4 ms·

I have two solar panels that can generate around 960w/hr. Both panels cost around $400 ($200x2). Cheap. Storing that energy is quite expensive. an Anker Solix

by mannyv 10mo ago

I have two solar panels that can generate around 960w/hr. Both panels cost around $400 ($200x2). Cheap. Storing that energy is quite expensive. an Anker Solix 3800, which is around 3.8kwh, costs $2400 USD. To store 10kwh would cost $7200 USD (which gets us more than 10kwh). If that cost asymmetry can come down then it becomes feasible to use solar power to provide cheap/local electricity in poor countries at a house scale.

cornstalks 10mo ago
There are way cheaper options than the Anker Solix 3800. Here are some options, in no particular order: - $3,300: 10 kWh with 2x EG4 WallMount Indoor 100Ah. - $3,110: 14 kWh with 1x WallMount Indoor 280Ah. - $2,690: 10 kWh with 1x Deye RW F10.2 B - Will Prowse's YouTube channel has reviewed several battery builds that are >10 kWh and near $2,000, but they're DIY assembly.
- thradgt 10mo ago
  Batteryhookup has batteries for $40/kWh :) just put together a off grid setup for a friend and 8kwh cost $400 in parts!
  - mannyv 10mo ago
    I'll check that out. The goal is to get to something that runs all night (or almost all night) with around 1kwh output using as little space as possible. I've just started poking around, but this'll help. In the third world there's plenty of sunlight, but you don't need the power during the day necessarily. That price'll get to $400 for storage, $400 for panels, which is ballpark.
- coryrc 10mo ago
  And still much more than the cost of the solar panels, which was GP's point.
  - cornstalks 10mo ago
    GP only has two panels that generate 960 W (I’m going to generously assume NMOT and not STC). That’s hardly anything, and certainly not what I would use to try and charge 10 kWh of battery like they’re suggesting. But sure, I agree it would help if battery prices came down.
    - mannyv 10mo ago
      During the day when nobody's home the panels are charging the battery. Obviously more panels are better. The goal is to be able to run a small window AC unit and various small appliances at night. That's a tremendous quality-of-life upgrade for a huge number of people. $1000 USD would make it somewhat affordable, in the window for a viable small business/NGO opportunity. There's obviously a whole lot more (installation, labor, maintenance, etc), but material cost needs to be low for it to work.
cloverich 10mo ago
Wait that Anker Solix 3800 costs more than my 84kwh battery containing _car_ (3.8 kwh x 22 batteries)? Something not right.
- MobiusHorizons 10mo ago
  Are you saying you bought an electric car with functional 84kwh pack for less than 3 grand? If so I think the outlier is you. That is a better deal than I have seen.
  - cloverich 10mo ago
    Did I read incorrectly? > which is around 3.8kwh, costs $2400 USD. To store 10kwh would cost $7200 USD (which gets us more than 10kwh). 84kwh / 3.8 kwh is about 22. 22 * 2400 is ~53k.
tomas789 10mo ago
The batteries in MWh range cost around 160 EUR/kWh all in. Including grid connection and BOP.
doctoboggan 10mo ago
The YouTuber Will Prowse has an excellent site where he tracks his most recommended batteries (and other equipment like inverters) at any time. The prices are always changing, and there are new products all the time so check on the his list any time you are looking to buy: https://www.mobile-solarpower.com https://www.mobile-solarpower.com Like the other commenter said, batteries are a lot cheaper if you are willing to shop around. His top recommended budget battery today is a 4x your Anker Solix's capacity, and around 1/4th the price. You can find many 5kWh server rack batteries for under $1000 now.
ViewTrick1002 10mo ago
Western storage options are very expensive. We are starting to see Chinese options pop up but not sure if I would install them yet. https://www.docanpower.com/eu-stock/zz-48kwh-50kwh-51-2v-942ah-compelete-pack-eu-stock https://www.docanpower.com/eu-stock/zz-48kwh-50kwh-51-2v-942...
zhivota 10mo ago
Here's a quote I got for a solar install in the Philippines this week: 51.2v 314ah cells (15kwh battery) 16x 580-590w solar panel Installed for 310k PHP = $5,275 I've also specced out 15-16kwh batteries using the Yxiang design for around the price of your Solix. The problem in the US is regulatory and a particularly predatory tradesman market at the moment.
- usrusr 10mo ago
  Is that "regulatory" the problem or is it the solution? We'll know more 20 years from now, looking back at fire incident statistics. (yes, I'm leaving it open if regulation makes a difference or not - for all we know it could even make a negative difference, helping companies that are better at regulation than at safety. But if I had to bet, I know where my money would be)

by mannyv 10mo ago

cornstalks 10mo ago

There are way cheaper options than the Anker Solix 3800. Here are some options, in no particular order: - $3,300: 10 kWh with 2x EG4 WallMount Indoor 100Ah. - $3,110: 14 kWh with 1x WallMount Indoor 280Ah. - $2,690: 10 kWh with 1x Deye RW F10.2 B - Will Prowse's YouTube channel has reviewed several battery builds that are >10 kWh and near $2,000, but they're DIY assembly.

thradgt 10mo ago
Batteryhookup has batteries for $40/kWh :) just put together a off grid setup for a friend and 8kwh cost $400 in parts!
- mannyv 10mo ago
  I'll check that out. The goal is to get to something that runs all night (or almost all night) with around 1kwh output using as little space as possible. I've just started poking around, but this'll help. In the third world there's plenty of sunlight, but you don't need the power during the day necessarily. That price'll get to $400 for storage, $400 for panels, which is ballpark.
coryrc 10mo ago
And still much more than the cost of the solar panels, which was GP's point.
- cornstalks 10mo ago
  GP only has two panels that generate 960 W (I’m going to generously assume NMOT and not STC). That’s hardly anything, and certainly not what I would use to try and charge 10 kWh of battery like they’re suggesting. But sure, I agree it would help if battery prices came down.
  - mannyv 10mo ago
    During the day when nobody's home the panels are charging the battery. Obviously more panels are better. The goal is to be able to run a small window AC unit and various small appliances at night. That's a tremendous quality-of-life upgrade for a huge number of people. $1000 USD would make it somewhat affordable, in the window for a viable small business/NGO opportunity. There's obviously a whole lot more (installation, labor, maintenance, etc), but material cost needs to be low for it to work.

cloverich 10mo ago

Wait that Anker Solix 3800 costs more than my 84kwh battery containing _car_ (3.8 kwh x 22 batteries)? Something not right.

MobiusHorizons 10mo ago
Are you saying you bought an electric car with functional 84kwh pack for less than 3 grand? If so I think the outlier is you. That is a better deal than I have seen.
- cloverich 10mo ago
  Did I read incorrectly? > which is around 3.8kwh, costs $2400 USD. To store 10kwh would cost $7200 USD (which gets us more than 10kwh). 84kwh / 3.8 kwh is about 22. 22 * 2400 is ~53k.

tomas789 10mo ago

The batteries in MWh range cost around 160 EUR/kWh all in. Including grid connection and BOP.

doctoboggan 10mo ago

The YouTuber Will Prowse has an excellent site where he tracks his most recommended batteries (and other equipment like inverters) at any time. The prices are always changing, and there are new products all the time so check on the his list any time you are looking to buy: https://www.mobile-solarpower.com https://www.mobile-solarpower.com Like the other commenter said, batteries are a lot cheaper if you are willing to shop around. His top recommended budget battery today is a 4x your Anker Solix's capacity, and around 1/4th the price. You can find many 5kWh server rack batteries for under $1000 now.

ViewTrick1002 10mo ago

Western storage options are very expensive. We are starting to see Chinese options pop up but not sure if I would install them yet. https://www.docanpower.com/eu-stock/zz-48kwh-50kwh-51-2v-942ah-compelete-pack-eu-stock https://www.docanpower.com/eu-stock/zz-48kwh-50kwh-51-2v-942...

zhivota 10mo ago

Here's a quote I got for a solar install in the Philippines this week: 51.2v 314ah cells (15kwh battery) 16x 580-590w solar panel Installed for 310k PHP = $5,275 I've also specced out 15-16kwh batteries using the Yxiang design for around the price of your Solix. The problem in the US is regulatory and a particularly predatory tradesman market at the moment.

usrusr 10mo ago
Is that "regulatory" the problem or is it the solution? We'll know more 20 years from now, looking back at fire incident statistics. (yes, I'm leaving it open if regulation makes a difference or not - for all we know it could even make a negative difference, helping companies that are better at regulation than at safety. But if I had to bet, I know where my money would be)