With countless hours of testing, our experts determined a clear winner. Some portable power station features, like wireless charging, set one device above the rest. The standout for us was the Jackery Plus. Jackery's offerings are usually solid in the portable power station arena. Helping set this model apart: the ability to expand the Plus by adding external batteries, increasing its overall capacity and capabilities.
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As electronic devices become ever more integrated into our daily lives, the need to keep those devices charged and online increases, but we can't always bring the power grid with us wherever we go. Portable power stations are the perfect solution to keep us electronically powered anywhere. These devices have enough bells and whistles to justify adding one of these to your everyday life, but they can also be an inexpensive stand-in for generators when you need to keep your absolute necessities up and running.
If you're looking to juice up your devices, you'll have way more options than bulky, simple power banks with basic outlets. Portable power stations have undergone major improvements since we first started reviewing them here at CNET, bringing about features like USB ports, solar panel inputs and wireless charging. You can daisy-chain some models for even more power or connect others to your home's electrical system, giving you backup power in an emergency or power outage. You'll also find plenty that work just as well as portable generators for camping trips and other off-grid activities.
To find the best of the bunch, I spent hours putting each power station through its paces, and I also considered factors such as battery life, power output and input charging options, plus output options for juicing up my gear. Power stations that only sport AC outlets and force you to use adapters are no longer viable. Each is more than just an on-the-go battery charger or glamping must-have. These power bank performers have wide-ranging uses, from building and construction to staying connected with the office or family to having access to emergency lighting and power wherever you roam or call home.
Jackery has been busy with new releases this year, and for some, it might be easy to get confused by its naming system. At first, I thought the Jackery Explorer Plus was an incremental update to the Jackery Explorer Pro, but no; this is a decidedly different product. The standard specs and performance are similar at a glance, but coming in at around 20 pounds heavier, the Plus is built to do more.
First and foremost, with the added weight also comes a telescoping handle and durable wheels. You will also notice the inclusion of a round RV-type AC output rated at 25A. What's more, if you'd like to pick up two of these, you can also use the new Jackery expansion connector to link up both units and supply yourself with two separate 240-volt outlets (each rated 30A). We have seen this from a few other manufacturers, but I'm happy to see Jackery doing this early in the game.
Similarly, Jackery has thrown in on the modular game by offering external expansion batteries. For now, the Plus is the only unit that will accept these batteries, but we can assume more are to follow. Each external battery has the same capacity as the base Plus unit, and currently, you can link up to five additional batteries to the main unit for a staggering 12,256.8Wh. Additionally, you can still combine two sets of the six-piece combos together for that 240-volt capability and an even larger capacity of 24,513.6Wh.
For these reasons and more, the Jackery Plus is our best large and best overall portable power station.
$2,199 at JackeryThis model is the first new "best small portable power station" in two years, unseating the previous titleholder; the Togo PowerAdvance 346.
In addition to having the wireless charge capability that I'm so fond of (especially on smaller units), the Flash300 did well in our tests and sports a blazing fast 0% to 100% charge time of around 45 minutes.
It has all the ports you'd expect, 600 watts of power (in and out) and a clean and informative LED display, which is great to have. It's also reasonably priced at $300, making it a great entry-level pick.
$350 at AmazonInsert your favorite quote about big things and small packages here.
The Plus has a stated capacity of 1,264Wh paired with a 2,000-watt output. The new "Plus" line also supports capacity expansion through external batteries. With this unit, you can add up to three extra batteries for a total of up to 5kWh.
Charge via wall outlet in about one and a half hours; double that if you max out the Plus' 800-watt solar charging input and go that route instead.
Modular is the way to go for most people who need serious power. Jackery's Plus line continues to impress with its full suite of expandable products.
$999 at JackeryThe capacity and capabilities of portable power stations continue to evolve, so I've reconfigured the sizing categories for this category and added in "extra-large" since we're regularly seeing extra-large portable power stations.
There are a few things I am particularly fond of with this unit. For starters, you can add up to six expansion batteries for a total of 26.9Wh capacity. The Solix F boasts a nominal power output of 6,000 watts and the capacity for 120/240 split-phase output in the same unit. It also has both NEMA 14-50 and L14-30 receptacles to directly charge things like your EV, RV or large appliances.
You could also choose to pull double duty, run two of these units and max out the expansion batteries for a total of 53.8kWh capacity. Doing so would double your power output to 12,000 watts.
This is the exact road map for manufacturers to follow, in my opinion, as we talk about developing a flexible energy platform for nearly all versions of residential life.
Currently on sale for $429, this station has 768Wh of capacity. (We tested this unit to have about 93% of that capacity as usable. Anything over 90% is excellent.) It also has a rated power output of 1,000 watts (2,000 peak), and a promise to charge to 80% in 45 minutes. In our charge tests, we found that in turbo charge mode, the AC70 hits that 80% charge even faster, at just 33 minutes.
As usual, the interface is simple and the information screen is easy to read. The battery chemistry is lithium iron phosphate, and this unit can additionally take in 500 watts of solar charging power. It also has a '"UPS feature" for power switchover of 20ms. (Check on any important medical gear if you plan to use this as a power backup, sometimes those products require switchover times below 12ms.)
All in all, this is a great package with a low price tag, which makes it a perfect budget option.
We have seen several Bluetti models take titles in this list over the years.
The AC200 Max did not initially make our winners list when we first tested it earlier this year. A recent price cut brought the cost down by $300, and it's currently on sale for $200 off, bringing the final price down to $1,199. That's quite the value for what you're getting.
To be specific, what you're getting is 2,048 watt-hours of capacity (expandable to 8,192Wh), 2,200-watt output (4,800W surge) and 900 watts of solar charging power (1,400-watt solar plus AC). That's nothing to laugh at in this price range. Most offerings with similar specs sit closer to $2,000 and often are missing the expandability aspect.
The AC200 Max is comparable in form to Bluetti's larger format AC300 and AC500 units. The AC500 has more to offer, even going as far as showcasing a 50A outlet (still only 120 volts unless you want to join two units together for a split-phase 240) and the AC300 has more 120-volt 20A circuits, but the AC200 Max is the only one of these that has any battery capacity built-in. For both the AC300 and AC500, an external battery is required.
$1,099 at BluettiThe Dakota Lithium PS is the fastest-charging portable power station on our list. Now, looking at our test data, that doesn't mean that it took less time to charge than any other unit, but, in using our residential AC charging method, it instead indicates the unit that charges the most watt-hours per minute. This method allows the large-capacity units to compete in this category with much smaller units that would charge much faster.
Charging from 0% to 100% in 77 minutes, the PS sees 26.76 watts-per-minute charging from a standard 120-volt, 20-amp residential outlet. A close second was the Oupes Mega 3 at 26.48 watts per minute. Different units make up the bulk of the next-best contenders, from companies like Oupes, VTOMAN, UGreen and Goal Zero
If charging to recover your total capacity is a major concern for you, these are the units to look at. In addition, they all offer simultaneous charging from other inputs like solar or other DC inputs if you need to up your recharge game.
Also notable is the unit's 10ms switchover time!
$2,099 at Dakota LithiumBy camping, I don't mean "glamping." I'm not trying to power your PS5, beer fridge and jacuzzi. Since solar panels are more common now, and almost every portable power station offers an option to charge with them, we don't have to be quite as concerned about overall battery capacity or our ability to get to grid power to recharge.
Even if it does carry a hefty price tag (although it's currently on sale for $549, which is a big drop from its normal retail price of $999), I feel like this model hits a sweet spot of basic functionality, capacity and price. Although you have the option of charging via solar panels, you can probably survive a weekend trip with a full charge, depending on what you're powering. That helps when you're in sub-prime conditions for solar charging, such as overcast or rainy days.
A newcomer nearly unseated the Delta Mini this round and would have, if not for the Mini's recent price drop. If you're looking for a good camping option with a bit more power, check out the Pecron ELFP. It lists at $899 currently but has more to offer than the Delta Mini.
It's also worth mentioning that even though the GoSun PowerBank didn't finish at the top of our testing, GoSun offers a whole suite of camping and solar-friendly equipment, including a nifty folding solar table that I'm hoping to add to an upcoming solar panel best list.
$549 at EcoFlowThese days, an increasing number of portable power stations offer UPS or EPS backup protection modes to offer backup power to critical pieces of equipment during power failures. You plug the power station into your wall outlet and the equipment in question into your power station. With UPS, EPS or Backup mode enabled, the power station will kick in and power whatever is plugged into it from its internal battery.
Before you run out and replace your existing UPS units with one of these, you should know that it is almost the same as a UPS, but not entirely. A dedicated UPS could have a transfer time (the amount of time it takes for its battery to take over once the grid power has failed) of anywhere from 0 to 12 milliseconds, and most of them try to stay at 8 milliseconds or faster. The majority of portable power stations now offer transfer times of "less than" 20 or 30 milliseconds. That's great as far as portable power stations go. For a dedicated UPS that you might want to protect a core piece of tech or an important medical device, you might consider a different solution. By all means, your TVs, laptops, fridges and other devices will be well looked after.
The Zendure SuperBase Pro offers, in comparison, a blazing "less than 13ms" transfer speed for its backup mode. The Zendure suite overall is fairly impressive and offers lots of options for portable or even static and whole-home energy solutions. Check out a more complete look at the expanding landscape of these companies.
$1,699 at ZendureCurrently, we look at two main performance metrics for portable power stations: charge time and discharge capacity. Every company that sells portable power stations provides the expected number of watt-hours its products are supposed to last. For the Jackery Explorer 240, that's 240 watt-hours; for the Ecoflow River Max, it's 576 watt-hours. Bluetti AC200P claims 2,000 watt-hours.
That means if you run a device with a 1-watt output on the Jackery Explorer 240, it should last for about 240 hours. You'd get 576 hours from the Ecoflow model and an impressive 2,000 hours using the Bluetti generator. That would last you almost three months. For reference, a USB-C iPhone charger draws up to 18 watts, a 3-quart Instant Pot draws 700 watts and a standard microwave draws around 600 to 1,200 watts, depending on the model. How accurate are those figures?
We use 110-watt LED lights to run a controlled load on each power station during our tests, which allows us to calculate the percentage of power that you can actually use.
A power station's capacity should be a no-brainer. You should be able to look at a device's rated watt-hours and purchase accordingly based on your needs. Generally, you can do that. I've found that you typically won't see the entire capacity rating as usable power.
Lots of factors can affect this, and most of them center on how the manufacturer chooses to build their units' internals to manage their charged capacity. There is some (usually negligible) amount of power that goes to fuel the various indicator lights and readable LED panels on the units. Some of the larger units even have their own operating systems, so it's almost like powering an additional mini PC on the inside. Other units can have power-saving features where they reduce outgoing bulk power as they come close to depleting their charge.
We use external tools alongside each unit's own built-in meters to measure the outgoing voltage and watts of each power station we test.
To run our capacity tests, we connect several 10,000-lumen LED work lights, rated at 110 watts, to each unit. (The number of work lights is based on the overall watt-hour rating of the unit under test, or UUT.) We record the outgoing voltage and wattage using external measurement instruments or the UUT's own measurements if available. Once we have this data, we can leverage the calculations into a dizzying array of information about the UUT's performance. The main piece of information we look at here is the observed capacity, based on our measurements, compared to the UUT's stated capacity.
Here's that mass of data in a nifty chart, where longer bars indicate power stations with greater percentages of battery capacity that you can put to use.
In every case, that percentage ends up at less than 100%. Most manufacturers say you should calculate expected usage at 85% of the stated capacity. Two of our smaller units (green bars) both clocked 98% capacity -- the Jackery Explorer 240 and the Togo 350. Generally speaking, the midsize units (blue bars) didn't fare well. The large-sized units (yellow bars) did better, with the Bluetti AC200P scoring highest at almost 96%. As for our extra-large units (purple bars), the 3,600Wh EcoFlow Delta Pro fared the best, with a usable capacity rating of just over 92%. Behind it, Oupes, Mango, Yoshino and Dabbsson each had extra-large power stations (at least 2,200Wh) that scored above that 85% benchmark for usable capacity.
A quick word on our math here. If you blindly accept both a unit's stated capacity and our work light wattage rating of 110 watts, the numbers look very different. For example, we will take the GoSun PowerBank (to make the math easier) and attach four of the 110-watt lights. That load rating is now 440 watts and the GoSun's capacity of 1,100 divided by 440 is 2.5. We would expect to see 2.5 hours of usage. The actual run time for this unit was 2 hours, 50 minutes -- 113% capacity. Sounds great, Right? We're missing some key factors. Without going into a long(er) explanation of how to more accurately measure power, the fact that this unit has an output of 110 volts AC (compared to 120VAC) and the actual output wattage to the four lights is 352 watts, our real expected run time is 3 hours, 8 minutes, which drops the capacity rating to 90%.
One other testing note for these numbers -- the Oupes 600-watt data might be off. The unit turned off the lights at 9%. It would allow me to start the lights again but would turn them off again after some time. I repeated this process at least 20 times before the unit wouldn't power the lights for more than a couple of seconds at a time.
How long does it take to charge each of these things from zero to 100%? Glad you asked!
Charging performance can be nearly as important as knowing your capacity stats. It helps to know how long your device will take to charge, especially if you're crunched for time or need to be able to charge quickly for whatever reason. Will it take 1 hour or 2? What about 10? Or 12? (That's an actual number from our tests.)
We report three data points for charging performance. Each unit is plugged in for AC charging and we record how long it takes to reach 50%, 80% and 100% charge. Half-full is probably the least amount of power you're going to want, especially from the smaller units. 80% is the "magic number" for many rechargeable batteries.
Here's a simple-ish way to illustrate it: Imagine a swimming pool with room for 100 people, each person representing 1% of the total space. When you first start charging, and that first person dives in, you don't have much to worry about. You're not going to run into anyone else, so dive, splash around, whatever you want. As we add people, it gets a bit more crowded and complicated. You've got less room for people. Once you have 80 people in the pool, that next person is going to take a few extra seconds to choose their entry without causing any issues rather than just jumping and hoping no one is in the way.
Each manufacturer deals with this purposeful slow-down in its own way, so you won't see the same performance changes from one manufacturer to the next. True to the analogy, person number 100 into the pool can sometimes be very slow, taking several times longer to get in than any of his predecessors.
Take a look at the full charge test results below. Charge times are listed in hours, so shorter bars indicate power stations that charge faster. In many cases, you can see how the charge rate is fairly constant between 0% and 50% (red) and from 50% to 80% (yellow), before slowing down from 80% to 100% (green).
Ampace Andes 600 Pro (584Wh): This is an OK unit. It sits right around the industry standard for usable capacity. We did find that the charging moved much slower than the marketing materials claim: 90 minutes to 80% charge vs. the advertised 60 minutes.
Anker 555 PowerHouse (1,024Wh): An increasing number of portable power stations are shipping with LifePO4 batteries, and I love that. The 555 is slower to charge than most of its competitors but sports a 94% usable capacity and an attractive price versus the number of watt-hours; the better to power those six AC outlets.
Anker Solix C (1,056Wh): Another good option from Anker. It tested well in our lab and I don't have any real complaints about this one. Anker currently has it at $450 off, which is great, but it also offers 30-day price matching. You could end up with an amazing deal this time of year.
Anker Solix C800 Plus (768Wh): So, I kind of like this guy. It only really performed average in our standard tests for power stations, but it has a feature that is quite interesting, if not a bit gimmicky. In a storage compartment on top of the unit, you will find a telescoping pole that can be mounted onto the power station to support one of two rechargeable camping lights. You're not getting a ton of light out of these things, but, some light is infinitely better than no light. Plus you get the hands-free mode with the telescoping pole mount -- maybe that is what the 'plus' is for?
Anker Solix F (1,229Wh): This unit was previously known as the PowerHouse 757 from Anker, and was also CNET's previous pick for "best portable power station for backup." Its UPS mode was one of the earlier units to boast "less than 20ms" switchover time in the event of a power outage. It's also currently $500 off on Anker's site.
Anker Solix F (2,048Wh): Previously known as the Anker PowerHouse 767 and previous winner of "best large portable power station" here on CNET. This model has lots to offer by way of features and options -- pretty much anything other than wireless charging. It also performed well on our usable capacity and charge time tests.
Bailibatt 300W (257Wh) [currently unavailable]: Another small, affordable unit. The Bailibatt comes in at 84% usable capacity, which is good. It takes 11 hours to charge, which is.... not as good. If you have specific limited charging needs and plenty of time to recharge, the price tag makes it worth considering.
BioLite BaseCharge 600 (622Wh): Here's a unit that's about average with an OK price. It has 87% usable capacity, a Li-ion battery, average features and is maybe a little slow on the charge time. On the plus side, it does have wireless charging.
The BioLite BaseCharge offers decent capacity for the price, but it's one of the slowest power stations to charge that we've tested, taking more 6 hours just to charge to 50% and about 13 hours in total to hit 100%.
BioLite BaseCharge (1,521Wh): Having tested both the 600 and models of the BioLite BaseCharge, I can tell you that this company is consistent in its product manufacturing. The BaseCharge is about 2.5 times the capacity of the 600. That 2.5 modifier carries across the board fairly accurately from price to capacity, charge times and everything else. If you like the 600 but you wish you had two and a half of it, save yourself the effort and just buy the .
BigBlue Cellpowa 500 (537.6Wh): This is a better-than-average performing unit at better-than-average pricing, but there's nothing outstanding about it.
Bluetti AC180 (1,152Wh): This unit tested well enough, scoring 88% usable capacity and charging via AC outlet at 13.88-watt hours per minute, but one thing to clarify, unlike many of the other Bluetti units that use the same physical format, this unit does not support capacity expansion via external batteries.
Bluetti AC180T (1,433Wh): I like this unit, but I'm just as, if not more, excited about its energy platform, the SwapSolar Ecosystem. Not unlike some of the Runhood units we've tested, this ecosystem uses interchangeable batteries that will power multiple products from the brand. We have also tested an electric cooler on the same ecosystem. As far as large power stations, the performance metrics were great with this unit, just not quite enough to capture a title.
Bluetti AC2A (204.8Wh): A great option if you don't need a ton of capacity but do need options beyond just USB connectivity. This unit is in the capacity ballpark of a very large power bank and priced similarly while currently on sale through the manufacturer for $150.
Bluetti AC200P (2,000Wh): This is one of Bluetti's earlier large portable power stations and a previous winner for "best large portable power station." It's $400 off on Bluetti's site. It still offers plenty of power and options, but is likely nearing the end of its product cycle lifespan (hence the discount).
Bluetti AC240 (1,536Wh): I've tested a dozen or more Bluetti power stations at this point. The AC240 is good, as are most of Bluetti's offerings, but I wasn't particularly blown away and didn't find anything new to be excited about here. It performed slightly below many other Bluetti units on the usable capacity test but does have many of the expandability options I admire, and UPS switchover times are coming down across the board -- 15ms on this unit, although I'll be happier when sub 12ms is the standard.
Bluetti EB3A (268Wh): If you're interested in something small to work for your personal charging needs but those pocket-sized battery packs just don't cut it, this could be your option. As a previous CNET "best value" winner, the EB3A has what you need to keep rocking for a couple of days.
Bluetti EB55 (537Wh): We've liked almost every unit from Bluetti, and three of them took previous titles in this best list, but this unit was overshadowed by its siblings. Offerings that are just as good or better at better prices keep the EB55 out of the winner's circle.
BougeRV Fort (1,120Wh): I'm a fan of BougeRV's approach to camping and outdoor products in this space. It's worth checking out, especially if you're looking for more flexibility in areas like solar panels or DIY options. The Fort did well in our tests but didn't stand out enough to capture any titles.
Dabbsson DBS (2,300Wh): I love that it's a modular format, expandable up to 8.33kWh. The 87% usable capacity is good and charges relatively quickly. It charges at over 18 watt-hours per minute, for a total of 122 minutes to charge the entire Wh.
Dakota Lithium PS (2,060.8Wh): What I believe is Dakota Lithium's first traditional portable power station (certainly the first I've tested), is a home run. It showed a respectable 90.72% in usable capacity while also giving us our fastest charge metric to date. We showed a charge rate of 26.76 watt-hours per minute, just edging out the Oupes Mega 3 by about .3 Wh/m. Dakota Lithium is not new to the power game, and that momentum is likely why we're seeing such a strong start for them in this space.
DaranEner NEO (2,073.6Wh): This unit didn't win any categories, but it did perform in the top tier for our charge tests and came in about average for our usable battery capacity tests. This sturdy unit has plenty of features and one of the lowest prices per watt-hour.
Deeno GT S (1,036Wh): We previously tested the Deeno GT X and the S is a big step up. It has the same capacity and same pricing, but with nearly 20% more usable capacity than the previous model and it charges nearly 5x faster.
Deeno X (1,036Wh) [currently unavailable]: The X did not fare well in our tests. It came through with one of the lowest usable capacity scores we've collected so far at 69.88%, meaning you see about 724Wh out of the stated Wh. For the price, there are better options.
DJI Power (1,024Wh): I want to note first off that I do not have a drone that is compatible with the SDC super-fast charge function for select DJI drones. I think that is likely to be one of the best selling points for this particular unit. I'm also happy that there are two 140-watt USB C ports. Outside of those features, there isn't much else to talk about. It does charge fast but it came in low on our usable capacity test.
Duracell Power 500 (515Wh): This is the first Duracell unit I've tested, but not the first battery brand (see Energizer at the top of this list) to put out a portable power station. So far, the results are similar. Test results come back with under average performance and questionable prices.
Give Duracell some credit for its likable -- and familiar -- power station designs.
Duracell M250 (219Wh): Overall, this smaller unit is proportionally comparable to the larger Power 500 Duracell model. The M250 came in at 75% usable capacity, just a couple of points higher than the Power 500. You're getting approximately half the capacity for half the price. Charging is also in line, taking around the same time (4 hours plus) to charge half the capacity (at half the input power). I like the cylindrical shape -- I'm guessing Duracell wants it to look like that familiar battery profile -- and that the lid opens up to allow for power cable storage within the unit.
EcoFlow River Max (576Wh): Blazing fast charging and a low cost per watt-hour make this a reasonable pick, although this unit did test lowest in measured versus expected capacity, putting it at 425 usable watt-hours. Where'd those extra 151 watt-hours go?
Ecoflow River 2 Pro: A previous title holder for "best budget portable power station," this is still a great pick for anyone looking for affordable power options. It charges fully in just over 1 hour and accesses a respectable 82.6% of the battery's 768Wh stated capacity.
EcoFlow Delta 2 (1,024Wh): The EcoFlow Delta 2 is similar to the Anker 555 PowerHouse across the board -- features, pricing and so on. The main differences you can see from our tests are the usable capacity percentages: Anker with 94% versus EcoFlow with about 70% and charging rates. Both are rated at 1,024Wh. The EcoFlow Delta 2 charged to full in only 86 minutes, 275 minutes faster than the Anker model. Another point for EF is that it can wire in a secondary battery module, taking the capacity from 1,024Wh to 2,048Wh. Expect to pay an additional $300 for that battery expansion.
EcoFlow Delta 2 Max (2,048Wh) [sold out]: Another example of a great product that didn't capture any of our titles. The Delta 2 Max performed well in all of our tests, and with the ability to expand to 6.144kWh, you're really walking the line between a portable power station and a whole-home energy solution.
EcoFlow Delta Pro (3,600Wh): The EcoFlow Delta Pro is one of the largest portable power stations on our list at 3.6kWh (expandable up to 25kWh), and also happens to be one of the fastest charging. Lots of power, and plenty of charge options to keep that power rolling.
Encalife UAF550 (595Wh): Of the three Encalife chargers, this has the largest usable capacity percentage at 87% but the slowest charging at 1.98-watt hours per minute.
Encalife UAF (992Wh): Industry standard usable capacity here at about 84%, but a bigger drop in the charge capabilities at 3.35-watt hours per minute from its larger sibling.
Encalife YUE (2,048Wh): A bit of variation in our model hierarchy groupings with Encalife. As you might expect, charging capabilities do increase with larger units. The YUE being the largest of the three charges relatively quickly, at about 11.13 watt hours per minute. In this series, the usable capacities trend in the other direction, with this unit showing 73% usable capacity.
Enernova ETA 288 (288Wh): This is another example of a hierarchy of models where the smaller units underperform, but larger models improve. This unit took about 3 hours and 40 minutes to charge, but it reached about 81% usable capacity.
Enernova ETA Pro (1,050Wh): Moving up a notch, this one has 83% usable capacity and charges 1kW in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. It's a better showing and about 10 cents cheaper per watt-hour than its smaller sibling.
Enernova ETA Ultra (2,150Wh): This is the best of the three, sporting Wh, 87% usable capacity and it charges in under 2 hours.
Energizer PPS700 (626Wh) [currently unavailable]: OK performance and features overall, but one of the lowest-tested capacities, making the usable capacity closer to 477Wh.
Fanttik's EVO 300 power station features a large, easy-to-read display.
Fanttik Evo 300 (299Wh): This is a solid pick in the small power station category, and this unit has my favorite display: It's extra large and easy to read. We did see average performances on our charging and capacity tests.
Generac GB (1,086Wh): Generac has been a household name in the power landscape (especially generators) for dozens of years in the US. It isn't that surprising to see it here in the portable battery space. I wasn't blown away by this unit. It tested quite average (if not a smidge below on charge speed) but overall, still does what you need: to transport power.
Geneverse HomePower One (1,002Wh): This unit was the second slowest overall to charge, but did well on its usable capacity rating at 91%. Its display is small but offers all the standard input and output features you'd want.
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Geneverse HomePower One Pro (1,210Wh): This is the grownup version of the Geneverse HomePower One. The feature specs are about the same, but at $500 more, you're only getting about 200 extra watt-hours. In addition, the standard One model comes in at 91% usable capacity versus the Pro model's 73%. That gives you 912.6 usable watt-hours with the standard and only 886.7Wh on the Pro. The Pro charged in almost a quarter of the time it took the standard version.
Goal Zero Yeti 200X (187Wh):: The Goal Zero products are solidly made, but we got the lowest score in our "usable capacity" tests from this unit. It's about 65% compared to the industry-accepted norm of 85%. There are better products in the small portable power station category.
Goal Zero Yeti 700 (677Wh): Overall this unit tested OK; nothing outstanding. One of the more interesting aspects of the design is the use of these plastic protective 'flaps' covering the in/output ports. The use case here seems to be a more rugged durability for camping or otherwise roughing it where you might have an increased exposure to mud, dirt, dust or water. Outside of those environments, the flaps can be a bit bothersome.
Goal Zero Yeti Pro (3,993.6Wh): Runner up for our best extra large power station title, the Yeti Pro is a tank (which, by the way, is the name of the expansion battery "Tank Pro "). You get tons of input and output options, and overall expandable to 20kW capacity. We were able to charge this via standard AC outlet in 2 hours and 49 minutes, giving us our third fastest charging rate so far at 23.63 Wh/min charged, and also offers 3,000-watt solar input. If you're looking into home backup, also check out the Haven10 transfer switch accessory to bring your home online.
GoSun PowerBank (1,100Wh): I wanted to like this unit more, partially because of GoSun's extended offerings of solar-friendly devices. As far as capacity goes, this runs in the middle of the pack, but man is it slow to charge. It took nearly 12 hours -- over 6x as long as our largest power station (Jackery Explorer Pro) -- which offers nearly twice the capacity. At $1,199, I'd like to see a faster charging option and maybe more outputs or at least wireless charging.
Jackery Explorer 240 (240Wh): We've been fans of all the Jackery units we've ever tested in the past, and that doesn't change here. Just missing the best small power station title, this unit still boasts the second-best capacity rating of all the ones we tested. It was a little slow to charge but is offered at a great price.
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus (288Wh): Another nice entry into the platform, the 300 Plus offers a solid power option in small form. Not a ton of frills, but it does what you expect it to do.
Jackery Explorer 700 Plus (680.96Wh): If you need more power output than the 300 Plus (300-watt/600-watt) then the 1,000-watt (2,000-watt surge) of the 700 Plus may be what you're looking for. It will charge via AC in about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and it has one of Jackery's higher usable capacity percentages at 88%.
Jackery Explorer Plus (1,264Wh): The Plus has a stated capacity of 1,264Wh paired with a 2,000W output. The new "Plus" line also supports capacity expansion through external batteries. With this unit, you can add up to three extra batteries for a total of up to 5kWh. Charge via wall outlet in about one and a half hours; double that if you max out the Plus' 800-watt solar charging input and go that route instead.
Jackery Explorer Pro (1,002Wh): The Pro falls into our large portable power station, which begins at 1,000Wh (this Jackery weighs in at 1,002Wh; the same as its big brother, the Pro). I like the more than the for a few reasons, so the never had a shot at taking the "large" category. That said, it still has good performance, nice features and amazing charge times.
Jackery Explorer Pro (1,512Wh): With this Jackery you will get a dependable machine that performs well in our usable capacity tests at 90.4% and charges quickly: 0 to 100% in 2 hours, with AC-only charging. Toss in a couple of solar panels and you can drop that time down quite a bit.
Jackery Explorer Pro (2,160Wh): This was a previous title-holder of the "fastest charging portable power station." The Jackery units overall are great and dependable. If you're looking for a model (really, an entire lineup) that will recharge fast with multiple, even combined options, Jackery is a no-brainer.
Jackery Explorer Pro (3,024Wh): Another beast of a unit and a great offering from Jackery. If you're already a Jackery fan but need more battery capacity, this is an easy win for you. Otherwise, recent improvements include wheels, telescoping handling and that round RV plug we've been waiting for.
Lion Energy Safari (1,612Wh): I tested two units, the first I've had my hands on, from Lion Energy. Two immediate observations on the superficial side: First, I like the physical packaging of these units. Reminds me a bit of Oupes, which I also like. Second: These things sound like the names of energy drinks.
Otherwise, I wasn't impressed. This larger unit also had a bad connection to its display screen. In general, the color screen looks better than most other options. In my case, I had several lines plaguing each view.
Lion Energy Summit (665Wh): The TL;DR is above, with the larger unit, but for additional context, units tested about average in terms of usable capacity. My main performance complaint would be with charge speed. Both units are a bit low for their capacity category. I would be happier if the Summit charged at the Safari rate, and the Safari was retooled for nearly double its current speed.
Litheli PowerHUB B600 (562Wh): This one can be slow to charge, but otherwise, there's a lot to like here. It has good usable capacity at a decent price since it's currently marked at about 40% off. Litheli is also offering a battery platform (U-Battery) with this unit. Two smaller batteries plug into the main unit that you can then use with a variety of other tools. Check out our upcoming coverage on handheld vacuums to see Litheli's performance there.
Litheli PowerHUB Eclair (1,069Wh): Another unit from Litheli offering the U-Battery platform, but it's closer to double the capacity of the last unit we tested. The capacity score was low, but the charge speed has vastly improved from the B600. Worth a look if you're interested in the U-Battery platform.
Though pricey, the Mango Power E is our runner-up pick in the fastest-charging category, and capable of charging its impressive 3,530Wh capacity battery from zero to 100% in less than 3 hours.
Mango Power E (3,530Wh): I mentioned this unit earlier as the runner-up in the "fastest charging" category. This thing is loaded with features, even allowing you to provide 240-volt service by linking a second unit. There are also battery expansions for the Mango Power E. The one downside is the price tag, as this unit also comes through as the most expensive portable power station with a list price of $4,250.
Milwaukee M18 Carry-On Power Supply: This is a different unit to include on this list, but it does meet all the requirements, so here we are. Likely interesting mostly for Milwaukee tool platform fans, here is what you need to know: It isn't a great portable power station. You're probably considering buying it because you're already on the platform. If that's the case, I say go for it. It will work with all batteries on the M18 platform, so you have some control over how much juice you want to carry around. This will put a fair amount of convenience into situations for people who are Milwaukee tool users and find themselves in energy-shy situations.
Monster Power Grid 300 (296Wh): The Power Grid 300 can be slow to charge but did test at over 90% usable capacity. It has all the bells and whistles you'd expect at this level at a price that's potentially a tad high.
Oscal PowerMax 700 (666Wh): Another unit that didn't perform particularly well in our tests, but does boast a ton of features including a "non-stop continuous power supply mode."
Oukitel BP (2,048Wh): This is the first unit we've tested from Oukitel (along with its expansion battery -- we will be publishing more on expansion batteries soon) and we were pleasantly surprised. To begin, the BP scored an impressive 90% on usable battery capacity and also scored well in our charge tests, taking less than 2 hours to charge all Wh of capacity. Oukitel is also leaning into the modular and expandable approach, allowing you to add up to seven additional units for a total of just over 16kWh of power. As well, the BP boasts sub 10ms switchover time as its UPS feature.
Oupes 600W (595Wh) [currently unavailable]: Not a bad little unit. I love that it has the LifePO4 battery. It performed about average (maybe a hair under par) and I feel like it could be cheaper. The name can be hard to pronounce. "Oops" is our best guess.
Oupes Mega 3 (3,072Wh): Another great offering from Oupes with stellar performance. The numbers from our test lab slightly favored the Mega 3 over the Mega 5. We also tested the B2 expansion battery with this unit and further improved the numbers for usable capacity. The Mega line continues to impress with both performance and value.
Oupes Mega 5 (5,040Wh): Previous titleholder for "best extra-large power station," the Mega 5 is a beast. It maxes out at 5,040Wh, with a single expansion battery option, the B5, bringing the total to 10.08kWh. At 4,000-watt output with a 7,000-watt surge, you'll be able to power pretty much anything you want (as long as it uses either a standard 120-volt plug or the round RV type). It also has a large solar charging capacity (4,050-watt) and in our tests, proved to be one of the fastest charging units we've tested (second actually), going from 0 to 100% in 214 minutes, or 3 hours and 54 minutes. That ends up being 23.55 watt hours per minute charged, which is the second-highest rate we've recorded.
Pecron E (Wh): I will say that I'm a bit torn with this unit. I tested the ELFP model first and was impressed with the results. The ELFP did not fare as well. Specifically, the usable capacity came in especially low at 68% compared to the E at 94%. Other than that, the charging is beefier, charging at about twice the rate as the other unit. You still get perks like wireless charging and expandability from Wh up to Wh.
Pecron ELFP (1,920Wh): I discussed this unit briefly earlier as the runner-up to the Delta Mini in the "best portable power station for camping" race. It has more options than the Mini and is suitably priced. I'm also a fan of any of the companies that adopt the modular approach with the capability to expand capacity with external batteries like Pecron has done. You can also pick up a rolling caddy for the unit if you're on the go.
Phyleko ENFS (1,024Wh) [currently unavailable]: I've seen this body style before in the GoSun ; it feels super sturdy and I do like the larger colorful display. Otherwise, this unit landed just under average in our tests.
Power Cache 300 (293.76Wh): We tested a trio of power stations from Power Cache. The 300 model did well as far as usable capacity goes (91%) but did take over 7 hours to charge. Another upside is that it's affordable, with a $200 retail tag.
Power Cache 600 (642.6Wh): Costing $250 more than its smaller sibling, this middle child showed the least impressive performance of all three models coming in at only 72% usable capacity and taking over 8 hours to charge to 100%. If price is your main concern, it's an affordable option.
Power Cache (1,075Wh): The largest of the three units, this one performed moderately, coming in at 82% usable capacity and taking about the same amount of time to charge as the small 300 model, which is just over 7 hours. That does mean it charges over four times faster than the small unit, but 7 hours is still 7 hours. Selling at $800.
The Renogy Phoenix 200 is an affordable option among small-sized power stations.
Renogy Phoenix 200 (189Wh): Slower to charge, but it has 96% usable battery capacity paired with the lowest price of any unit we've tested. This a great option for smaller use cases or for people generally interested in checking out portable power stations at a reasonable price.
Renogy (998.4Wh) [currently unavailable]: This is another decent performer. It charges fast enough for its relative capacity category, but only offered us about 80% usable capacity. Normally I wouldn't be too bothered, but the smaller Renogy unit we tested clocked in at 96% usable capacity, so I was hoping for more.
Rockpals 300W [currently unavailable]: This unit also came in under the line in usable capacity. Given the industry standard of 85%, Rockpals' 78% is lacking. In terms of charge speed, this unit is one of the faster small portable power stations. It has decent features and kind of looks like a handheld radio.
Rocksolar Nomad RS650 (444Wh): Until the company updates this unit, there are likely better options for almost anything you're looking to do. It has a high price, low usable capacity, slow charge time and is low on features and options, but it does work.
Runhood Rallye 600 (648Wh): There are a couple of these types of units on the market now, and I've been waiting for their arrival. This Runhood unit is the first modular-style portable power station I've been able to get my hands on, and I love what it means for the industry. Performance-wise, this model was about average, but it could offer you more flexibility and convenience than many other units. The batteries are swappable, so you can pick up extras, in addition to standalone AC and USB modules that can use those extra batteries without being plugged into the main power station unit. This could be a game changer for trips where every member of the family is off in a different area draining some electronic device. I look forward to adding a "best modular power station" category soon.
Runhood Rallye (648Wh): The capacity is the same for this unit as it is for its younger sibling, the 600 (listed above). The 600 and designations refer to the constant power output in watts, with each unit's peak power doubling that constant power number. You do get an extra AC outlet but the increase in power output is the main difference. Likely worth it if you're into the modular design, but need more power than the 600 has to offer.
Togo Power Advance 346 (346Wh): This unit held the title for best small portable power station for about two years on this list; solid performance, great features and an attractive price tag.
Ugreen Power Roam 600 (680Wh): This unit didn't do great in our tests, but it has a reasonable price. It charges quickly, but that has more to do with the smaller capacity than an elevated charging capability.
Ugreen PowerRoam (2,048Wh): I was happy to see that this model did better than the previous smaller model we tested. 83% on usable capacity and it charged in the same amount of time as the smaller unit, about an hour and a half for each one, which means the was charging at about four times the rate. This one also has wheels and a telescoping handle for ease of movement.
VTOMAN Flashspeed (828Wh): This is the second VTOMAN Flashspeed I've tested and the smaller of the two. This smaller unit didn't fare as well as its big brother in our tests. While it's a capable machine, I would struggle to find a scenario where the minimal cost difference between the two would keep me from buying the over the .
VTOMAN Flashspeed (1,548Wh): This unit did about average on our usable capacity test, but, charging from 0 to 100% in 64 minutes, the FlashSpeed sees 24.19 watts-per-minute charging from a standard 120-volt, 20-amp residential outlet, which is one of the fastest charge rates we've seen here in the test labs. If charge speed and time are primary concerns for you, it's almost impossible to do better than the Flashspeed .
Yoshino B330 SST (241Wh): This is a "cute" little power station. It has a USB-C 100-watt port, a couple of AC outlets and is pretty light for what it offers. It comes in just above average for usable capacity but does have a slow charge rate. If you're looking for a little power in a compact package, it's worth considering.
Yoshino BSST (2,611Wh): This unit tested fairly well in our lab. 87% usable capacity, blazing fast charge speeds and a decent feature set. It's an option worth considering if you can find it on sale.
The Zendure SuperBase Pro is another interesting option, and one of our top-tested large-sized power stations.
Zendure SuperBase Pro (2,096Wh) [currently unavailable]: The first unit we tested with the Li-NMC battery composition. This unit also just missed the best large portable power station title. It has a weight-to-capacity ratio, likely thanks to the NMC composition and boasts our highest solar charging capacity to date at 2,400 watts. Its telescoping handle and wheels make it easier to manage, but the form makes it better for navigating paved walkways than "off-road" terrain.
70mai Hiker 400 (378Wh) [currently unavailable]: This unit didn't fare too well in our tests, coming in at about 75% usable capacity (versus the industry standard of 85%) and taking about 4 hours and 30 minutes to charge its 378Wh.
70mai Tera (.9Wh): The larger of the two 70mai units tested better, hitting the industry standard for usable capacity and taking about 20 minutes less to charge nearly three times the capacity of the smaller model.
How many years a portable power station will last depends on three key factors: how well the product is maintained, how often it's used and the battery type.
We have researched and spoken with several manufacturers and most units boast a 500-cycle lifespan. In some cases, such as the Anker 757, a unit may use LifePO4 batteries compared to the more common Li-ion battery and offer up to 3,000 cycles or beyond.
One cycle means using the product from fully charged to zero charge (or at least 80% in some cases). If you use your portable power station several times a week, it might only last a year or two. If you use it less frequently, it could last for much longer.
Portable power stations are generally designed to power smaller electronic devices and appliances, from phones and table fans to heavy-duty work lights and CPAP machines. Pay attention to the estimated watt-hours each brand provides in its specs to determine which model makes the most sense for what you'd like to power.
If a company says its portable power station has 200 watt-hours, it should be able to power a device with a 1-watt output for about 200 hours. I go into more detail on this in the "How we test" section below, but consider the wattage of the device or devices you want to power and then the number of watt-hours your portable power station would need to have.
Possibly, depending on the fridge and the portable power station.
For example, this standard LG refrigerator has an estimated annual energy consumption of 608 kilowatt-hours. That works out to 1.67 kilowatt-hours per day or 1,670 watt-hours per day.
1,670 watt-hours per day works out to just under 70 watt-hours per hour. If you have a short-term power outage and only need to power your fridge, a 200-watt-per-hour power station could keep it running for nearly three hours. You'd need a power station with higher estimated watt-hours to run your fridge for longer. A mini fridge would last much longer than a larger model.
Always confirm the electrical requirements for your specific fridge and portable power station before trying this, especially your refrigerator's peak and startup watts.
You can get close to the answer with some basic math. If you have a power station that is rated at 1,000 watts per hour, and you plug in a device, let's say a TV, rated at 100 watts, then you can divide that 1,000 by 100 and say that it will run for 10 hours.
This isn't usually the case. The industry "standard" is to say that you should take 85% of the total capacity for that math. In that case, 850 watts per hour divided by 100 watts for the TV would be 8.5 hours.
The reality is that you should expect somewhere between 8.5 and 10 hours, in this example.
A portable power station is essentially a big rechargeable battery that you carry around. Deplete it, and it's useless until you can recharge.
A generator, by definition, is a device that actually converts some type of energy to usable electricity in whatever circuitry you have it connected to. Examples of this would be gas generators (commonly used as power sources for remote areas or as whole-home backups), electric generators (not very common, but they convert some type of mechanical action to electricity) and solar generators, which can use solar panels to power devices or homes -- often using a battery to temporarily store the electricity. These batteries are often portable power stations themselves.
Smart energy consumption, cost-cutting, resilience, resource-saving, environmental efficiency&#;this is not a complete list of benefits offered by a battery energy storage system (BESS). With a wide range of power and storage capacity, BESSs vary from small-sized household devices to large-scale systems used for utilities and industrial applications. The number of battery-powered energy storage systems (BESS) installed in the US increased by 80% in . Nowadays, large-scale BESSs have been operating all over the world, including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, and many other countries. This article gives clear answers to all W and H questions about battery storage technology, including what it is, why, and where you can use it. We&#;ll also brief you on off-the-shelf and custom-made BESSs, specifying the strengths and weaknesses of both solutions.
A BESS is an energy storage system (ESS) that captures energy from different sources, accumulates this energy, and stores it in rechargeable batteries for later use. Should the need arise, the electrochemical energy is discharged from the battery and supplied to homes, electric vehicles, industrial and commercial facilities.
A BESS is a compound system comprising hardware components along with low-level and high-level software. The main BESS parts include:
Depending on its functionality and operating conditions, a BESS can also include a range of safety systems, such as a fire control system, a smoke detector, a temperature control system, cooling, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. The safety systems have their own monitoring and control units that provide conditions necessary for the safe operation of a BESS by monitoring its parameters and responding to emergencies.
Battery energy storage system architecture.Apart from electronics, complex BESSs rely on robust software solutions. For example, state-of-the-art systems use machine learning algorithms to optimize energy management. Estimating battery states and characteristics with high accuracy requires reliable algorithms and mathematical models built within BMS software development.
In sum, a BESS collects energy from an electricity grid or renewable power sources, such as solar and wind, and stores it using battery storage technology. Then, batteries discharge and release the energy when necessary&#;during peak demands, power outages, and in a variety of other applications.
BESSs can accommodate different batteries, including lithium-ion, lead-acid, nickel-cadmium batteries, and others&#;we&#;ll elaborate on them later in the article. Every battery type has certain technical specifications that designate BESS uses and affect the efficiency of battery energy storage. The principal battery characteristics embrace:
In addition to the above battery specifications, storage battery systems have other characteristics that describe their performance. For example, response time is the time a BESS needs to move from the idle state and start working at full power. Ramp rate is the rate at which the system can increase or decrease its power output&#;ramp it up or down, respectively.
BESSs vary depending on the electrochemistry or battery technology they use. Let&#;s look at the main BESS battery types and opportunities they offer for battery storage solutions.
According to the report prepared by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), over 90% of a large-scale battery energy storage systems in the USA were powered by lithium-ion batteries. The current global statistics are pretty much the same. This type of rechargeable battery is widely popular in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and portables, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and cameras. Li-ion battery chemistries comprise lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium iron phosphate, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), and others. The advantages of a Li-ion battery make it one of the leading technologies facilitating the storage of energy. The global lithium-ion battery market is projected to triple by , reaching $278 billion. It&#;s light and compact, has high capacity and energy density, low maintenance, and a long lifetime. In addition, lithium-ion batteries are easily and quickly charged and have a low self-discharge rate. The weak points of this battery technology include high cost, inflammability, and intolerance to extreme temperatures, overcharge, and overdischarge.
Projected global lithium-ion battery market size. Source: Precedence Research.A lead-acid battery is the oldest battery technology and is also one of the cheapest and most available solutions that find use in automotive and industrial applications as well as power storage systems. PbA batteries are highly recyclable and can operate effectively at both high and low temperatures. Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries are more suitable for power storage solutions than their older counterparts&#;flooded lead-acid batteries&#;as they have a longer lifetime, higher capacity, and easier maintenance. Slow charging, heavyweight, and low energy density are among the major drawbacks of this battery technology.
This battery type prevailed in the market of wearable electronics until Li-ion batteries entered the game. Ni-Cd batteries have many configurations, they are inexpensive, easy to ship and store, and highly resistant to low temperatures. The technology is behind its competitors in energy density, self-discharge rate, and recycling. Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries use the same component as Ni-Cd technology&#;nickel oxide hydroxide (NiO(OH)). However, the Ni-MH battery chemistry provides better characteristics, such as higher capacity and energy density.
A sodium-sulfur battery is a cost-effective technology based on molten salt. The advantages of Na-S batteries involve high energy and power density, a long lifetime, and stable operation under extreme ambient conditions. Nevertheless, this battery technology has a limited application area because of high operating temperatures (not less than 300oC) and sensitivity to corrosion. In addition, sodium is a hazardous component that is highly flammable and explosive. Sodium-sulfur batteries are well-suited for standalone energy storage applications integrated with renewable power sources.
Unlike conventional rechargeable batteries in which energy is stored in solid electrode material, flow batteries store energy in liquid electrolyte solutions. The most common flow battery type is the vanadium redox battery (VRB). The other types consist of zinc-bromine, zinc-iron, and iron-chromium chemistries. Despite their low energy capacity and low charge/discharge rate, flow batteries have several important advantages, allowing them to hold a large market share in on-grid and off-grid energy storage systems, including large-scale applications. These benefits involve an extremely long lifespan (up to 30 years), high scalability, fast response time, and a low risk of fires because flow batteries contain non-inflammable electrolytes.
Battery technologies used for energy storage.As of , BESSs accounted for 7.5 % of the global energy storage capacity, significantly less than pumped-storage hydro. According to The Business Research Company, the battery energy storage market size is expected to reach $13.8 billion at 25.7% CAGR globally by . Given the availability, efficiency, and latest advances in electrochemical storage technologies, a BESS is anticipated to be an energy storage leader in the years ahead. However, alternative solutions can go up against battery power storage systems, getting the upper hand in some applications. Here are the main BESS competitors:
Alternative energy storage technologies have already been available for the past few years. Some of them are already up and running, while others are still in the works. The sure thing about all of them is the need for reliable machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions. These would automate operations, reduce maintenance expenses, and ensure smooth performance with minimum human input.
Choosing batteries for energy storage can be beneficial for several reasons. First off, battery storage ideas have no limits regarding location&#;you don&#;t need to provide huge water tanks or underground air reservoirs. Owing to its availability and flexibility, a BESS can fit in well with applications that require varying power and storage capacity levels. Moreover, modern battery technologies tilt toward light weight, cost-efficiency, safety, and environmental friendliness. Let&#;s consider the use cases of a battery energy storage system and the essential problems it can solve.
BESSs help balance loads between on-peak and off-peak times. Electricity demands may vary depending on the day, time, season, and other factors. The higher the demand, the higher the electricity cost and vice versa&#;pricing gets lower during off-peak hours. By accumulating energy when the demand is low and discharging it in peak periods, battery storage solutions enable users to save on electricity tariffs (peak shaving).
As mentioned above, electricity prices fluctuate at different times, having both rises and falls. Battery energy storage systems allow for energy time-shifting&#;energy is purchased at a low price during off-peak periods and sold or used when the price increases. Thus, irrespective of the season and electricity demand, BESSs can equalize energy prices and minimize risks.
A BESS can supply backup power in case of an electricity grid failure until complete power restoration. Larger storage capacity and integration with renewable energy sources enable BESSs to back up energy for longer periods. By operating as an uninterruptable power supply (UPS), a commercial battery storage solution can be a time and money saver as it eliminates downtime.
A BESS can replace a diesel or natural gas generator used by power plants to restore power generation after blackouts by leveraging its black-start capabilities. Based on battery storage, power systems can restart after a total shutdown without using external electricity networks. The fast response time of a BESS helps systems recover in the shortest possible time.
Battery storage systems can regulate frequency in the grid, making sure its value lies within the required range. If the amount of generated power disagrees with the actual electricity demand, the frequency can either exceed or fall below its nominal value. Such discrepancies may result in temporary disconnections, power failures, or blackouts. BESSs can immediately react to power interruptions, providing sub-second frequency response, and stabilize the grid.
A BESS can likewise ensure voltage stability, maintaining its level within the specified range.
Integrating battery energy storage systems with intermittent renewable energy sources opens the door to inexpensive electricity continuously available to on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid systems. More recently, clean energy has gained popularity as an economically viable and eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. According to Statista, renewable energy sources (hydro, wind, solar, bioenergy and other renewables) accounted for 30% of global electricity production in . Moreover, it is projected to reach 45% by . The proliferation of renewable energy-enabled storage solutions is extensively supported and incentivized by governments through subsidies and lower tax rates.
Projected share of renewables in global electricity generation. Source: Statista.Battery storage technology enhances the efficiency of renewables. It makes them a reliable energy source for a variety of applications, including households with photovoltaics (PVs), off-grid commercial facilities, and isolated communities, such as islands and remote rural areas. Smart grids located in Rokkasho, a village in Japan, store solar and wind energy using a large-capacity BESS based on sodium-sulfur batteries. Currently, there are 92 wind power generation facilities and 3 solar power plants with a total capacity of 313,350 kW.
A BESS assists grid-tied and hybrid solar and wind systems with energy time-shift and demand-side management. For example, in windy weather, the system can power homes and charge batteries during on-peak and off-peak times respectively. Later, the battery energy storage system wind power can be used when the electricity demand is high and the variable energy resource is unavailable. Such a system has been installed and is running successfully in the Faroe Islands. Now, wind turbines generate power that covers about 50% of the islands&#; energy needs.
Battery energy storage can eliminate the need to build new transmission and distribution systems or update existing T&D assets that lack capacity or become obsolete. By storing excess energy and providing reserve capacity, a BESS can take the load off overloaded T&D lines and prevent congestion in transmission systems.
A BESS is an essential part of microgrids&#;distributed power networks that can be connected to the utility grid or totally independent. Standalone microgrids located in remote regions can rely on battery storage systems integrated with intermittent renewable energy sources. Such solutions enable smooth power generation and help avoid heavy expenses and air pollution associated with diesel generators.
BESSs find wide use in different industries and application areas. For example, front-of-the-meter (FTM) applications comprise battery storage systems in electric power systems, such as utility-scale generation and energy storage facilities as well as transmission and distribution lines. Behind-the-meter (BTM) applications embrace transportation, including electric vehicles and marine systems, residential, commercial, and industrial battery storage solutions.
The Vistra Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in California, USA, is the world's largest battery storage system. The 400 MW/ MWh BESS was commissioned to work in December . The storage capacity is expected to reach 750 MW/ MWh by the summer of .
Vistra, the retail electricity and power generation company previously criticized for climate pollution, is shifting its focus to renewable energy, doing its part to protect the environment and create new jobs.
Some of the world&#;s largest battery energy storage systems are the Alamitos Energy Center, Gateway Energy Storage (US), Hornsdale Power Reserve (Australia), Minety Battery Energy Storage Project (UK), Buzen and Rokkasho battery power plants (Japan), Korea Zinc Energy Storage System (South Korea), and Kunshan Energy Storage Power Station (China).
In , 4,027 MW / 12,155 MWh of battery energy storage was deployed in the US, compared to 3,000 MW / 9,500 MWh added to the grid in . As analyzed by Frost & Sullivan, the decrease in technology cost and rapid spread of renewables will boost the global grid battery storage capacity to 134.6 GW by .
FTM and BTM BESS applications.The global energy storage market offers a great choice of off-the-shelf battery energy storage systems. They vary in battery chemistry, scale, functionality, intended use, and price. Here are some of the key BESS market players:
The global battery energy storage market is abundant in offers. As battery costs tend to fall, ready-made BESSs become more affordable to consumers. According to Statista, the price for lithium-ion batteries (that prevail in battery-based energy storage) has dropped by 90% in the past 11 years&#;from $1,220 in to $132 in per kilowatt-hour. But at the end of the day, the battery price will depend on the project size and storage capacity&#;small-scale projects will be charged higher than the average price.
Apart from the batteries, the total battery energy storage system cost consists of the cost of an energy management system, a BMS, a power conversion system, or inverter, and other components. Utilizing an out-of-the-box BESS may also entail expenses on installation, operation, maintenance, and warranty. For example, Tesla&#;s Powerwall provides 13.5 kWh of usable storage capacity, and its price can amount to $10,500, including the solar panel system and installation costs. Panasonic EverVolt allows for storing between 11.4 kWh and 17.1 kWh of energy, which will cost from $15,000 to $20,000 with solar panels, installation, and set up.
When choosing a battery energy storage system, you should consider plenty of factors other than its cost. They include:
Thus, BMS software plays a significant role in the overall performance of a battery storage system as it is responsible for charging and discharging along with battery safety.
Once you are set to buy an off-the-shelf battery energy storage system, make sure you or your staff have enough expertise and qualifications to check the quality and completeness of the entire system before making a purchase and supplying it to your customer.
Setting up, maintaining, and supporting a BESS may also require personnel training on your side unless you&#;re ready to pay for these services to the BESS provider. When buying a battery storage device, make sure the manufacturer offers a warranty that covers the repair or replacement of the system and its components in case of failure.
Purchasing an out-of-the-box BESS can definitely save your time, especially if you need a turnkey solution with no specific consumer requirements for the system. With a rich selection of battery energy storage products on the market, there is a high chance of finding a reliable manufacturer and a suitable option that could meet your customers&#; needs.
Conversely, ready-made systems may have unreasonably priced electronics, pre-installed software of poor quality, and unnecessary features that add to the cost. They may also lack features desired by the end user or fail to satisfy the consumer&#;s industry and business niche demands or operating conditions and location requirements. In addition, not all BESS suppliers provide all-in-one solutions, and purchasing components and subsystems from different manufacturers can result in serious compatibility and interconnection issues. Developing a custom battery energy storage system can become an alternative that is worth looking at.
Tailor-made BESSs can make up for what&#;s lacking in out-of-the-box solutions offered by major battery storage systems providers. So, they can meet the exact needs of your potential consumers. However, implementing a custom product is a time-taking and resource-consuming task. Building a battery energy storage solution belongs to large-scale, long-running projects that can last for months or even years.
A BESS is a complex, multilayer engineering system, so developing a battery-based storage solution from the ground up requires deep knowledge in various fields, including battery technologies, power electronics, and embedded software development. In our upcoming articles, we&#;ll cover challenges associated with developing and implementing battery energy storage systems.
Choosing the right development team is half the battle; that&#;s why it&#;s essential to hire well-trained professionals with relevant experience. Creating a battery energy storage system from scratch takes specialists in electronic design, electrical engineering, low-level firmware, high-level software, and mechanical engineering for enclosure design.
The Integra Sources team could be the right fit for your project. We design PCBs for battery management, bi-directional power conversion, energy management, and safety systems of a BESS. Our engineers implement monitoring and control software and provide online data communication for remote BESS management. We create scalable battery energy storage solutions with fast response time, quick ramp rate, and high-efficiency power supply. Integrated with either electrical grids or renewables, our BESSs can serve for load management, power backup, frequency and voltage regulation, energy time-shifting, and many other purposes.
Manufacturing is another important challenge you&#;ll have to face when making your own battery energy storage product. The BESS manufacturing process involves a diversity of tasks that can be carried out at different production facilities. So, synergy is the key to efficient BESS manufacture.
You&#;ll have to take care of the product certification too. Apart from international standards, such as IEC, ISO, IEEE, and UL, a BESS is highly likely to need to meet specific national standards and certification requirements in each particular country. For example, in the United States, an energy storage system must also conform to the regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy (DOE), and some regulatory agencies at the state level.
A BESS must comply with national and international standards specific to the region and industry.In October , Australia and New Zealand developed AS/NZS :&#;a joint standard that sets general installation and safety requirements for battery energy storage systems. In addition, Australian BESS manufacturers must comply with a number of other national and international codes and standards.
Certification criteria may also depend on the industry and application area of a BESS. For example, DNV provides a recommended practice that contains guidelines for design, performance, operation, maintenance, and safety for energy storage used in marine systems. The document comprises specifications for charge/discharge rate, SOC, SOH, DoD, and many other system parameters and operating conditions.
The engineering team engaged in BESS development must be well-versed in the certification requirements and applicable standards. This helps mitigate risks in the system&#;s design and delivers a high-quality product to your end user on time and within budget.
Despite the challenges, designing a bespoke BESS can enhance usability, reduce operating costs, and improve the reliability of the system. After drilling down the market, you can heed the customers&#; needs, consider the shortcomings of off-the-shelf BESSs, and create highly sought-after battery energy storage solutions.
Implementing your own product makes you independent of any particular BESS provider and its services. You can set up, maintain, support, and deliver other services to your customers in a prompt manner and without intermediaries.
A BESS is a multi-component energy storage system able to store varying amounts of electrochemical energy and use it later for a range of purposes&#;be it peak shaving, energy arbitrage, or a black start.
The advances in battery technology make a BESS a light and affordable solution for both residential and commercial use, including smart homes, large-scale industrial facilities, and utility grids. Buildings, villages, towns, and even entire islands can employ battery storage integrated with green energy for a reliable, self-sufficient power supply.
BESS manufacturers offer a wealth of options with various storage capacities and for any application and budget. However, purchasing an off-the-shelf system demands strong knowledge of the technology, and a ready-made BESS may not meet the specific requirements of an end user.
Despite the design complexity and long project duration, a bespoke BESS can cater to your customer&#;s industry needs, solve their problems, and cut down on operational costs. Finding the right development team can assist you in building a well-functioning customized solution. Integra has deep expertise in battery storage technologies, including their hardware and software components. Depending on the consumer requirements, we can calculate the performance characteristics and design costs of a BESS, develop electronics, write firmware, and build apps to manage the system and communicate with it remotely. By choosing the right components and design techniques, we&#;ll make your product reliable, highly efficient, and standards-compliant. So if you&#;re looking to create a battery energy storage system or need an expert opinion on its development and implementation, reach out to us to get things started.
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