What Is the Difference Between a Generator and a Backup Battery for Your Home
Power outages can range from annoying to catastrophic, depending on the circumstances. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation has estimated that a significant portion of the US is at increased risk of power outages this summer due to above-average temperatures and worsening drought conditions, so you can weigh your backup power options in case this happens to you.
What is the difference between a generator and a backup battery?
The main backup power options are either installing a fuel-fired generator or a backup battery that stores electricity for as long as you need it, and the two options differ in terms of initial and long-term costs.
The average cost to install a generator that will power an entire home is around $15,000 . Depending on the type of generator you have installed, this generator will run on natural gas, diesel, liquid propane, or gasoline.
Backup batteries can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 plus installation costs. (If you’re looking to calculate how much spare power you might need, Lowe’s has a handy worksheet to help you factor in the total power you need for your various devices.)
Long-term cost of redundant power supplies
The two options differ most in long-term costs. While the initial cost to purchase and install a generator is less than the cost of a battery, it requires fuel to operate and must be factored into the overall price. On the other hand, the battery will store energy that either comes from the grid or is generated by solar panels .
The cost of operating a generator will vary depending on its size and the type of fuel required. For example, a 5 kW generator that can power small appliances or one large appliance such as a refrigerator or washing machine consumes about 0.75 gallons of fuel per hour . With the average cost of gas currently around $4 per gallon, this would cost about $72 per day. Depending on how often you need to use the generator, this cost can add up.