Integrating an energy storage system (ESS) into your smart home offers numerous benefits, including optimizing energy usage, lowering electricity bills, and providing a reliable backup power system. These systems store electricity for use when you need it most or when energy costs peak. They also reduce reliance on the grid, making your home more energy-independent and resilient during outages.
In this Best Buy Guide, we share the top home energy storage systems compatible with Homey, helping you unlock your smart home’s full energy-saving potential.
Choosing an Energy Storage System (ESS)
When choosing an energy storage system (ESS) for your home, evaluate several key factors to ensure optimal performance and value. Below are the five most important considerations to help you make an informed decision.
Capacity and Scalability
Evaluate the system’s storage capacity (kWh) to ensure it meets your energy needs. If you anticipate higher energy demands, prioritize easily scalable options.
Compatibility with Inverters and PV Systems
Ensure the ESS is compatible with your existing or planned solar inverters and photovoltaic (PV) systems for seamless integration and optimal performance. Some ESS are designed to work only with inverters from the same brand, while others can operate with third-party systems.
Power Output and Efficiency
Check the system’s power output (kW) to ensure it can handle your household’s peak energy demands, especially during high-usage periods.
Lifespan and Durability
Consider the battery’s lifespan, typically measured in charge cycles or years. A durable and reliable system with a long lifespan offers better value over time but may cost more upfront.
Price and Value
Compare the upfront cost and potential savings over time. Ensure the system offers a good balance between price, performance, and long-term benefits.
| Brand | Model | Capacity1 | Lifespan2 | IP Rating | Price per kWh3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 EcoFlow | PowerOcean | 5.0 – 45 kWh | 6,000 | IP65 | €1,200 |
 Fronius | Solar Battery | 4.5 – 12 kWh | 8,000 | IP20 | €1,100 |
 Growatt | ARK Battery | 7.5 – 25 kWh | 6,000 | IP65 | €500 |
 Huawei | LUNA2000 | 5.0 – 30 kWh | 6,000 | IP66 | €500 |
 Sessy | Home Battery | 5.0 – 30 kWh | 6,000 | IP20 | €650 |
 SMA Energy | Home Storage | 3.2 – 16.4 kWh | 8,000 | IP65 | €625 |
 SolarEdge | Home Battery | 10 – 30 kWh | 10,000 | IP65 | €600 |
 Sonnen | Batterie 10 | 5.5 – 22 kWh | 10,000 | IP56 | €800 |
2 – Number of battery charge cycles covered under warranty
3 – Price per kWh is approximate and may vary based on market conditions
EcoFlow PowerOcean
- IP65 rating
- Up to 45 kWh
- Can be retrofitted
- Pricy
The EcoFlow PowerOcean is a versatile energy storage system designed to provide energy independence and efficiency for homes and small businesses. This modular solution provides flexible energy storage capacities ranging from 5 kWh to 45 kWh, making it adaptable to various energy needs.
A key feature of the EcoFlow PowerOcean is its integrated hybrid inverter, which simplifies installation and reduces the need for additional components. This built-in inverter allows for direct connection to solar panels and the electrical grid, streamlining the energy conversion. EcoFlow also offers the PowerOcean DC Fit, a retrofit solution designed to add battery storage to existing solar systems without replacing the current inverter. The system’s self-adaptive control algorithm ensures compatibility with most solar panels and inverters, optimizing efficiency and providing a seamless energy storage setup.
EcoFlow’s PowerOcean batteries have a lifespan of 6,000 charge cycles, ensuring consistent performance over years of use. Its IP65 rating provides excellent protection against dust and water, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations.
EcoFlow PowerOcean is compatible with Homey and Homey Pro, offering comprehensive control of the user’s energy storage system. Users can monitor battery levels, track power consumption, manage charging status, and receive real-time alerts for grid power changes or system errors.
While the EcoFlow PowerOcean offers advanced features and reliability, its price per kWh is higher than that of other energy storage systems.
Fronius Solar Battery
- Up to 12 kWh
- Good build quality
- 8,000 charge cycles
- Not suitable for outdoor installations
The Fronius Solar Battery is a high-performance energy storage solution that seamlessly integrates with Fronius inverters. This energy storage system (ESS) is compatible exclusively with Fronius Primo, Fronius Symo, and GEN24 Plus inverter models.
Available in capacities ranging from 4.5 kWh to 12.0 kWh, the Fronius Solar Battery offers flexibility to meet various energy needs. It utilizes lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) technology, providing a long lifespan of up to 8,000 charge cycles, backed by a company warranty.
Integration with Homey Pro adds smart home functionality to Fronius solar batteries and inverter setups, enabling users to monitor key system parameters in real time. Users can track power output, current, voltage, battery level, and overall energy consumption. The system also monitors temperature, allowing users to oversee thermal conditions and ensure safe, efficient operation.
With an IP20 rating, the Fronius Solar Battery is designed for indoor installations only. It lacks protection against dust and water ingress, making it unsuitable for outdoor use.
Growatt ARK Battery
- IP65 rating
- Affordable
- Upgradeable in small increments
- Works with Growatt inverters only
The Growatt ARK battery system offers a highly modular energy storage solution that integrates seamlessly with Growatt’s single-phase and three-phase inverters. Growatt provides a diverse range of hybrid inverters, catering to both residential and commercial energy storage needs.
Growatt’s ARK battery system stands out for its affordability, particularly for users planning to gradually expand their setup. The system requires a minimum of three battery packs (7.5 kWh) to operate, with each battery providing 2.5 kWh of storage capacity. This modular design allows users to scale their energy storage in manageable increments, making it flexible and cost-effective. The ARK battery system is well-protected against dust and water (IP65), making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations.
Integration with Homey Pro adds smart functionality to the Growatt ARK battery system. Through Homey’s intuitive interface, users can monitor battery levels, track power usage, and measure overall energy consumption in real time.
Huawei LUNA2000
- IP66 rating
- Up to 30 kWh
- Compatible with third-party inverters
- Bulky design
The LUNA2000 is Huawei’s take on an efficient and modular home energy storage system. It offers capacities from 5 kWh to 30 kWh in two tower configurations, allowing users to tailor the system to their specific energy needs. LUNA2000 batteries are fairly durable, offering a lifespan of 6,000 charge cycles covered under Huawei’s warranty.
The LUNA2000 battery pack integrates seamlessly with Huawei’s range of inverters, including the SUN2000 series. This integration ensures optimal performance and efficient energy management within the Huawei ecosystem. However, the LUNA2000 can connect to specific third-party inverters, provided they are compatible and properly configured.
Another standout feature of the LUNA2000 is the IP66 rating, which provides superior protection against dust and water ingress compared to other systems on the market. An IP66 rating signifies that the device is completely dust-tight and can withstand powerful water jets from any direction, making it very suitable for outdoor installations, even in harsh environmental conditions.
Once integrated with Homey Pro, users can monitor power output, battery levels, and overall battery status in real time. The system can send notifications when the battery is nearly full or empty, allowing users to manage their energy consumption effectively. Additionally, it can monitor solar production, providing insights into whether the sun is still shining and contributing to energy generation.
SESSY Home Battery
- Compact design
- Up to 30 kWh
- Great Homey app
- Requires professional wiring
The SESSY home battery is a compact, modular energy storage solution that enhances residential users’ energy independence. Each battery has a capacity of 5 kWh, and users can expand the system up to 30 kWh by connecting multiple units, offering flexibility to meet varying energy needs.
One of the standout features of the SESSY home battery is its broad compatibility with both single-phase and three-phase inverters. Additionally, the SESSY can function independently without an inverter or solar panels, making it a cost-effective option for users with dynamic electricity contracts. This setup allows the battery to charge at low electricity prices and be used whenever needed.
Once integrated with Homey, the SESSY home battery gives users real-time insights into battery levels, power output, and overall system status. Users can adjust minimum and maximum power levels, set target power outputs, and even reboot the device remotely for added convenience. The app also alerts users of faults, alarms, and firmware updates, ensuring they are promptly informed of any issues.
While the SESSY energy storage system is expandable, it’s important to note that the batteries are not stackable, and each requires individual wiring. This setup almost certainly necessitates hiring a professional installer.
SMA Energy Home Storage
- IP65 protection
- Durable and robust
- Expandable to 16.4 kWh
- Works with SMA inverters only
SMA Energy is a renowned German company specializing in solar technology. As part of its home energy storage solutions, it offers the SMA Home Storage battery, which is built for longevity and has a lifespan of 8,000 power cycles.
The SMA Home Storage battery is specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with SMA’s hybrid inverters, including the Sunny Boy Smart Energy and Sunny Tripower Smart Energy models. This integration ensures optimal performance and efficient energy management within the SMA ecosystem. However, the battery is incompatible with third-party inverters, maintaining its exclusivity to SMA systems.
This modular energy storage system starts with a minimum capacity of 3.2 kWh. It is expandable up to 16.4 kWh, allowing homeowners to customize their energy storage based on their unique requirements. With an IP65 rating, the battery is well-protected against dust and water ingress, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations.
Once SMA Energy batteries and inverters are integrated with Homey, users can access various monitoring and control features. These include real-time tracking of battery charge levels, charging and discharging states, power drawn from the battery, power fed into the grid, and the ability to monitor system status, ensuring comprehensive oversight and efficient energy management.
SolarEdge Home Battery
- Up to 30 kWh
- 10,000 charge cycles
- Real-time energy insights
- Involved app setup
The SolarEdge Home Battery is a versatile energy storage solution available in two models: the 400V and the 48V DC versions. Designed for single-phase applications, the 400V model integrates seamlessly with SolarEdge’s Home Hub and HD-Wave Inverters, making it ideal for residential setups. The 48V DC model, on the other hand, caters to three-phase systems and pairs with the SolarEdge Home Short String Inverter.
The 400V variant, particularly well-suited for home use, offers modular storage starting at 10 kWh and expandable up to 30 kWh. Its IP65 rating ensures robust protection against dust and water, allowing for reliable indoor and outdoor installations.
Once a SolarEdge inverter and battery combo are integrated with Homey Pro, users gain comprehensive monitoring and control capabilities. This includes real-time tracking of battery levels, power output, current, and voltage and monitoring battery temperatures. Users can also monitor charge and discharge power, battery status, and grid power import. Additionally, the Homey app allows users to set active power limits, change battery control modes, and define charge and discharge limits, providing full control over their energy storage system.
It’s worth noting that Modbus TCP, the communication protocol between the inverter and battery, is disabled by default on all models. Users must enable it manually before it can be integrated with Homey, adding complexity to the setup process.
Sonnen Batterie 10
- Up to 22 kWh
- Great build quality
- 10,000 charge cycles
- Pricier than similar models
Designed as an intelligent, backup-capable energy solution, the sonnenBatterie 10 integrates seamlessly into any existing PV system on the market. Its AC-coupled design ensures compatibility with all solar inverters, as long as the inverter is sized correctly to charge the sonnenBatterie efficiently.
With a modular capacity ranging from 5.5 kWh to 22 kWh and an impressive lifespan of over 10,000 charge cycles, the sonnenBatterie provides dependable, long-term performance. Its IP65 rating offers robust protection against dust and water, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations.
When connected to Homey Pro through the app, the sonnenBatterie delivers a comprehensive suite of monitoring and control features. Users can track battery levels, current power, and energy consumption while monitoring errors and alarms. The system also provides detailed insights into power flow to and from the battery and the grid. Through Homey, users can remotely set maximum charging power, start or stop charging, and configure advanced Time-of-Use schedules, making it ideal for managing fluctuating energy prices.
It’s worth noting that the sonnenBatterie 10 is priced higher than similar devices on the market, reflecting its advanced flexibility and premium build quality.
