Solar Battery Storage: Complete Kenya Guide 2025

Why Battery Storage Matters

Solar panels only generate power during daylight. Without batteries, you're still dependent on Kenya Power at night and during outages. The right battery system provides:

- Power during blackouts

Nighttime electricity from stored solar

Reduced grid dependence

Emergency backup capability

Battery Types Compared

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1. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) - RECOMMENDED

The gold standard for solar storage in 2025.

Specification Value | |

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-| Cycle life 4,000-6,000+ cycles | Depth of discharge 80-100% | Efficiency 95-98% | Lifespan 10-15 years | Safety Excellent (no thermal runaway) | Weight Light (compared to lead-acid) | Price KES 45,000-60,000 per kWh |

Best brands: BYD, Pylontech, Victron, Dyness, Felicity

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2. Lithium NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt)

Higher energy density, used in some premium systems.

Specification Value | |

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-| Cycle life 2,000-4,000 cycles | Depth of discharge 80-90% | Efficiency 95-97% | Lifespan 8-12 years | Safety Good (requires BMS) | Price KES 40,000-55,000 per kWh |

Best brands: LG Chem, Samsung SDI, Tesla Powerwall

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3. Lead-Acid (AGM/Gel) - Budget Option

Traditional technology, lower upfront cost.

Specification Value | |

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-| Cycle life 500-1,500 cycles | Depth of discharge 50% (recommended) | Efficiency 80-85% | Lifespan 3-5 years | Safety Good (maintenance-free AGM) | Weight Very heavy | Price KES 15,000-25,000 per kWh |

Best brands: Trojan, Rolls, Victron AGM

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Comparison Summary

Factor LiFePO4 Lead-Acid | |

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--| Upfront cost Higher Lower | 10-year cost Lower Higher | Usable capacity 100% 50% | Replacement Once (maybe) 2-3 times | Space needed Small Large | Weight Light Very heavy |

Our recommendation: LiFePO4 for any serious solar installation. The 10-year total cost is actually lower than lead-acid when you factor in replacements.

Battery Sizing Guide

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Step 1: Calculate Daily Usage

List everything running at night/during outages:

Item Watts Hours Wh/day | |

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--| LED lights (10) 100W 6h 600 Wh | Refrigerator 150W 12h 1,800 Wh | TV 100W 4h 400 Wh | WiFi Router 15W 24h 360 Wh | Phone charging 50W 3h 150 Wh | Total 3,310 Wh |

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Step 2: Add Buffer

Multiply by 1.2 for inefficiency: 3,310 × 1.2 = 3,972 Wh ≈ 4 kWh

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Step 3: Consider Days of Autonomy

How many days backup without sun?

- Residential (grid-tied): 1 day = 4 kWh

Off-grid/critical: 2-3 days = 8-12 kWh

Business continuity: 1-2 days = 4-8 kWh

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Step 4: Account for Depth of Discharge

- LiFePO4: Full capacity available (4 kWh battery = 4 kWh usable)

Lead-Acid: Only 50% usable (8 kWh battery = 4 kWh usable)

Popular Battery Configurations

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Small Home (2-3 bedrooms)

System: 5 kWh LiFePO4

Backup time: 8-12 hours (essentials)

Price: KES 250,000-350,000

Brands: Dyness B4850, Pylontech US3000C

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Medium Home (4-5 bedrooms)

System: 10 kWh LiFePO4

Backup time: 12-24 hours

Price: KES 450,000-600,000

Brands: BYD B-Box, Pylontech stack

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Large Home/Small Office

System: 15-20 kWh LiFePO4

Backup time: 24-48 hours

Price: KES 700,000-1,000,000

Brands: Multiple Pylontech/BYD units

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Commercial/Industrial

System: 50-200+ kWh

Backup time: As required

Price: Custom quotation

Brands: BYD HVS, container solutions

Inverter Compatibility

Your inverter must be compatible with your battery type:

Inverter Brand LiFePO4 Lead-Acid Features | |

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-| Victron ✅ ✅ Premium, expandable | Growatt ✅ ✅ Good value | Deye ✅ ✅ Popular in Kenya | Voltronic (Axpert) ✅ ✅ Budget-friendly | SMA ✅ ✅ German quality |

Important: Ensure your inverter has the correct communication protocol for your battery brand (CAN, RS485, etc.)

Installation Best Practices

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Location Requirements

Well-ventilated area (batteries generate heat)

Protected from direct sunlight

Away from living areas (for lead-acid)

Elevated from floor (flood protection)

Easy access for maintenance

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Safety Requirements

Proper fusing and disconnect switches

Battery management system (BMS) for lithium

Temperature monitoring

Fire extinguisher nearby (Class D for lithium)

Proper signage

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Wiring Requirements

Correct cable sizing for current

Short cable runs to inverter

Quality terminals and connectors

Proper grounding

Warranty Comparison

Brand Warranty Cycles Guaranteed | |

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-| Pylontech 10 years 6,000 cycles | BYD 10 years 6,000 cycles | Dyness 10 years 6,000 cycles | Felicity 5 years 3,000 cycles | Trojan (Lead) 2 years 1,200 cycles |

Our Top Picks for 2025

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Best Value: Dyness B4850

4.8 kWh capacity

6,000+ cycle life

Excellent Kenya support

KES 220,000-280,000

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Best Premium: BYD B-Box

Modular and expandable

Industry-leading safety

10-year warranty

KES 300,000-400,000 per 5 kWh

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Best Budget: Felicity LiFePO4

Good performance

Local support available

KES 180,000-220,000 per 5 kWh

Free Consultation

Not sure which battery is right for you? Our solar team will:

1. Analyze your power usage 2. Recommend optimal battery size 3. Match with compatible inverter 4. Provide complete system quote

📞 Call: +254 768 860 665 or +254 782 914 717 📧 Email: Send your Kenya Power bill for analysis 🏠 Site Visit: Free in Nairobi area

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*Emerson Energy - Your trusted solar partner in Kenya*