7 Best Solar Generators of 2024, Practical Reviews

What are Solar Generators?

Solar generators are, basically, no different from any other electric generator. They store electricity for use when you need it so that you always have access to power, as long as you have access to sunshine.

In most Australian winters (the least sunny time of year) they will charge up in about twelve hours, and offer over 1000 Watt hours of use. Watt hours don’t translate to use time, and every tool, machine, or gadget you plug in will have different energy ratings, and each will use more or fewer watts – more on working that out later.

How Do Solar Generators Work

Solar generators plug into solar panels (often included with your generator) that fold out, or mount onto walls or vehicles to get the most sunshine they can. As the panels heat up, that solar energy is converted into electricity, which is stored in a battery – usually a lithium-ion or lithium iron phosphate battery. 

Those rechargeable batteries have long lives and can be used and re-used almost indefinitely, meaning you can run everything from fridges to phone chargers, depending on the size of the solar generator you buy.

What to Look for When Buying a Solar Generator

There’s no revolutionary type of solar generator that truly breaks the mould, but there are a few that stand out for their efficiency, and manufacturing standards.

When it comes to finding the best solar generators though, that makes it really quite simple, because you’re not split between different types of solar generators, and instead just have to understand the energy ratings, and how they work to find the best solar generator for you.

Peak wattage, kilowatt hours or watt-hours, and the differences between lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate batteries. It’s a lot to take in, especially if you’re not fluent in the language of electricity.

So, let’s help break down the jargon around solar generators, because, once you know, it’s so much easier to find the right generator for you.

Peak wattage

Peak wattage is a simple term. It literally just means that that’s the maximum amount of power you can call on from the generator at any one time. It does NOT mean that that’s the maximum amount of energy storage available.

So if a generator has a peak wattage of 200W that means that it can handle a surge in energy up to 200W without breaking. It’s also not a guide though. If your generator has a peak wattage of 200W, you should probably limit the output to about 150W-180W at any one time.

Kilowatt-hours (kWh)

Kilowatt hours, also shown as watt-hours, are a guide to how long your generator will run, depending on the tools you plug into it.

For example, charging a phone uses about 5 watts, and takes about an hour (5 watt hours, or 0.005 kilowatt hours). If your solar generator has a life of 1152Wh (1.152kWh), then it can charge your phone 230 times from a single solar charge.

Obviously, there are things that will affect that, and more powerful tools will use much more energy, but if you think of that as your basic gauge, you can work out watt hours or kilowatt hours needed, based on the tools you’re most likely to use.

In terms of larger appliances, if you need to run a fridge, for example, a typical fridge freezer uses about 2kWh per day, so you’d need a generator with at least 2000wH, or 2kWh to run a fridge reliably for 24 hours.

Sockets and charging ports

You shouldn’t have any problems finding Australian sockets, because most solar generators are adapted to the country they’re sold in, but make sure you double-check the socket type before buying any generator.

When it comes to the bells and whistles of solar generators, you can find generators with USB sockets, shaver sockets, and all sorts of adapters. The amount of sockets doesn’t change the power outputs available, so make sure you stick to the maximum output of your generator, regardless of how many sockets and USB ports that are available.

Solar panels, size, and efficiency

Solar panels are not sold as standard with solar generators, but they are essential. Most solar generators can be charged from domestic sockets too, but they are best used with solar panels to make the most of their green credentials.

Bigger doesn’t always mean better with solar panels, less efficient, larger solar panels are cheaper than a smaller more energy-efficient solar panel. 

Lithium-ion Vs Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries

Perhaps the most important consideration with any new electric generator is its battery type. Lithium-ion batteries are easier to recycle, but they have risks attached, can overheat, and do have as many re-charging cycles as lithium iron phosphate batteries.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries last up to five times longer than lithium-ion batteries and are much less likely to overheat if they are overcharged, or over-worked.

How to Use a Solar Generator

Almost all solar generators are designed to be charged, then used, not used while charging, but if you’re using a very small device that uses less power than the panel is currently bringing it, they can be used while charging.

It might sound complicated, but basically, on a very sunny day, you can charge a phone, or run a low-powered tool while the generator is charging, but if the output exceeds the input it will simply shut down.

Once fully charged, it’s much easier to use your solar generator. Simply turn it on, keep it dry, and plugin.

1. BLUETTI AC180 Solar Generator 1152 Watt-hours

BLUETTI are a relatively new brand, but they’re an exceptionally good one too, showing that generators don’t need to cost your wallet or the climate. OK, so it’s not cheap, but good generators rarely are, and this solar generator packs everything you could possibly want, with all the sockets you need.

With a simple solar panel plugged in, it can charge up to full charge in as little as 2.8 hours in good conditions (or 1.3 hours on mains electricity). That full charge of 1152 watt-hours can easily run tools or gadgets for weeks at a time.

2. BLUETTI EP500Pro Solar Generator 3000 Watts

One of the most expensive domestic solar generators on the market, but also one of the best, is BLUETTI’s solar power station, with a whopping 5100Wh, which is enough to run a fridge freezer for 48 hours, with over 1000 watt hours to spare. 

If you’re buying a generator to run events, manage a building site, or as a fail-safe for your home, you don’t need to worry about the environmental harm of petrol or diesel generators anymore.

Not when BLUETTI is offering these modern, convenient, and safe, energy storage units.

3. GENPOWER PX8000 500W/1000W Solar Generator 

The bigger Genpower solar generator, with 615-watt hours, is a touch more expensive than its compact brother, but it’s definitely worth the extra spend, for the higher power, high outputs, and convenience of a long-lasting charge.

The folding solar panels are really simple to set up and can be placed literally anywhere, with a convenient folding stand, so you can face them directly towards the sun at any time of day.

4. GENPOWER PX5000 300W/600W Solar Generator 

Genpower is a reliable and long-standing generator brand, branching out to solar energy. They know what makes a good generator, and they know how to build one.

Their 600W generator might not have the best charge, but it comes with a folding solar panel as standard charges in as little as an hour and can run most building tools for over an hour, making it an ideal small generator for construction or outdoor work.

5. EF ECOFLOW RIVER EFD310 Portable Power Station 1200 watts

If you’re after a compact solar generator for camping, then you really can’t do much better than the EF Ecoflow River. Its 288-watt hours aren’t exactly mind-blowing, but it’s more than enough to run a camping fridge, beer cooler, fans, or phone chargers for a day or two, and it barely takes up any space.

288Wh, for reference a smallish 24-inch TV used about 24 watts per hour, so you could (for example) watch a full ten hours of TV while camping… How's that for creature comforts!

6. Jackery JSG-0510A Solar Generator 500 100W 

Jackery’s solar generator is slow charging, but it comes with a purpose built folding solar panel, to charge up as an emergency outlet, and thanks to its tiny size, it can be stored in the boot of your car for emergencies all year round.

Remember too, that the price includes a folding solar panel, so while it’s not the most powerful generator for your money, you’ll save a bundle on the essential extras.

7. ROCKSOLAR RS81 Ultra-Lightweight Portable Power Station 88 Watt-hours

Rocksolar’s 88 Watt hour solar generator is low-powered, slow charging, and doesn’t come with a solar panel. On paper, that sounds like a pretty poor investment, but it’s actually still well worth the money.

Remember that solar generators are still a relatively new piece of kit for domestic use, so finding any in this sort of price range is pretty incredible. Yes, you’re compromising on capability and capacity, but it’s a perfectly good basic solar generator that could get you out of a tricky situation.

BLUETTI’s portable power station is good value, well made, and reliable. There’s not much more to it than that. But, this is a review, so let’s spill some details.

BLUETTI are a newcomer to the market, but they’re breaking down barriers quickly, and making sure that anyone who would have bought a diesel generator thinks twice, thanks to their powerful, rapid charging, generators that can run 1152 watt hours of electricity from a compact generator with a safe battery.

If you want to step up, and take the risk of power cuts out of the picture, this home generator from BLUETTI can run the essential appliances in your house for around 48 hours. It’s compact, easy to store, and virtually silent when it’s running, other than a few small cooling fans.

Like most BLUETTI generators, it doesn’t come with a solar panel, but they can be picked up quite cheaply, or, you can even charge it from your mains sockets in under two hours.

Also, check out the Bluetti AC200P Portable Power Station which we had a chance to review comprehensively. 

Genpower’s 500W generator (with 1000W surge) holds a charge equivalent to 615 watt hours. OK, so it’s not huge, but it’s enough to run chargers, portable fridges, or beer coolers for a few hours, or provide some creatures comforts while camping, and at a fraction of the price of most high-powered solar generators, it’s a great way to get in on the solar generator game.

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Generators

Can a solar generator power a house?

Solar generators can power your whole house, but it depends on one key factor - Watt-hours. Also given as Kilowatt hours, Watt hours are the measure of how many hours your machine can run tools that require 1 watt per hour.

It’s a guide, not a rule, as most tools and gadgets require a minimum or 5-watts per hour.

Is it worth getting a solar generator?

It is definitely worth getting a solar generator. Even if they are currently more expensive than diesel or petrol generators, their power source is free, so there’s no need to buy diesel, or petrol to power them.

They’re also quiet, which is a big, and welcome difference, from traditional gas generators.

What will a 1000 watt solar generator run?

A 1000 watt solar generator will run fridges, CPAP machines, laptops, phones, etc. You could potentially charge your phone once a day for two years on a single fully charged 1000W generator, or a fridge for 12 hours. 

What are the disadvantages of solar generators?

The key disadvantage of solar generators is that they rely almost entirely on the availability of sunlight. In Australia, even in winter, most solar generators will charge in a few hours, but on very overcast days, it can be difficult to charge up as quickly as you might like.

What size solar generator do I need to power a house?

In the case of a complete power outage, it is useful to have a solar generator ready-charged, but you’ll need to make sure it’s at least 1000W. However, 2000W would give you peace of mind that you could run most essential appliances for up to 24 hours.

How many years will a solar generator last?

Solar generators will typically last for about 10-20 years. It’s a big window, but that’s because the way you treat them, store them, and how often they are recharged will massively increase or reduce their lifespan. 

Can you overcharge a solar generator?

Like any battery, you can over-charge a solar generator. However, generators will stop charging when they reach capacity, and there is no imminent danger. The problem is that overcharging, or keeping an unused generator connected to active solar panels, will reduce its long-term battery life.

This is the same as leaving phones and laptops on charge longer than they need.

Looking for more options? Check out our detailed guide on different types of portable generators.