Start with the job
Work out the solar capacity, battery purpose, backup requirement and phase arrangement before choosing models.
Compare the exact equipment, not just the badge on the box.
A strong solar quote names the panel, inverter and battery models and explains why that configuration suits the home. Start with the system architecture, then compare the specifications and manufacturer support behind the exact products.
A simple comparison order
Choose how the pieces connect
String, hybrid, AC-coupled, optimiser, microinverter and integrated systems solve different retrofit, expansion and backup problems.
Ask for model numbers
A manufacturer name alone cannot confirm power, compatibility, warranty terms or the equipment actually included.
Confirm the Australian version
Check the current datasheet, warranty, approvals and support information for the exact products being supplied in Australia.
The biggest difference may be how the equipment fits together.
Two quotes with similar panel and battery sizes can be very different electrical systems. Architecture affects retrofit cost, future battery choice, backup design, monitoring and what has to be replaced if one component changes.
| Architecture | What it looks like | Useful when | Examples to explore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid inverter + DC battery | Solar and compatible battery share a hybrid inverter | New solar-plus-battery systems or deliberately planned storage | GoodWe, Sungrow, SolaX, Growatt |
| Component ecosystem | Inverter, battery, meter, backup switch and EV equipment remain identifiable coordinated products | You want a clear solar core with optional energy-management additions | Fronius, Solis, BYD Battery-Box, Pylontech |
| Integrated modular stack | Inverter, storage and controls are designed as one modular platform | You prefer one coordinated storage ecosystem and modular expansion | Sigenergy, Anker SOLIX, EcoFlow, SAJ |
| AC-coupled battery retrofit | A battery inverter is added alongside the existing solar inverter | Existing solar is worth retaining | FranklinWH, sonnen, Enphase, Anker SOLIX X1 AC |
| Optimiser-based DC system | A central inverter works with module-level power optimisers | Panel-level optimisation/monitoring has a clear roof-design purpose | SolarEdge |
| Microinverter system | Each panel converts DC to AC at module level | Panel-level conversion, modularity or complex roof orientations suit the design | Enphase |
| Integrated battery + solar inverter | The battery product can also accept solar directly or forms part of an all-in-one ESS | A new solar-and-storage design benefits from reducing separate equipment | Tesla Powerwall 3, Hinen A Series, SolaX IES |
| Component-based rack storage | Battery modules, inverter/charger, cabinet and controls are designed as a system | Serviceability, inverter choice or off-grid-style flexibility matters | PowerPlus Energy |
Fronius GEN24 and Reserva show a component-ecosystem approach: inverter, battery, Smart Meter and backup switching remain identifiable pieces of equipment.
Sigenergy SigenStor, EcoFlow PowerOcean and SAJ HS3 illustrate more integrated storage platforms. SolarEdge adds module-level power optimisers, while Enphase moves conversion to microinverters at each panel.
FranklinWH and sonnen are useful AC-coupled examples for existing solar. Anker SOLIX X1 is particularly worth reading carefully because Australian X1 configurations span both hybrid and AC-coupled pathways.
BYD Battery-Box and Pylontech make third-party inverter compatibility a central buying question. A battery can be well specified and still be the wrong choice if the proposed inverter is not on the current compatibility pathway.
If you already have rooftop solar, start with the battery retrofit guide before comparing brands. It explains when AC coupling can preserve the existing inverter and when a hybrid-inverter replacement is doing a different job.
Choose the comparison that matches your house.
Solar first, battery later
Compare standard versus hybrid inverter pathways, future battery compatibility and whether “battery ready” means hardware, software or both.
Plan the solar system ↗Battery from day one
Compare usable capacity, inverter power, charging power, backup design and how the complete system is monitored.
Compare battery sizing ↗Add storage without guessing
Work out whether the old inverter should stay, whether AC coupling fits, and what current network rules apply if equipment is replaced.
See retrofit configurations ↗Design for the outage you care about
Separate kW backup power from kWh energy capacity and check whether the proposed architecture can supply the required phases and circuits.
Compare backup designs ↗Have a battery size in mind? Choose the architecture before the brand.
Answer four questions about existing solar, phase, approximate storage capacity and blackout backup. The battery chooser then prioritises the architectures worth comparing first and links to relevant manufacturer guides without declaring a brand winner.
USE THE BATTERY ARCHITECTURE CHOOSER →Solar panels: what actually matters?
Explore panel technologies, different roof-design priorities and the documentation that matters when choosing a module.
- Exact panel model, rated power and physical dimensions
- How the proposed panel count actually fits the usable roof area
- Product warranty and performance warranty terms for the quoted Australian model
- Temperature, shade and layout assumptions used in the generation estimate
- Current Australian product approval and the local support pathway
Manufacturer profiles in this category
AIKO
A focus on panel efficiency and considered rooftop aesthetics.
Explore AIKO ↗JinkoSolar
A range of n-type TOPCon solar module designs.
Explore JinkoSolar ↗Risen Energy
Residential panel options with an Australian manufacturer presence.
Explore Risen Energy ↗Solar inverters: what actually matters?
Compare string, hybrid, optimiser and microinverter architectures, monitoring, backup pathways and phase configurations.
- Exact inverter model, AC rating and single-phase or three-phase configuration
- Standard string, hybrid, optimiser or microinverter architecture and what that means for future batteries
- Battery compatibility, charge and discharge power, and any extra control hardware
- Backup capability and which circuits can actually operate during an outage
- Monitoring hardware, consumption metering and current Victorian network communication requirements
Manufacturer profiles in this category
AlphaESS
Integrated hybrid and AC-coupled storage systems with distinct new-solar and retrofit pathways.
Explore AlphaESS ↗Anker SOLIX
A modular X1 home-energy platform with hybrid and AC-coupled Australian pathways.
Explore Anker SOLIX ↗EcoFlow
PowerOcean and OCEAN 2 integrated home-energy systems with modular LFP storage.
Explore EcoFlow ↗Enphase
Panel-level microinverters paired with an AC-coupled battery and gateway-based energy platform.
Explore Enphase ↗ESYsunhome
Integrated home-storage configurations spanning single- and three-phase systems.
Explore ESYsunhome ↗Fox ESS
Single- and three-phase hybrid inverters with matched high-voltage battery options.
Explore Fox ESS ↗Fronius
Solar energy management with an interconnected home-energy ecosystem.
Explore Fronius ↗GoodWe
Multiple solar, hybrid and retrofit-storage architectures under one manufacturer.
Explore GoodWe ↗Growatt
A broad Australian storage range spanning APX, ALP, hybrid inverters and all-in-one systems.
Explore Growatt ↗Hinen
Australian-market all-in-one storage plus separate low- and high-voltage battery platforms.
Explore Hinen ↗iStore
Australian-market hybrid inverter and modular battery systems with single- and three-phase pathways.
Explore iStore ↗SAJ
Integrated residential storage systems combining hybrid conversion, batteries, backup and energy management.
Explore SAJ ↗Sigenergy
A modular integrated home-energy stack combining solar conversion, storage and optional EV charging.
Explore Sigenergy ↗SolarEdge
An optimiser-based solar architecture with integrated storage, monitoring and backup pathways.
Explore SolarEdge ↗SolaX Power
Hybrid inverters, Triple Power batteries and integrated residential energy-storage systems.
Explore SolaX Power ↗Solis
String and hybrid inverter options with broad third-party battery compatibility across selected storage models.
Explore Solis ↗Sungrow
Hybrid inverters, modular batteries and energy-management hardware across single- and three-phase homes.
Explore Sungrow ↗Tesla
Powerwall storage with an integrated solar-inverter pathway and Tesla app energy management.
Explore Tesla ↗Home batteries and storage: what actually matters?
Compare usable storage, power, coupling architecture, backup design, expandability and the inverter compatibility that makes the system work.
- Nominal and usable capacity in kWh, not only the number of battery modules
- Continuous charge and discharge power in kW and any short-duration peak rating
- How the battery connects to the solar system and whether the inverter is included
- Expansion limits, backup design and whether three-phase backup needs extra equipment
- Warranty duration, throughput or cycle conditions, retained-capacity terms and Australian support
Manufacturer profiles in this category
AlphaESS
Integrated hybrid and AC-coupled storage systems with distinct new-solar and retrofit pathways.
Explore AlphaESS ↗Anker SOLIX
A modular X1 home-energy platform with hybrid and AC-coupled Australian pathways.
Explore Anker SOLIX ↗BYD Battery-Box
Modular battery storage designed to operate with specifically compatible third-party inverters.
Explore BYD Battery-Box ↗EcoFlow
PowerOcean and OCEAN 2 integrated home-energy systems with modular LFP storage.
Explore EcoFlow ↗Enphase
Panel-level microinverters paired with an AC-coupled battery and gateway-based energy platform.
Explore Enphase ↗ESYsunhome
Integrated home-storage configurations spanning single- and three-phase systems.
Explore ESYsunhome ↗Fox ESS
Single- and three-phase hybrid inverters with matched high-voltage battery options.
Explore Fox ESS ↗FranklinWH
AC-coupled whole-home storage built around the aPower battery and aGate controller.
Explore FranklinWH ↗Fronius
Solar energy management with an interconnected home-energy ecosystem.
Explore Fronius ↗GoodWe
Multiple solar, hybrid and retrofit-storage architectures under one manufacturer.
Explore GoodWe ↗Growatt
A broad Australian storage range spanning APX, ALP, hybrid inverters and all-in-one systems.
Explore Growatt ↗Hinen
Australian-market all-in-one storage plus separate low- and high-voltage battery platforms.
Explore Hinen ↗iStore
Australian-market hybrid inverter and modular battery systems with single- and three-phase pathways.
Explore iStore ↗PowerPlus Energy
Australian-made rack-mount lithium batteries for flexible inverter-based storage systems.
Explore PowerPlus Energy ↗Pylontech
Dedicated battery storage with multiple residential voltage and form-factor options.
Explore Pylontech ↗SAJ
Integrated residential storage systems combining hybrid conversion, batteries, backup and energy management.
Explore SAJ ↗Sigenergy
A modular integrated home-energy stack combining solar conversion, storage and optional EV charging.
Explore Sigenergy ↗SolarEdge
An optimiser-based solar architecture with integrated storage, monitoring and backup pathways.
Explore SolarEdge ↗SolaX Power
Hybrid inverters, Triple Power batteries and integrated residential energy-storage systems.
Explore SolaX Power ↗sonnen
An AC-coupled integrated battery platform with Australian backup and energy-management support.
Explore sonnen ↗Sungrow
Hybrid inverters, modular batteries and energy-management hardware across single- and three-phase homes.
Explore Sungrow ↗Tesla
Powerwall storage with an integrated solar-inverter pathway and Tesla app energy management.
Explore Tesla ↗Do not treat monitoring as an afterthought.
Ask whether the quoted system can show solar generation, household consumption, grid imports, exports and battery state of charge. Some systems need a separate consumption meter or communications device before the app can show the full household energy flow.
Also ask what happens if the internet connection drops, whether the installer creates the owner account in your name, and whether historical data can be exported if you later want to analyse the system independently.
Ready to compare actual quotes?
Put exact equipment models beside the electrical scope, system size, backup design, warranty terms and generation assumptions. That is a more useful comparison than ranking manufacturers in isolation.