The Internal Revenue Service offers rebates of up to 30% off the price of new, certified clean energy products when you use the Residential Clean Energy Credit. Home batteries, which often qualify for this rebate, can provide clean energy in the event of a power outage. You can even charge some home battery systems with solar panels (sold separately). Like all batteries, these are designed to store power for later use, such as in the event of a power outage or emergency.

The Residential Clean Energy Credit applies to battery storage technology, solar power systems, solar water heaters, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps and fuel cells. This can also include home battery systems or generators – if they are used as backup power during disasters and power outages or as a backup power source for medical equipment.

Before investing in a battery backup system for your home, you should consult your accountant or a tax advisor to make sure your purchase qualifies for the energy credit, as there are exceptions and certain eligibility requirements.

If you qualify, complete Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits, and file it with your tax return. You must claim the credit for the tax year in which the equipment is actually installed, not just purchased.

Beyond the IRS offer, you may also be able to get a government refund. Then contact your home insurance provider. You may also be eligible for a discount on your home insurance premiums.

While there are many to choose from, here are some home battery systems that are worth looking at. Which option you choose should depend on the size of your home, the power needs in your home, how often you need the home battery system for backup power, and your budget.

Bluetti Power Station AC500 & B300S extension battery

The best thing about this Bluetti power station is that it is expandable, so you can add optional batteries to power your home in the event of a power outage. This system includes the AC500 power station and a 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 problem; up to five additional expansion batteries can be added to the system, giving you up to 18,432 watt-hours of power, enough to keep large appliances running during a power outage.

You can also connect the AC500 and B300S system to the mains to power your entire home during a power outage, but this installation should be performed by a licensed electrician.

The batteries can be charged in just one hour. Alternatively, you can use the optional Bluetti PV200 or PV350 solar panels to keep the batteries ready for use at all times.

Anker Solix F3800, extended battery and smart home power kit

This home battery system, which can also be optionally charged with solar panels, integrates seamlessly with your home’s electrical grid. It’s designed to provide backup power to essential home appliances during power outages. We like this system because it’s easy to monitor with the Anker smartphone app.

The home battery system can also be expanded with optional Anker expansion batteries. This all-in-one home power solution allows you to generate up to 53,800 kilowatt hours of electricity. Three advantages of this Anker Solix home battery system: It operates quietly, provides environmentally friendly power and requires no ongoing maintenance costs.

The system has three power modes. In self-consumption mode, the batteries can be charged using solar panels. In time-use mode, the batteries are charged using electricity, but only during off-peak times when energy prices are lower. In automatic backup mode, the system automatically switches over and provides backup power for up to 12 circuits in the house.

EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra with smart home panel

The EcoFlow Delta Pro UItra with Smart Home Panel can deliver up to 7,200 watt hours of power, but can be expanded to up to 90 kilowatt hours of power with 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 a power output of 7,200 watts, allowing you to run almost any heavy household appliance, including central air conditioning. For more power, combine three inverters with the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2. This unlocks up to 21.6 kilowatts of AC power. The X-Fusion feature provides a constant power output of 7,200 watts.

The EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 is the heart of this whole-home backup system. It is compatible with the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra, batteries, generators and solar panels. It offers automatic switching for instant backup. Circuit control allows for longer backup and prepares your system for outages with an hourly weather assessment.

The EcoFlow smartphone app allows you to prioritize certain circuits, extending your backup time even further. It not only analyzes power outages, but also intelligently analyzes your home electricity usage to smooth out peak loads while harnessing solar power to reduce electricity bills. The core system includes an inverter and 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 plus 10 Haven Tank Pro 4,000 watt-hour batteries, giving you a 20,000 watt-hour system. This is a portable power station with a high-capacity battery system that reliably powers various electronic devices and applications. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

The Tank PRO 4,000 watt-hour batteries provide a comprehensive backup power solution that combines energy generation, storage and distribution. It provides peace of mind during power outages, natural disasters or off-grid situations. You get continuous access to electricity for essential devices and household appliances.

To keep the batteries charged, the system works with optional Nomad 400 solar panels. This latest generation system offers higher power output, longer lifespan and more connections than previous models.

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