Living in a rural area means we have frequent power outages. So we recently bought a backup generator. Having worked in the energy industry, it was an easy choice. We went solar. Our neighbours – all farmers running on diesel backup – had concerns. Key among them? Are solar powered generators any good? You sure you’re not wasting your money, they asked me? So we decided to put on to the test. And compared it to our neighbour’s diesel genset. Here’s what you need to know about the results.
Are solar powered generators any good? 6 key takeaways
The simple answer is yes solar power generators are very good. In our experience, they’re worth the investment if you’re looking at backup power and portable power on the go. Becuase they can now do both.
And they’re way better than diesel or fuel alternatives. Here’s 6 excellent reasons why:
- Our solar generator provides cheaper backup power than our neighbour’s diesel generator. Yep, you read that right. See our numbers at the end of this post.
- We didn’t have to learn how to start and operate a diesel generator. Our solar generator is plug and play. Zero technical knowledge or googling required.
- Solar generators are far more versatile that diesel generators, with multiple output ports for AC and DC power, USB and USC, and for different voltages. You can also charge them multiple ways – from the grid, solar panels, a USB C. Or even from an EV charge station.
- We can manage how we use the backup power more effectively with the App that comes with our purchase. Our neighbour has little idea about how he’s using his expensive diesel power.
- Nowadays, batteries also pack more of a punch in power capacity, due to advancements in battery chemistry. We can get up to 1600 watts of surge power from our 800 watt battery. And you can connect solar powered generators together to get more power. You can’t do this with diesel.
- They don’t require any fuel to run. Our charges from portable solar panels. In an emergency, service stations run out of fuel pretty quickly. Then what are you going to do for power?
What you’ll learn next
Now you’ve got the lowdown, here’s why to keep reading. In this post, we’re going to:
- Explain why we chose a solar powered generator instead of diesel
- Summarise the features and benefits of solar powered generators
- List out the pros and cons of solar vs diesel generators
- Run you through the cost per kilowatt hour of electricity from our solar powered generator, and
- Show you why we chose the Ecoflow River 2 Pro for our first solar generator investment.
Now lets dive in.
Why we chose a solar powered generator
Having worked in distributed energy for over 10 years, I wasn’t worried about whether solar powered generators are any good, or if they’re worth the investment.
I have seen first hand the performance improvements in solar generators over recent years. They’ve gained significant market traction because of this, offering up a sustainable and renewable energy source for an expanding suite of applications.
In general, solar generators have a lot to offer, especially for those who value flexibility, portability, sustainability and yes, affordability. We go through costs at the end of this post.
Solar powered generators use photovoltaic cells to collect energy from sunlight and then store it in a battery, ready to provide power when needed, day or night.
They now offer an environmentally-friendly and reliable alternative to traditional fuel-powered options.
The batteries that come with these generators typically have a battery management system (BMS) on board. And the reliability, safety and protections provided by new BMS technology is central to why solar powered generators are now a better choice than diesel or fuel based ones.
In addition to being clean, solar powered generators are quiet, with the only noise being from an internal fan to stop the battery from heating up when charging.
Do Solar Panels Work?
Yes, solar panels work effectively in converting sunlight into electricity.
When the sun hits the solar panels, photovoltaic cells convert photons to direct current (DC) electricity. This DC electricity is then converted to alternating current (AC) by an inverter in the battery management system, making it usable in most appliances and devices.
The technology behind solar panels has been around for decades. But solar panels have been made more affordable in the last 10 years due to advanced manufacturing in China.
Do solar batteries work?
Solar batteries play a crucial role in solar powered generators, since they store the electricity generated by the solar panels for later use.
Advances in technology have improved the efficiency, capacity and energy density of lithium batteries. These are the batteries mostly used in EVs (electric vehicles) and in solar powered generators.
Solar generators work well in a wide range of applications, such as:
- providing backup power during grid outages,
- powering devices during camping trips or road trips, or
- generating electricity in remote locations.
Do they produce enough power?
As for whether they produce enough power, it depends on the solar generator’s specifications and your energy requirements.
Most solar batteries are measured in watt-hours, which signifies the amount of energy (or energy capacity) the battery can store. The larger the battery capacity, the more energy it can hold and the longer it can power your devices.
To ensure a solar generator meets your needs, consider the power output of the panels and the battery capacity, against the power requirements of appliances or devices you will be using. The thing with this is, solar powered generators now come in big enough sizes to power a whole house.
If you want to know more about sizing solar panels and batteries check out these posts:
- What size solar panel do I need to charge a 100Ah battery?
- What size solar panel to charge a 200Ah lithium battery?
Features & benefits of solar powered generators
So what’s good about solar powered generators? Here are 6 features that make them stand out from the competition:
Portability
Solar generators are an excellent option for portable power. With their lightweight and compact design, you can easily carry them around for camping trips, or outdoor activities.
Modularity
Some solar power generators are modular. That means you can combine multiple solar panels, and link multiple batteries to build a larger generator. This means you can buy a generator you can afford, and add power capacity to it as you go!
Multiple Charging Options
Solar generators come with various charging options, catering to all needs. They can be charged from solar panels, but also from a household outlet, using a USB C, or even a car battery. Some you can charge at EV charging stations.
They also come with a variety of outlets. USB-A, USB-C ports, AC outlets, DC output, and even wireless charging pads in some models. These multiple charging options ensure compatibility with numerous devices, so you can power up anything from smartphones to laptops, from 12 volt DC through to 230 volt AC.
High-capacity Output
One of biggest improvement in solar powered generators has been their capacity or power output. We can thank advancements in lithium batteries for this.
The high-capacity output capacities mean you can run multiple devices simultaneously, without overloading the generator.
You can now buy solar powered generators that are big enough to power a whole house.
Quiet and Eco-Friendly
Solar generators operate quietly, making them perfect for noise-sensitive environments or homes. Unlike traditional fuel-based generators, solar-powered generators produce minimal to no noise or noxious gas. They can run seamless from inside your home. No more running long cables from your appliances to a noisey fuel generator stuck out in the back yard!
Long-lasting battery
Another benefit of solar powered generators is their long-lasting battery life. A solar generator like the Ecoflow can efficiently store and provide power throughout the day, depending on the size of the battery.
In summary, solar generators are portable, versatile, and eco-friendly power solutions that make them ideal for various outdoor activities or emergencies. They offer an efficient, clean, and quiet alternative to traditional generators, providing you with high-capacity output and multiple charging options.
Where can you use solar powered generators?
Solar generator for home – backup power and overnight
In emergency situations, such as power outages or natural disasters, solar generators can be a lifesaver. We use out unit to run our tiny house through frequent power outages. With a backup power source like a solar generator, we can now keep essential appliances like the fridge, lights, water pump and internet running.
You can also use a solar battery to run your home at night. It’s not always cost efficient to do this – it depends on how much you pay for grid power. But if you have a solar generator for emergency backup, why not get as much power from it as possible by using it at night too?
Solar generator for RVs – Van Life
If you’re living the RV or van life, a solar generator can be a game changer. Solar generators are ideal for charging devices and running small appliances while on the go. They do this without disturbing your neighbours and allowing you to maintain your independence and enjoy life on the road.
Solar generator for camping & outdoor activities
When you’re out camping or participating in outdoor activities like sports meets, portable power is crucial.
Solar generators can also power devices like lights, phones, laptops fans, microphones and speakers. They can also run fridges, and freezers to keep your food cold when camping.
Whats more, with a good solar powered generator you don’t need to worry about ‘dirty power‘ or damaging sensitive electronics like laptops. The battery management systems in these units have built in protections to prevent this from happening.
Remote power needs
For those living in remote areas with limited access to reliable grid power, solar generators can provide the necessary energy to power small appliances and charge devices when the grid goes down.
They can also be used on farms to power pumps, electric fencing, remote cameras, and to run tools that are needed out on the farm.
Portable solar power for work
Construction sites, outdoor events, and other work environments can benefit from solar power generators as well. They offer portable, clean energy that can power tools and equipment without the noise and pollution associated with traditional fuel-powered generators.
Comparing solar & diesel generators
To help you compare the two, here’s a comprehensive summary of the pros and cons of solar powered generators and traditional diesel generators.
Pros
| Solar powered generator | Diesel generator |
| Quiet Operation: Operate quietly. Suitable for noise-sensitive areas or where minimal disturbance is desired. Like at home! | Reliable Power: Consistent and reliable power, unaffected by weather conditions or sunlight availability. |
| Environmental Friendly: Produce no greenhouse gases or harmful emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. | High Power Output: High power output capacities, make them suitable for heavy-duty or high-energy demand applications. |
| Modular: you can add capacity by connecting extra solar panels and battery unit together. Buy what you can afford and add to it later. | Lower upfront costs: Generally cost less on a watt for watt basis to buy initially. |
| No running costs or hidden costs: No fuel costs. You know exactly how much money you’re up for. | |
| Low Maintenance: Fewer moving parts, resulting in reduced maintenance requirements and costs. | |
| Performance you can see: Come with apps that show performance in real time. Easier to monitor and manage your power needs. | |
| Plug and play: Easy to turn on, charge and operate. | |
| Indoor / outdoor: No gases or emissions. Can run inside, which means no long cables to power appliances. |
Cons
| Solar powered generator | Diesel generator |
| Higher upfront costs: You’ll pay more upfront on on watt for watt basis. | Higher running and hidden costs: More moving parts requiring repair. Diesel fuel running costs. |
| Weather dependent: Depend on sunlight, making them less reliable during long periods of limited sunlight. | Environmental Impact: Emit greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and other pollutants, contributing to air pollution and climate change |
| Space requirements: Require space for the solar panels, limiting them in certain locations or applications. | Noise and Vibration: Noisy and vibrations during operation. Disruptive and undesirable in certain settings. |
| Technology faults: some brands have had problems with batteries overheating or causing fires. | Higher Maintenance: More complex engines and require regular maintenance, including fuel storage, filter replacements, and oil changes. |
| Shelf life: generally 10 years which is less than diesel generators. Due to the limitations of the battery chemistry. | Fuel Dependent: Rely on a constant supply of fuel, so subject to price fluctuations or availability issues, especially during emergencies or natural disasters |
| Temperature sensitive: extreme heat or cold can make it run less efficiently | Harder to operate: More moving parts and steps to take to start and operate. |
| Outdoors only: you can’t run these units inside your home due to noxious gas emission and fire dangers. |
Is a solar generator worth it? (is it expensive power?)
If you’ve read this far you’ve probably eyed the elephant in the room. Costs.
So how much are solar generators?
And is a solar powered generator worth it?
In reality, you can spend as much or as little on a solar generator as you like. We went budget because our new unit is primarily to run our Tiny House. Not our family home.
Here, we’re going to use our Ecoflow system to demonstrate solar powered generator costs. And whether getting a solar powered generator is ‘worth it’.
We think you’ll see that it is.
Ecoflow River Pro 2 – costs per kilowatt hour
Our Ecoflow River Pro 2 solar powered generator cost us $1988 AUD.
For that, we get a total storage capacity of 768 watt hours of and 1.8 kilowatt hours of delivered power a day (with solar charging). It also includes a 220 watt bifacial solar panel kit.
To work out the kilowatt hour cost of energy from the Ecoflow River 2 Pro, we need to look at its cycles, capacity and lifetime.
Ecoflow says that after 3000 cycles (at 100% DOD), the Ecoflow LifeP04 battery still has 80% of it’s initial charge.
They don’t say what happens after 3000 cycles. But a lithium battery typically reaches the end of its useful life once it can’t charge beyond 60% of it’s full capacity.
So if 20% of the battery’s charge = 3000 cycles, we can reasonably add another 3000 cycles to the battery’s life. That takes it down to 60%.
Our Ecoflow battery is also advertised with a 10 year lifetime. Which means the state of charge in the battery chemistry will last either 10 years or 3000+ cycles.
Now for each cycle you don’t get as much power out of the battery as you put in. Some is lost in the process. For LifeP04 batteries, round trip efficiency is around 90%.
You get 90% of a full charge each cycle.
A full charge for the River 2 Pro is 768Wh. After Round Trip efficiency, we get 691Wh delivered.
So 6000 cycles gives us 4147 kilowatt hours during the battery’s 10 year lifetime.
So what’s the kilowatt hour cost of the power from our Ecoflow RIver 2 Pro?
$1988 / 4147kWh = 47.9c/kWh
47.9 cents per kilowatt hour based on 6000 cycles over 10 years.
💡We assume that you’re charging the battery with it’s solar panels each time. Because it’s free. But if you’re charging from the wall you have to add in the grid electricity costs.
💡The sums don’t account for degradation over time of the battery cells, which is a lot more complex. But to demonstrate relatives costs, it’s enough.
Now, lets compare that with diesel.
One litre of diesel gives you 3.3kWh of power, according to the Sustainability Exchange.
At a cost of around $2 per litre, that’s 60 cents per kilowatt hour for diesel electricity. And we haven’t factored in the actual upfront cost of the diesel genset yet. For 800W genet that’s around $500. Nor have we factored in the maintenance and repair costs.
So all things considered, the solar powered generator gives you cheaper power. Surprise, surprise!
Our Ecoflow River 2 Pro solar generator – what we like most
Now it’s time to get specific and look a one of the most popular solar powered generators on the market today. What are some of the best features of the EcoFlow River 2 Pro and why did we buy this particular model? Here’s what you need to know:
Fast charge time
One of the best features of our EcoFlow River 2 Pro is that it’s fast charging.
Thanks to its X-Stream technology, it can recharge from 0% to 100% in as little as 70 minutes. We’ve put this to the test and it’s really that fast. No need to wait for hours before our battery is full.
In fact, Ecoflow has set the industry standard in fast charging for solar powered generators.
You can also charge and discharge at the same time, allowing you to run your appliances for longer.
Surge power
The River 2 Pro provides a stable 800W output, which can be boosted up to 1,600W of surge power with X-Boost technology. This feature allows you to power appliances that typically demand more energy at start up – like anything with a compressor or heat element. Ecoflow says that covers 80% of standard household appliances.
Easy to use
The River 2 Pro is super user-friendly. We just turned it on, and plugged it in to charge it. Then plugged our appliances in to the battery. No fussing with complicated settings or worrying about connecting it to your home’s electrical system.
Impressive number of cycles
With a LFP (lithium phosphate) battery that lasts for 10 years, the Ecoflow River 2 Pro will give you 3000 cycles, and you’ll still have 80% of the battery’s original capacity. We think 6000 cycles is a realistic expectation out of the Ecoflow River 2 Pro, if you’re a frequent user. And with the fast charging capacity, you can cycle the battery multiple times a day.
5-Year warranty
River 2 Pro comes with a 5-year warranty, giving us peace of mind that its a reliable and well-made product. It’s clear Ecoflow has confidence in their product and our investment.
You can read more about our experience with the Ecoflow River 2 Pro in this article – ‘2023 Release Ecoflow River Portable Power Station – is it worth the sticker price?’.
In a nutshell
Solar power generators certainly have their distinct advantages. With no fuel costs, minimal maintenance, and silent operation, we’ve found that investing in a solar power generator is worth it. We also did the sums for you. And surprise, surprise. For extensive use, solar power generators can also provide cheaper power than diesel generators. So, if you’re wondering are solar powered generators any good, the answer is a resounding yes!
