Home battery vs. generator: which is right for outages?
Both can keep important things running when the grid goes down. They work in very different ways.
Two ways to get power in an outage
A generator burns fuel, such as gasoline, propane or natural gas, to make electricity while it runs. A home battery stores electricity ahead of time and releases it when the grid goes down.
That one difference drives almost everything else: safety, noise, upkeep and how long each one lasts.
Safety: the biggest difference
Anything that burns fuel makes exhaust, including carbon monoxide. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says portable generators are "one of the leading causes of post-storm carbon monoxide deaths." [1] Its 2023 report found that, since 2009, portable generators alone were associated with an estimated 765 carbon monoxide deaths. [2]
If you use a portable generator, CPSC says to run it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from homes and buildings, with the exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents, and never inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or shed. [1]
A battery burns no fuel, so it makes no exhaust.
Side by side
| Generator | Home battery | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy source | Fuel you buy and store, or a gas line | Electricity stored ahead of time |
| Exhaust | Yes, including carbon monoxide | None |
| Noise | Engine noise while running | Runs quietly |
| When the grid drops | Portable units must be started and connected by hand. Standby units can switch on automatically. | Switches over automatically when connected for backup |
| How long it lasts | As long as the fuel lasts | Depends on the energy stored and how much your home uses. Solar can recharge it in daylight. |
| Upkeep | Oil changes, fuel, test runs | In the VirtuGrid program, monitored and maintained through the program |
When a generator still makes sense
A battery holds a set amount of energy. In a long outage with heavy use, like running central air for days, a generator with plenty of fuel can keep going longer. In the VirtuGrid program, though, the battery takes the place of a generator, because a generator can't be connected to the program system.
If you are deciding, think about how long your outages usually last, what you need to keep running, and whether you can store fuel and run a generator safely.
How the VirtuGrid program uses your battery
While the grid is up, the energy stored in your battery helps support the grid market. That grid work is how the program covers the battery and its installation. A reserve is kept for your backup.
When the grid goes down, your home switches to the energy reserved in your battery automatically. How long it lasts depends on the battery's charge and how much power your home uses.
VirtuGrid is an independent sales partner of SOLRITE. Licensed installers do the installation, and the program owns, monitors and maintains the equipment. Rates and terms are set in your agreement, which you review before you sign. See the details for Texas or Illinois.
Questions people ask
It depends on the size of the battery and the AC, and on how much energy is reserved for backup. Air conditioning uses a lot of power, so it drains a battery faster. Your advisor goes over what your setup can run.
No. CPSC says never to run a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or other enclosed area. Run it outdoors at least 20 feet from the house.
Not on the VirtuGrid program. A generator can't be connected to the program system, so the battery takes its place. Your advisor can go over what the battery covers for your home.
No. It stores electricity from the grid or from solar panels and releases it when the power goes out.
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