Solar + Battery

Solar panels save money.
Batteries keep your
power on.

Solar panels lower your electricity bill. Add a battery and you also get backup power during outages, grid payment earnings through virtual power plants, and maximum self-consumption of your solar. The federal battery ITC is still active — 30% off through 2032.

30%Battery ITC still active
$5,500Max Xcel battery rebate
2–3 daysTypical backup duration
How it worksWhy add batteryBest combinationsIncentivesVPP earningsCalculator
The system

How solar and battery
work together.

A solar panel alone lowers your bill during the day. Add a battery and you capture surplus daytime power to use at night — maximizing the value of every watt your panels generate.

STEP 01
SOLAR GENERATES POWER
During daylight your panels generate electricity. First priority: powering your home's active loads.
STEP 02
SURPLUS CHARGES BATTERY
When your panels generate more than you're using the surplus charges your battery instead of going to the grid.
STEP 03
BATTERY POWERS HOME AT NIGHT
After sunset your battery discharges to power your home — reducing or eliminating your grid consumption overnight.
STEP 04
BACKUP DURING OUTAGES
When the grid goes down your system automatically switches to battery power. Solar recharges the battery during daylight — extending backup indefinitely on sunny days.
Important
Solar panels alone do NOT provide backup power. Grid-tied panels automatically shut off during outages to protect utility workers. Backup power requires a battery.
Four reasons

Why battery changes
everything.

Backup Power

Keep essential appliances running during grid outages — storms, wildfire shutoffs, winter events. A 13.5 kWh Powerwall runs your essentials for 1–3 days.

Maximize Solar Value

Without a battery, surplus solar power goes to the grid at low net metering rates. With a battery you use that power yourself at full retail rate — significantly better economics.

Earn From The Grid (VPP)

Enroll your battery in a Virtual Power Plant program and earn $100–300+/yr dispatching power back to the grid during peak demand. Xcel Battery Connect pays $250/kW upfront + $100/yr × 5.

Rate Arbitrage

In states with time-of-use rates, charge your battery during cheap off-peak hours and discharge during expensive peak hours. California customers save an additional $300–600/yr from TOU arbitrage.

The best combinations

Solar + battery stacks
for every budget.

Sol Country has matched the best solar and battery combinations at four price points. Each stack is chosen for compatibility, value, and incentive eligibility across the US.

Best for renters
Renter Starter Stack
$868
Components
· CraftStrom 395W panel · ~$399
· BLUETTI EB3A battery · ~$269
· Mounting hardware · included
What it does
· Powers phone, laptop, lights, CPAP during outages
· Saves ~$102/yr at national avg rate
· Backup: 8–12 hours essentials
· Solar recharges battery in ~1 hr of sun
Best for: Colorado renters (Jan 1, 2027) + all states with balcony solar laws
Build this stack →
Most popular
Apartment Resilience Stack
$1,748
Components
· 800W plug-in panel · ~$599
· EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus · ~$549
· OR BLUETTI AC180 · ~$499
What it does
· Powers mini fridge, fan, multiple devices
· Saves ~$207/yr at national avg rate
· Backup: 24–36 hours with solar recharging
· Compact enough for an apartment closet
Best for: Apartment dwellers in any state with balcony solar legality
Build this stack →
Homeowner choice
Home Solar + Battery Stack
$5,498
Components
· 2 kW plug-in solar array · ~$1,999
· EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 · ~$2,499
· OR BLUETTI AC200L · ~$999
What it does
· Powers most of a small home
· Saves ~$500/yr at national avg rate
· Backup: 3–5 days for essentials
· Xcel battery rebate: up to $5,500 (CO)
· Battery ITC: 30% of battery cost
Best for: Homeowners who want resilience without rooftop work
Build this stack →
Maximum protection
Rooftop Solar + Powerwall
$23,500+
Components
· 6 kW rooftop solar · ~$15,000
· Tesla Powerwall 3 · ~$8,500 installed
What it does
· Powers the entire home automatically
· Saves $800–2,000+/yr depending on rates
· Backup: days to indefinite with sun
· Battery ITC: 30% of Powerwall cost
· Net metering credits where available
· VPP enrollment eligible
Best for: Homeowners in fire-prone or outage-prone areas
See rooftop options →
Incentives for batteries

The federal battery ITC
is still active.

While the residential solar purchase credit expired, the federal Investment Tax Credit for battery storage remains fully active through 2032. This is a significant incentive that applies to standalone batteries — no solar panels required.

Federal Battery ITC
30% through 2032

Applies to standalone batteries. No solar required. Covers hardware and installation costs.

Example: $8,500 Powerwall install → $2,550 federal credit.

California SGIP
$200+/kWh

Self-Generation Incentive Program pays California customers per kWh of battery capacity installed. High-fire-threat areas get a premium rate.

State + Utility Programs
$0 – $10,000

Colorado Xcel: up to $5,500. Massachusetts: ConnectedSolutions. NY ConEd: demand response payments. Check your utility for local programs.

Full incentives guide →
Earn from your battery

Your battery can earn
money while you sleep.

Virtual Power Plant programs pay homeowners to dispatch their battery's stored energy back to the grid during peak demand events. Your battery charges at off-peak rates and gets paid at peak rates — earning the difference.

Xcel Battery Connect
States: Colorado
$250/kW + $100/yr × 5
Powerwall 3 (13.5 kW): $3,375 upfront + $500 over 5 yr
Connected Solutions
States: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut
Up to $4,300/yr per battery
Eversource + National Grid territories
OhmConnect
States: Texas, California, New York
$100–300+/yr
No battery required — smart-plug enrollment works too
Sunrun Shift / Tesla Virtual Power Plant
States: California
Varies by program and dispatch frequency
Requires compatible Sunrun or Tesla battery
Full VPP guide →
Run the numbers

Calculate your solar +
battery savings.

Estimates use national-average production assumptions and a heuristic VPP / TOU / backup value uplift. Run Find My Power for an address-specific quote.

Annual solar savings
$204/yr
Battery value add (VPP + TOU + backup)
$120/yr
Federal battery ITC (30%)
$750 credit
State / utility rebate (CO)
$2,499
Total Year-1 value
$3,573
Estimated payback
0.6 years

Find your perfect solar +
battery combination.

Sol Country analyzes your address, utility rate, outage risk, and available incentives — then recommends the right solar and battery combination for your specific situation. All 50 states.

Find My Power →
Free · No signupBattery ITC includedAll 50 states