Enphase shipping its 1st commercial batteries in 2027

Enphase Energy has opened pre-orders for its first commercial battery storage system, the IQ Battery C80. This is a large-scale battery, not the kind made for a typical single-family home. It stores 80 kilowatt-hours of energy and is built for multifamily buildings and larger commercial properties, with two versions: one for smaller multifamily or small-commercial sites, and a bigger one for large commercial or industrial buildings.

The system pairs solar panels with battery storage using an all-AC design, meaning it skips some of the extra equipment (central inverters, high-voltage DC wiring) that other battery setups need. It can also connect to non-Enphase inverters, so it could work as an add-on for existing solar systems. The battery can scale up from 80 kilowatt-hours to 2 megawatt-hours for bigger projects, and it's built to support "virtual power plant" programs, where batteries in a building can send power back to the grid at times of high demand. It includes safety features like fire detection and an automatic shutoff to guard against overheating.

For most homeowners, this announcement doesn't apply directly, since it's aimed at apartment buildings and commercial sites rather than single homes. It's worth knowing about mainly if you own or manage a multifamily property. Enphase says the batteries will be made in U.S. factories and come with a 15-year warranty, with shipments expected to begin in the first half of 2027.