As more and more storage companies enter the market, you might be finding it difficult to keep up with what’s out there – and as supply chain constraints and raw material shortages continue, it’s more important than ever to understand what’s available! FNS Power, a battery manufacturer based in China, has been around for over 30 years, entering the U.S. market five years ago. We sat down with FNS Power to learn more about their company, the products they offer, and their advice to those shopping for storage. Find out what solar + storage costs in your area in 2023
An overview of FNS Power
[ES] Tell us more about FNS Power – what’s your background? When and why did you enter the storage industry?
[FNS] FNS Power is a fully owned subsidiary of Sacred Sun, which has been manufacturing batteries for over 30 years.
[ES] Why did you decide to launch in the U.S.?
[FNS] FNS Power was launched in the U.S. in 2017 and registered in the U.S. as Sacred Sun North America in 2021. We knew the demand of solar and energy storage in the U.S. and knew that we could offer a competitive and reliable home energy storage system that could benefit both installers and homeowners.
[ES] What’s FNS Power’s mission?
[FNS] With over 30 years of manufacturing experience, our objective is to support a low carbon economy and facilitate 100 percent renewable energy by delivering safe, clean, and reliable products at an affordable price.
Product offerings
[ES] Tell us about the products you offer.
[FNS] We offer:
LFP Battery modules – around 5 kWh (kilowatt-hour) increments low voltage or high voltage.
Pre-wired Battery Banks – 9.6/14.4 and 19.2 kWh.
Fully integrated Energy Storage System:
6 kilowatt (kW) Hybrid inverter with a 9.6 or 14.4 kWh battery bank.
8 or 12 kW Hybrid inverter with a 19.2 kWh battery bank.
[ES] What’s the capacity range of your batteries? How many batteries can you stack in a single system?
[FNS] The capacity range of FNS batteries is 5 kWh to 150 kWh – you can stack 32 modules in parallel in a single system.
[ES] What inverters work with FNS Power batteries?
[FNS] Our batteries are fully compatible with Sol-Ark, Schneider, Growatt and Victron inverters for closed-loop communication (i.e., the inverter provides information to the battery if the voltage is too low or if it’s being overcharged). For open-loop communication, our batteries can be matched with any 48V inverter that’s available on the market (Outback, SMA, Magnum etc.)
[ES] Can you add a FNS Power battery to an existing solar panel system?
[FNS] Yes, you can. As long as you have the right inverter, our batteries can be added to an existing system as either AC- or DC- coupled.
[ES] Supply chain constraints have hit the storage industry hard – how has FNS Power coped? Do you currently have products in stock?
[FNS] Yes, there have been a lot of changes in the past 12 months with supply chain constraints, as well as shortages in raw materials. As a result, our pricing has increased a little, but we are still very competitive compared to other battery manufacturers. We try to keep our two U.S. warehouses stocked up with product, and currently we have stock in both warehouses.
Owning a FNS Power battery
[ES] What does your warranty cover? Are things like labor and shipping included?
[FNS] Our warranty is a 10-year limited warranty, meaning we warrant our batteries for 10 years or 6,000 cycles at 80% depth of discharge (DoD). Our warranty does not cover labor and shipping.
[ES] What’s your monitoring system like?
[FNS] Our FNS Batteries have their own battery management system (BMS) software HMI, that monitors cell level and module level voltage, current, state of charge, state of health, temperature, and alarm. The batteries can be connected to any computer, and with the BMS software installed, these readings can be easily read within seconds. This enables installers to do any fault finding, updates, or just close monitoring of each battery module.
For Homeowners, the installed inverter has its own web-based or APP based monitoring system for monitoring the grid, solar, battery and load.
[ES] How are your battery owners able to remotely control their systems? What does this entail exactly?
[FNS] Battery owners can remotely control or monitor their system through the inverter APP or web-based portal. The BMS communicates with the inverter for all the necessary information. Two monitoring systems are not needed for homeowners, and the inverter APP is all that’s required to see the grid, solar, battery and load charging and discharging information.
Advice for storage shoppers
[ES] In your opinion, why should storage shoppers choose FNS Power batteries over others available on the market?
[FNS] Our parent company has been around for more than 30 years manufacturing batteries. We have a strong backing to support your company for years to come. We offer solid, reliable, and long-lasting batteries with friendly and local support. Our pricing is also on average 30-40 percent less than other battery manufacturers, which enables a higher return on investment (ROI) for installers and a more affordable solution for homeowners.
[ES] Do you have any advice for those shopping for storage? What do consumers not ask about storage products and options that they should?
[FNS] There are a lot of battery manufacturers out there in today’s market, with new ones appearing monthly. Our advice for homeowners is to do your homework on the company that is manufacturing them. Are they a third-party company, or the actual manufacturers? Do they have local U.S. support, or are they solely based overseas? This will determine how much support you will get when you need it and if they will be around in 5-10 years when you might need them for warranty purposes.
Our company has been around for 32 years manufacturing and supplying batteries all over the world. We have a strong and reliable backing to support you and your company, with 24/7 local US support.
We don’t just sell batteries and energy storage systems; we also want to help your company grow and succeed. We are also passionate about making this world a little greener!
Compare your solar-plus-storage options on EnergySage
Interested in FNS Power batteries, or other solar battery options? On the EnergySage Marketplace, you can receive up to seven custom solar-plus-storage quotes from local installers. The quotes you receive will include information about the proposed solar equipment, system design, financing, battery details, and more. If you want to install a specific battery–like FNS Power batteries–simply note it in your account so installers can provide a quote with that equipment.