Adding a retrofit battery to your solar panel system

Solar batteries are becoming increasingly popular and costs are falling quickly. Naturally, this means that many homeowners and businesses are thinking about adding a battery backup to their existing solar panel system. 

Learn more about adding a battery to your solar energy system as a retrofit

Common questions

Is it difficult to add a battery backup to your solar panel system?

It depends – the difficulty of installation depends on your preferred battery, your existing solar inverter and whether your system was designed to be storage-ready. AC-coupled batteries, while less efficient than DC-coupled systems, are most common for retrofit battery add-ons since you can install a separate inverter for your battery instead of relying on one inverter for both your panels and storage system.

What batteries are most compatible with solar panel systems?

Most solar batteries designed for small-scale use are compatible with existing solar panel systems. Lithium-ion batteries–like the Tesla Powerwall–tend to be the most popular option for home battery installations. 

How much does it cost to retrofit your solar installation with a battery add-on?

Like we mentioned, a battery installation can be more or less difficult depending on a number of factors – and the more difficult it is, the more expensive it will be. As a general rule, assuming you don’t have to make major electrical upgrades before adding a battery, the labor costs for installation shouldn’t be more than a thousand dollars. Of course, if you are also replacing your inverter as part of the installation, the job will take longer and cost more money.

What is a hybrid inverter? Do I need one for a solar-plus-storage system?

A hybrid inverter, otherwise known as a hybrid grid-tied inverter or a battery-based inverter, combines two separate components–a solar inverter and a battery inverter–into a single piece of equipment. You certainly don't need a hybrid inverter to add a battery to your solar panel system, but there are some advantages to using this type of equipment instead of separate inverters for your solar panels and storage setup.

Learn more about hybrid inverters

Can I get quotes for a retrofit battery installation on EnergySage?

Unfortunately, we don’t have a solution yet for receiving retrofit battery quotes (but we’re working on it!) As a first step, we recommend reaching out to your original solar installer to see if they can provide you a quote directly – there’s a good chance they offer some sort of battery solution, or can connect you with a battery manufacturer / battery installers in your area.