When the grid goes down, your home stays on.
A whole-home solar battery switches on automatically when the grid fails, and your panels recharge it each day. Pick what you'd want to keep running:
Most solar shuts off when the grid goes down. Yours doesn't have to.
Grid-tied solar without a battery switches off during an outage — even in full sun. A home battery keeps your power flowing.
We install turn-key backup from FranklinWH and Enphase Energy. Systems switch to battery power automatically — usually fast enough that you'll barely notice — and they're reliable, easy to maintain, and warrantied for 15 years. No fuel, no noise, no fumes.
Benefits of battery backup
Energy security on your terms — whether you want to protect the essentials or run your whole home through an outage.
Power through any outage
Keep your critical loads — or your whole home — running during storms, grid failures, and blackouts.
Recharges from your solar
Your panels refill the battery by day while powering your home, so essentials can ride out long outages.
Automatic switchover
Seamless transfer from grid to backup power in milliseconds — no switches to flip, no starting up.
Add to existing solar
Already have panels? FranklinWH works with any inverter, so you can add modern backup to your current system.
Silent & fuel-free
No fuel to store, no fumes, no roar in the yard at 2am. Just clean, quiet power when you need it.
15-year warranty
FranklinWH and Enphase batteries use safe LFP chemistry and are warrantied for 15 years of dependable service.
Complete energy security
Modern home batteries like the FranklinWH aPower 2 back up a full 200A panel with just one or two units — enough to comfortably run most homes.
- Seamless backup — no generator noise or fuel
- Powers heavy loads like AC & water heaters
- 15 kWh & 10 kW per aPower 2 battery
- Works with new or existing solar
- Optional SPAN Smart Panel for circuit control
- Add generator support for extended outages
Frequently asked questions
Can I power my whole home with batteries?
We can provide power to your entire existing 200A main panel during an outage, but it's important to minimize usage — the batteries may drain quicker than expected. Some loads may not run at all, like heat pumps or EV chargers.
While it's usually not an issue to start larger loads, running heat pumps & ACs may drain batteries more than desired. We usually recommend removing any heavy loads from the backed-up panel.
I have a 400A service. Can I back up both panels?
Technically yes — but 90% of the time it makes more sense to back up one panel and shift non-essential loads into the other 200A panel.
Battery backup equipment is made for 200A panels, so backing up both would need two completely separate systems (double the electrical work, batteries, and solar). In most cases the cost outweighs the benefits.
Should I get a generator instead?
Generators can be a cheaper alternative that provides a lot of power for a relatively short period. Solar batteries are great at providing a smaller amount of energy over an extended period.
For extended outages, solar paired with a home battery is often the best path to peace of mind. And if you want complete energy security, you can add a generator into the mix with the FranklinWH system.
How long do batteries last?
Actual lifespan depends on proper system design and usage, but FranklinWH & Enphase batteries are both warrantied for 15 years and use safe LFP chemistry.
I have existing solar. Can I add batteries?
Yes! The FranklinWH battery is designed for customers with existing solar systems. It works with any inverter — so if your home has an SMA, SolarEdge, Fronius, or another inverter, you can still get a modern battery-backup system.
Do you offer off-grid solutions?
We do not offer off-grid products or designs. All of our battery-backup systems are designed to work alongside the grid and provide temporary power during the days the grid is down.
Which is the best home battery for solar?
They're all good, but we're most excited about FranklinWH's aPower 2 — it does everything we want and adds generator support that actually works. If you already have an Enphase system, the IQ batteries are a great option and keep everything under one company & monitoring ecosystem.
Without a battery, will I still have power during the day?
If your solar system is grid-tied without a battery, it shuts off during an outage for safety — even if the sun is shining. Homes with battery storage stay powered using stored solar energy, so you always have electricity when you need it.
What our customers say
5.0 from 79 verified Google reviews · 100% 5-star"I looked at several solar providers but chose Virtue because they were low pressure, responsive, honest and local."
"I recommend Virtue, without reservation, as the best of all the local solar companies I've dealt with, by far."
"Peter and Matt were very helpful in getting my system designed for my needs. I can't stress enough how happy I am that a local company did such a superb job."
Local since 2015, serving Virginia
A small Charlottesville company that has powered 500+ Virginia homes. When you call, you reach the people who design, permit, and service your system — not a national call center.
- Charlottesville
- Albemarle Co.
- Richmond
- Henrico Co.
- Louisa - Fluvanna
- Augusta Co.
- Greene Co.
- And surrounding areas
Ready for backup power?
Tell us what you want to keep running and we'll size a battery system to match — no pressure, no obligation.
- Whole-home or essentials-only backup
- Automatic switchover in milliseconds
- FranklinWH & Enphase certified installer
- Works with new or existing solar