Note: Solar Choice has no financial or other incentives to promote Sofar batteries or any product brand over another.
Company History – Who is Sofar?
Sofar first started selling solar inverters during 2014. The company has since expanded in battery storage following a similar path to other solar inverter manufacturers. Sofar are a Chinese company with theri headquarters located in Shenzhen.
Sofar’s portfolio of products includes solar inverters (1 kW to 350 kW), hybrid inverters (3 kW to 125 kW), battery storage systems, utility-scale energy storage solutions, and smart energy management tools for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale projects.
As of this writing (2024), SOFAR operates around 20 offices worldwide, including one in Sydney, Australia, providing local customer service and technical support.
Sofar battery options
SOFAR offers one battery option for Australian users, the BTS series. The batteries are specially designed for Sofar’s hybrid inverters and are not compatible with other inverter brands.
BTS Series
The Sofar BTS Exx-DS5 is their latest and only energy storage system available in Australia. The battery comes in 5.12kWh (4.75kWh usable) modules and 4 can be stacked together to reach a total nominal capacity of 20.48kWh.
The battery can also be paired with the Sofar PowerAll ESI hybrid inverter which stacks on top of the batteries to make it an ‘all-in-one’ solution that can be retrofitted to existing systems.
The batteries use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry and it is high voltage solution operating at 400V. The batteries have a depth of discharge of around 93% which means you can only discharge a maximum of 4.75kWh out of each 5.12kWh battery module.
The battery cells are 2C which means a full discharge will require 2 hours. This is a longer than some batteries which can discharge completely in 1 hour. Each battery module can charge or discharge at a maximum of 7 Amps (at 435 Volts) or 2,500 Watts.
Some other key features of the BTS series include a built-in battery pack balance management unit, which means you can add additional modules to your battery stack at a later date without impacting the performance of existing batteries
In terms of durability, the BTS series is rated IP65 for protection against dust and water, allows for both indoor and outdoor installation. It is however, limited to a ground mounted installation which differs from most batteries that can be wall-mounted to save a bit more space.
How much do Sofar batteries cost?
Based on data from installers on our vetted network, we can see that the average cost to install a Sofar battery with 2 x 5.12kWh modules is $11,116 including installation. This price excludes the hybrid solar inverter that is required to go with the battery.
This price works out to $1,170 per kWh which prices their solution towards to the middle of the market. See more on average battery costs in our Solar Choice Battery Price Index which is updated quarterly.
Compare quotes from up to 7 installers in your area now.
Australian warranty terms for Sofar batteries
Sofar offers a product warranty and a performance warranty for its solar batteries is the the norm.
The product warranty covers manufacturing defects and any covered faults with the battery. This is valid from 10 years from the earlier of the battery’s installation date or 12 months from its shipping date.
Sofar’s performance warranty guarantees that the battery will retain at least 70% of its usable energy capacity at end of 10 years, or will have delivered a minimum throughput of 18.25 MWh per battery module (whichever comes first). The minimum throughput is the total amount of energy that has been discharged out of the battery. The guaranteed amount works out to 3.84 MWh per usable kWh which rates pretty well compared to other battery’s throughput warranties which are often closer to 3 MWh per usable kWh.
This warranty is transferable to a new owner, provided the battery remains at its original installation site.
Warranty claims must be initiated by the authorised reseller from whom the product was purchased. To request a replacement unit, customers should contact Sofar’s service center via contact information below.
Sofarsolar Ausco Pty Ltd.
TEL: +61 401 734 463
Address:6 / 81 Beal Street, MEADOWBROOK QLD 4133
Email:service@sofarsolar.com.au
Read more details in Sofar’s battery warranty documentation.
Sofar solar battery specifications
| Feature | BTS Series |
| Nominal Energy | 5.12 kWh |
| Usable Energy | 4.75 kWh |
| Cell Capacity | 100 Ah |
| Built-in Solar Inverter | No |
| Battery Chemistry | Lithium Iron Phosphate |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 708 x 680 x 170 mm |
| Weight | 59 kg |
| Backup Gateway | – – |
| Scalable | Maximum of 4 (20.48kWh) |
| Mobile App integration | Yes |
| Warranty | 10 Years |
| Depth of Discharge | ~93% |
| Life Cycle | 1 Cycle/ day |
| Enclosure Protection Rating | IP65 |
| Country of manufacture | China |
Pros and Cons of SOFAR Battery
Pros:
- Local office can provides localized support and services, ensuring quicker resolution of warranty claims and customer issues.
Cons:
- Only compatible with Sofar hybrid inverters who have a small market share in Australia
- Limited size options only coming in increments of 5kWh
So, should I buy a Sofar battery?
Currently Sofar’s battery solution can only be connected with a Sofar hybrid inverter. Our review of Sofar inverters suggests they are one of the budget options on the Australian market and have had mixed reviews for Solar Choice customers.
Technically speaking the warranty and the specifications on the datasheet stack up well against other bigger battery brands. At this stage there is limited evidence to support the reliability and performance of Sofar batteries in Australian conditions.
Read more product reviews from Solar Choice
Example of a Sofar battery project
Location: Australia
System Size: 5kW PV+ 15kWh ESS
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