[sam_goody]

I assume this is like Tesla PowerWall which is sold by SolarCity together with their panels?

Can knowledgeable HNers tell me, as I am actually in the market now for such a system and Tesla doesn't ship to my corner of Europe, what sort of battery should I be looking for (Litium, deep cell, etc.)? What software and hardware do I need? Is there some sort of solar panel I should be looking for? Are there any companies that sell a good unit that the local electrician could install?

[beAbU]

I recently installed a full-house solar and backup power solution at home. It cost a lot of money but the peace of mind I have now is priceless. My country's electrical grid is falling apart, on some days we have up to 10 hours of no electricity, and this year alone we've had at least a 2 hour power outage every day.

Bottom line, it's quite expensive, and surprisingly complex to plan and spec out. It's nearly impossible to advise on the questions you asked without more information.

My suggestion is find a local installer and work with them. This is not something you DIY and the experts know what's available and what works best in your location.

Bottom line: - Powerwall is quite overpriced for what you actually get I believe. - This lunar product is most definitely going to be overpriced for what you are going to get. - Don't waste your money on any lead-acid based battery systems. Lithium tech has become cheap enough that even in my shitty 3rd world African country nobody is selling anything but Lithium any more. Longevity is so much better than lead-acid that it can't even be compared.

I'm not sure where exactly in Europe you are but have a look at Sunsynk's line of products. They manufacture and sell inverters and batteries and are Chinese/UK based. Their CEO/Figurehead is UK, so I would imagine they have reasonably good penetration in Europe by now.