Outage backup
A properly designed system can automatically isolate from the grid and support selected loads such as refrigeration, lighting, communications, medical equipment, or well pumps. Exact backup duration depends on usage and system size.
Solar + storage
Battery backup built around the way your home uses power
Store solar energy for evenings, reduce dependence on peak-rate electricity, and keep selected household circuits available when the grid goes down.
One coordinated home plan
- Backup planning for essential home circuits
- Solar charging and time-of-use strategies
- One team coordinating design and installation
Energy when you need it
What a home battery does—and what it does not do
A home battery stores electricity for later use. When it is paired with solar, the battery can charge from energy produced on your roof and make that energy available after sunset or during a utility outage. It can also be configured around time-of-use rates, using stored energy when grid electricity is more expensive and recharging when conditions are more favorable.
Battery backup is not automatically the same as whole-home backup. The right design depends on the appliances you want to support, their starting loads, battery capacity, and outage duration. Sol NE installs and supports leading systems including Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH aPower 2, Enphase IQ Battery, Generac PWRcell, and LG Energy Solution—selecting equipment for your home rather than limiting the design to a single brand. We then coordinate the battery with your solar array, electrical panel, and household priorities. If roof or service work is needed, see our roofing and electrical upgrades approach.
Three practical roles
Why homeowners add storage
Use more of your solar
Instead of sending every unused daytime kilowatt-hour to the grid, a battery can hold some production for evening use. The best operating strategy depends on local net-metering rules and your utility rate.
Manage peak-rate periods
Where time-varying rates apply, stored energy may help reduce electricity purchased during higher-cost periods. Savings are not guaranteed and depend on tariffs, battery controls, and household consumption.
System design
Backup starts with a load plan
We begin by identifying what must remain available during an outage. A homeowner focused on refrigeration, internet, a few lights, and outlets needs a different system than a home with a well pump, central air conditioning, electric cooking, or a heat pump. That load inventory helps determine whether one battery is appropriate or whether additional capacity should be considered.
The electrical design also matters. Some homes use a dedicated backup-load panel, while others may support broader circuits through compatible controls. If the existing service panel lacks space, capacity, or modern safety equipment, the battery project may be coordinated with an electrical panel or service upgrade.
- Prioritize essential circuits before choosing battery capacity.
- Account for high-starting-load equipment such as pumps and compressors.
- Review solar production, household usage, and available installation locations.
Paying for storage
Choose financing around ownership and project goals
Battery storage may be purchased with cash or included in a solar financing structure when the program and equipment qualify. Loans can preserve ownership while spreading payments over time. In some lease or power-purchase structures, the provider owns the equipment and controls which benefits it claims. Terms, maintenance responsibilities, transfer rules, and total cost should be compared carefully.
Our solar financing guide explains cash, loan, lease, and power purchase agreement paths in plain language. Approval, pricing, and eligible project costs depend on the financing provider and the homeowner’s qualifications.
- Compare total cost, not only the monthly payment.
- Confirm who owns the battery and who receives available tax or program benefits.
- Ask how the agreement handles service, warranties, and a future home sale.
Programs & utility participation
Demand-response and state programs may add value
ConnectedSolutions or another utility demand-response option may be available for qualifying batteries in participating service territories, including confirmed offerings through Rhode Island Energy. These programs generally compensate enrolled customers for allowing a utility to draw limited battery energy during specified grid events. Equipment compatibility, enrollment windows, performance, and payment rules apply.
Battery-specific incentives vary by state and utility and can change. Massachusetts homeowners may also want to review current net-metering and SMART 3.0 information when battery storage is part of a solar project. Visit our solar programs and incentives guide rather than relying on a fixed figure.
- Program availability is tied to utility territory and qualifying equipment.
- Participation can affect how much reserve energy remains during an event.
- No demand-response payment or individual eligibility is guaranteed.
Affordability & access
Ask us to check programs that may improve project access
Solarize NE works to make home electrification practical for more households and communities, including homeowners who may qualify for income-based programs. When storage is part of a broader solar or electrification project, we can identify current program questions to raise with the utility or program administrator.
For Massachusetts projects, eligible SMART 3.0 participants may receive production-based compensation, and qualifying low-income participants can receive a higher incentive rate than the standard rate. Eligibility is determined under current program and utility rules. Households considering electric heating should also review solar plus mini-split heat pumps; income-eligible households may qualify for enhanced Mass Save rebates, so ask us to check current eligibility.
Incentive information last reviewed September 9, 2026. Program rules, funding, utility participation, and individual eligibility can change.
Whole-home electrification
Plan the house as one connected energy system
Explore the services that can be coordinated with your solar project.
Common questions
Solar battery storage FAQs
Not necessarily. Backup capability depends on battery output, stored capacity, circuit selection, and the equipment running at the same time. We design around the loads that matter most to you instead of promising whole-home performance without a load review.
Often, yes. Compatibility depends on the existing inverter, electrical configuration, available panel capacity, equipment approvals, and installation space. An assessment is needed before recommending an AC-coupled or other retrofit approach.
Many financing structures can include eligible storage equipment with a solar project. Available products, approval, ownership, and terms vary. Review the options on our solar financing page.
Some qualifying batteries in participating utility territories may enroll in ConnectedSolutions or another demand-response program. Equipment, utility, enrollment, and performance rules apply, and availability should be confirmed for the specific address.
It can, but heating and cooling loads are significant and must be included in the battery design. See our mini-split offering and ask for a combined load assessment.
Start with a practical assessment
Build a backup plan around your real priorities
Tell us which circuits and appliances matter during an outage. We will review storage, solar, and electrical options without guaranteeing a one-size-fits-all result.