What is a kilowatt hour?
A kilowatt hour (kWh) is a unit of measure for energy usage—it’s the energy delivered by one kilowatt (kW), or 1,000 watts (W), of power for one hour. The energy usage of devices and appliances is measured in kWh. For example, a 60 W ceiling fan running for six hours per day consumes about 11 kWh per month, or 132 kW per year. An energy-efficient 20-cubic-foot refrigerator running 24 hours a day uses 49 kWh per month. To calculate your home’s energy needs, use an appliance calculator, such as the ones from Hydro Quebec and NB Power.
Arguably the best-known company offering whole-home backup solutions is Tesla, with its 13.5-kWh Powerwall. However, it has a growing number of competitors in this category, including EcoFlow.
According to Peterfi, a minimum entry-level solution would be a battery with 3 kWh to 4 kWh—that’s enough juice to handle your basic needs if, for example, you lose electricity due to a fallen power line (which, on average, takes two to three hours to fix). Prices start at around $1,000 per 1 kWh of energy, give or take, depending on the manufacturer. For example, EcoFlow’s 3.6-kWh battery sells for $4,199, and Jackery’s 3-kWh battery retails for $3,999, as of late April 2024.
Bear in mind, though, that 3 kWh to 4 kWh is really an entry-level solution. If you heed the advice of the Government of Canada, which says that “you and your family should be prepared to cope on your own during a power outage for at least 72 hours,” then you might want to literally amp up your backup power along the lines of a Tesla Powerwall or an EcoFlow whole-house solution. Or, at the very least, a middle-ground solution.
Cost of a Tesla Powerwall in Canada
As of late April 2024, a Tesla Powerwall costs $9,700 plus $1,200 for a Gateway, which connects the battery to your home’s existing electrical panel, monitors energy usage and automatically switches to backup power when there is an outage. Additional costs include delivery, installation and taxes. When all is said and done, Peterfi says, the final price tag could be about $15,000 to $20,000—comparable to the cost of an installed gas-powered generator.
The Powerwall is only available with a capacity of 13.5 kWh, but competitors have taken a more modular approach to energy storage. For example, a 3.6-kWh battery from EcoFlow, priced at $4,199, could be the starting point for a backup solution. If you need more power, you can bump up that wattage by connecting or daisy-chaining additional batteries (say, a 2-kWh model for $2,199).
EcoFlow also recently launched its Delta Pro Ultra Whole Home Backup Power solution in direct competition to Tesla. The Delta Pro Ultra’s $9,398 price includes a 6-kWh battery, an inverter (converts DC to AC power) and a smart home panel or transfer switch that literally transfers energy from your battery bank to whichever circuits on your panel you choose to back up. It’s a scalable solution (each additional 6-kWh battery costs $4,199) with a capacity that maxes out at 90 kWh. So, you can choose 6 kWh to 90 kWh of backup power storage—whatever fits your needs and budget.
You can plug your appliances and devices directly into these lower-wattage batteries (a.k.a. portable power stations). With some suppliers, you also have the option of adding a transfer switch similar to Tesla’s Gateway, but this requires installation by a qualified professional.
Entirely optional, but another consideration that directly ties in with a battery backup solution is whether or not to install solar panels to keep them charged. Yes, there’s an added cost, but if you go that route, it could dramatically reduce your month-to-month energy costs, in addition to helping you weather that next storm. According to Sunly, a Canadian solar panel installer, a household could save 60% to 90% on its electricity bills, depending on factors like location, price of electricity and more. Learn more about the cost of solar panels.
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