Note: Solar Choice has no financial or other incentives to promote Sofar batteries or any product brand over another.
At a Glance: Sofar Batteries score 3.5 out of 5
Scoring is based on our solar battery scorecard, which is consistently applied to each brand and battery available on the Australian market. This scoring reflects Sofar’s BTS series for residential applications.
$ Price: Based on data from Solar Choice’s network of solar installers, the average price for an installed Sofar battery is $889 per usable kWh, placing it in the lowest-cost price category.
- Company Backing and Trustworthiness (3 out of 5): Sofar has operated in Australia since 2019, but has a small number of local staff. This results in a moderate trust score despite a growing international profile.
- Warranty Offer (3 out of 5): Sofar batteries offer a throughput warranty of 3.84MWh per usable kWh, a 10-year product warranty, and a minimum capacity rating of 70% at the end of the warranty period. These specs place Sofar among the better offerings in this price segment.
- Customer Reviews (5 out of 5): Sofar has received good early feedback from a just 3 verified reviews on Solar Choice’s independent platform. This tentatively earns a full score under our review framework.
- Functionality (3 out of 5): Sofar batteries are IP65 rated, support modular expansion, and include battery pack balance management to help maintain module health. However, they lack built-in fire suppression and require a compatible Sofar inverter (no support for AC coupling), which limits installation flexibility.
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 their 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.
Sofar operates around 20 offices worldwide, including one in Sydney, Australia, providing local customer service and technical support. Sofar’s BTS batteries were first approved for sale in Australia in early 2023, so they have a shorter track record than most battery companies.
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 is a DC-coupled solution and must be paired with a compatible Sofar inverter to charge and discharge.
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 or the limit of the attached inverter – which for single phase solutions is a maximum of 6kW.
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 Battery Technical Specifications Table
| Feature | BTS E10 (2 modules) | BTS E20 (4 modules) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Chemistry | LiFePO₄ | LiFePO₄ |
| Usable Capacity (kWh) | 9.5 | 19.0 |
| Scalability | 1 to 4 modules | 1 to 4 modules |
| Depth of Discharge | 92.8% | 92.8% |
| Max Discharge Power | 5.0 kW | 10.0 kW |
| Round Trip Efficiency | Not specified | Not specified |
| IP Rating | IP65 | IP65 |
| Cooling Method | Natural Convection | Natural Convection |
| Installation | Floor-mounted | Floor-mounted |
| Operating Temp (Charge) | 0°C to 50°C | 0°C to 50°C |
| Operating Temp (Discharge) | -10°C to 50°C | -10°C to 50°C |
| Weight (kg) | 110kg | 212kg |
Pros and Cons of SOFAR Battery
| Pros | Cons |
| ✓ Affordable upfront cost per kWh installed | ✗ No fire suppression or safety system |
| ✓ Modular design – easy to scale between 5–20kWh | ✗ No AC-coupled option; only works with Sofar inverters |
| ✓ IP65 rating – suitable for outdoor installs (if shaded) | ✗ Limited track record in Australia, first approved in 2023 |
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
Since 2008 our knowledge and sophisticated software has allowed over 300,000 Australian households and businesses to make a well-informed choice on their solar & battery installer.
Reviews from Australians who have installed Sofar Batteries
It’s not the top of the class but it does a great job haven’t had any problems and it works great
Review left 2 years after system installed
Good looking wall mounted battery and has a screen aswell to show how much power we have and during the latest blackout we had continued power supply. Only thing I didnt like is the stickers they have to put on them
10 kW, 6,000 cycles, after nearly 3 months I can see the savings on my power bills already.
