The IRS will pay you to install a home battery with this clean energy credit
The Internal Revenue Service is offering rebates up to a 30% on the price of new, qualified clean energy products if you take advantage of the Residential Clean Energy Credit. Home batteries, which often qualify for this rebate, can provide clean energy in the event of a power failure. You can even recharge some home battery systems using solar panels (sold separately). Like all batteries, these are designed to store power for use later, such as during a power outage or emergency.
The Residential Clean Energy Credit applies to battery storage techn, solar electric panels, solar water heaters, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps and fuel cells. This can include a home battery system or generator -- if it's used for backup power during disasters and outages, or as an emergency power source for medical equipment.
Before investing in a home battery power backup system, consult with your accountant or a tax preparation expert to ensure your purchase qualifies for the energy credit, as there are exclusions and specific eligibility requirements.
If you qualify, fill out and submit Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits with your federal tax return. You'll need to claim the credit for the tax year when the equipment is actually installed, not just purchased.
Beyond what's offered by the IRS, you may also get a state rebate. Then, contact your home insurance provider. You may also be eligible for a discount on your homeowner's policy premiums.
While there are many to choose from, here are a few home battery systems worth looking into. Which option you choose should be based on the size of your home, the power needs within your home, the frequency you may be needing to use the home battery system for an emergency power and your budget.
Bluetti Power Station AC500 & B300S expansion battery
The best thing about this Bluetti Power Station is that it's expandable, so you can add optional batteries to power your home during a power failure. This system includes the AC500 power station and one B300S expansion battery. You get access to seven 5,000 watt AC outlets. This system provides 3,072 watt-hours of power.
If you need even more juice, no worries; up to five additional expansion batteries can be added to the system. This can give you up to 18,432 watt-hours of power, which is enough to keep major appliances running during a power failure.
You also can tie the AC500 and B300S system to the grid to power your entire home during a blackout. That said, this installation should be handled by a licensed electrician.
The batteries can be recharged in as little as one hour. Or you can also use optional Bluetti PV200 or PV350 solar panels to keep the batteries ready whenever they're needed.
Anker Solix F3800, expansion batter and smart home power kit
This home battery system, which can also rely on optional solar panels to keep it charged, seamlessly integrates into your home's power grid. It's designed to provide emergency power to essential home appliances during outages. We like this system because it's easy to monitor using the Anker smartphone app.
The home battery system is also expandable using optional Anker expansion batteries. So you could get up to 53,800 kilowatt-hours of power from this all-in-one home power solution. Three benefits to this Anker Solix home battery system: It operates quietly, provides pollution-free power and requires ongoing maintenance costs.
The system has three energy modes. Its self-consumption mode allows the batteries to recharge using solar panels. The time-of-use mode uses electricity to recharge the batteries, but only does this during non-peak times when energy prices are lower. When in automatic backup mode, the system automatically switches over to provide backup power for up to 12 in-home circuits.
EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra with smart home panel
The EcoFlow Delta Pro UItra with smart home panel can provide up to 7,200 watt-hours of power, but can be expanded to provide up to 90 kilowatt-hours of power using optional batteries.
This is a whole-house generator option that includes an inverter and a battery. One inverter supports 120 volts and 240 volts, and has an 7,200 watt output. So you can run almost any heavy household appliance, including a central air conditioner. For more power, pair three inverters with the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2. This will unlock up to 21.6 kilo-watt AC output. Its X-Fusion feature ensures a constant 7,200 watt output.
The EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 is the centerpiece for this whole-home backup system. It's compatible with the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra, batteries, generators and solar panels. It offers an auto-switchover for instant backup. Circuit control allows for more extended backup and prepares your system for outages with an hourly weather assessment.
You can use the EcoFlow smartphone app to prioritize specific circuits, extending your backup even longer. For more than just blackouts, it intelligently analyses your home power usage to offset peak rates while utilizing solar to lower energy bills. The core system includes one inverter and one battery. Solar panels and additional batteries are sold separately.
Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000 portable power station
This home battery system includes the Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000 portable power station, along with 10 Haven Tank Pro 4,000 watt-hour batteries, so you get a 20,000 watt-hour system. This is a portable power station with a high-capacity battery system designed to provide reliable power for various electronic devices and appliances. It's suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
The Tank PRO 4,000 watt-hour batteries provides a comprehensive backup power solution that combines energy generation, storage and distribution. It offers peace of mind during power outages, natural disasters, or off-grid living situations. You get continuous access to electricity for essential devices and appliances.
To keep the batteries charged, the system works with optional Nomad 400 solar panels. This latest generation system offers a higher power output, longer lifespan and more ports than previous models.
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