Why you should unify your home energy system in 2021

The residential energy storage market is set to grow rapidly in 2021. And as solar and battery storage become increasingly popular among homeowners, more manufacturers are springing up to meet demand. As a result, mixing and matching panels and equipment from across different manufacturers is now a common strategy, as homeowners strive to find the best deal.

But not all solar panels and battery storage systems are created equal. Even if they look the same and have similar electrical classifications, their quality, makeup and warranties will differ and this can cause problems further down the line.

Instead, it's worth sourcing your components from one manufacturer that you and your installer can work with to fulfill your end-to-end requirements. This will ensure that all parts of your system are fully compatible with each other, maximizing efficiency and reducing the likelihood of any issues.

Here's a look at all the benefits of using a single manufacturer for your home energy system.

The benefits of unifying your home energy system

Faster installation 

Sourcing the components of your home energy system from a single brand and an installer that has experience in working with that brand will speed up the installation process. That's because all the components of your system have been designed to work together, reducing the likelihood of any technical difficulties arising.

At the same time, the installer will already have expertise and knowledge of that brand, as well as a single point of contact should problems crop up. Rather than following different installation processes for different parts, your installer has one source of truth.

Higher performance

Solar panels from different manufacturers will have varying characteristics and be of different efficiency levels.

Even just a few panels from a different manufacturer can impact the power rating of your whole system. You might have to spend more money trying to fix the issue. 

Single warranty

It's important to understand your warranty options before choosing a manufacturer. A robust warranty on panels will cover the physical product and its performance. A solar panel warranty should cover your panels for about 25 years, while the warranty period for battery storage systems is generally 10 years. Consider asking these three important questions to your manufacturer before deciding which brand to use.

Since every brand's warranty policy is different, it's also easier and more convenient for your home energy system to be under a single warranty with one manufacturer. You're less likely to encounter issues if your system experiences any faults since there won’t be any debate as to which components, from which brand, caused the issue. If one part fails, your warranty will cover the entire system and your installer only needs to speak to an expert from one brand.

Stronger relationships

A home solar system is a big investment for any homeowner and one that should last for 25 years or even longer. It's important to trust your chosen manufacturer and installer. They should support you through the end-to-end process of designing and installing your system, answering any questions or concerns you have, and providing detailed explanations of any decisions taken. You should have confidence that problems will be resolved quickly.

Dealing with a single manufacturer makes this easier, enabling you and your installer to forge a deeper, more trusting relationship.  At the same time, your installer will likely already have a relationship with the manufacturer, so they can provide credible advice to help you make the right decisions, as well as answer any specific questions you have. 

Lower costs

At a first glance, using multiple manufacturers might appear to offer you the best deal. By working with one manufacturer and an installer that has experience with your chosen brand, you're more likely to save money in the long run, since all the components will work seamlessly together. And, because the installer and manufacturer will have an existing relationship, they will likely offer a bundle package.

Ease of integration

In the future, you may wish to expand your home energy system, whether that's by increasing the number of solar panels you have or by adding a battery storage unit. Start by speaking to the authorized installer for the manufacturer of your existing components. Since panels do degrade over time, your installer and manufacturer can advise on how best to increase capacity with newer panels.

By using additional panels from the same brand, your installer is less likely to encounter difficulties with integration, since the components will broadly follow similar specifications. And if they do, they can seek guidance from a single manufacturer who will have the expertise to rectify the issue quickly.

Easier maintenance 

A single point of contact makes it easier for you and your installer to coordinate maintenance or operational issues as they arise. Any problems are likely to be resolved much quicker as your installer only needs to speak to one manufacturer who will have all the required expertise in-house to resolve the issue. 

To learn more about battery storage and how it could be right for your home, visit Panasonic's Green Living blog. For more information about improving your home's resilience with Panasonic EverVolt^TM solar and battery storage bundles, connect with a certified installer to get all your questions answered.