Home Batteries and 48 V Battery Storage

Unlike power stations or balcony solar batteries, home batteries are permanently installed and connected to a suitable hybrid or battery inverter. Installation should be carried out by a qualified electrical contractor; in Germany, the battery is entered in the Marktstammdatenregister. Many of the batteries listed here are battery modules without an inverter – so you need a compatible overall system.

A distinction is made between low-voltage systems (usually 48 V or 51.2 V nominal voltage with LiFePO4) and high-voltage systems, in which several modules are connected in series. Low-voltage batteries are common in DIY and off-grid installations, high-voltage batteries in branded systems for detached houses.

Before buying, you should plan the overall system – ideally together with a qualified installer.

In Germany, photovoltaic systems up to 30 kWp on or near residential buildings are generally subject to a 0% VAT rate when bought by private individuals – this includes battery storage. Whether a battery pays off depends on the electricity price, your consumption profile, the feed-in tariff and the lifespan. Get quotes for the complete system from several installers and compare the price per usable kilowatt-hour.

Without a rooftop PV system, a home battery usually makes little sense. If you only run a balcony solar kit, you are better off with a plug-and-play battery designed for plug-in solar devices. Home batteries pay off above all with rooftop systems of several kilowatt-peak that generate considerably more power during the day than the household uses. In any case, get a complete quote including inverter, installation and registration.