified interface for managing solar, battery storage, and EV charging, making it easy for Tesla owners to monitor and control their energy usage from a single platform. Additionally, the Powerwall 3 includes an integrated inverter, which simplifies the installation process and reduces the need for additional components.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: Similarly, Enphase’s ecosystem is also known for its robust integration capabilities. The Enphase platform includes solar inverters, battery storage, and EV chargers, all of which can be monitored and controlled through their app. Enphase’s comprehensive mobile app provides detailed insights into energy production and consumption, including the performance of individual solar panels. Enphase’s integration also extends to offering options for integrating with generators, providing additional flexibility for homeowners.
Warranty
- Tesla Powerwall 3: As with all of its predecessors, the Powerwall 3 comes with a 10-year warranty. While this is fairly standard for the industry, it’s still a great value when considering the quality of the product.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: The Enphase IQ Battery 5P has a 15-year warranty, which is the longest warranty available on the market.
Cost
- Tesla Powerwall 3: Final costs may vary based on taxes, fees, and installation costs, but Tesla is generally priced at a premium. You can expect to pay at least $8,000 for the Powerwall 3 before installation costs are accounted for. When you consider the quality of the product, its ability to save you money, and if you already have a Tesla ecosystem, it may still very well be worth the investment.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: The Enphase IQ Battery 5P is considered one of the most cost-effective batteries available. Taking into account other fees, you should expect to pay between $4,000 and $5,000 for a battery, before installation costs.
Conclusion
If you’ve been reading this article in search of a clear “winner”, you may be disappointed to hear that we can’t choose a winner here. These are two top-of-the-line products that each have their own unique benefits. The bigger takeaway from this may be that brands are focusing their energy less on “beating” another individual product from another brand, and more on creating an all-encompassing ecosystem of their products. Enphase’s battery cannot compete on a one-to-one basis with the Powerwall 3 when it comes to continuous power output; however, its battery still offers many other features and perks as part of its larger Enphase ecosystem. Conversely, the Powerwall 3’s integration within Tesla’s suite of products offers unmatched convenience for Tesla users. When you are looking for a battery, it’s important to look at individual specs from each brand, but you cannot overlook the big picture either.
In conclusion, both the Tesla Powerwall 3 and the Enphase IQ Battery 5P are excellent options for home energy storage, each with its unique set of benefits. Your choice should be guided by your specific energy needs, budget, and current energy ecosystem setup.
Home Batteries from Solar Discovery
Solar Discovery is an all-in-one solar, battery, and roofing company. We offer battery installations for a wide range of brands and products, including the Tesla Powerwall 3 and the Enphase IQ Battery 5P. Get in touch with us to learn more about how we can help you get started on your journey toward affordable, clean, and renewable energy.
