Choosing the right components for your solar energy system is crucial for maximising efficiency, reliability, and overall performance. With a large variety of products and brands available in the UK, Sunsynk and Givenergy have both become prominent household contenders thanks to their innovative solutions.
In this blog post, we will explore the key factors that differentiate the Sunsynk and Givenergy product range. From product features, performance and compatibility to customer reviews and cost considerations, we’ll provide an in-depth comparison to help you make an informed decision for your solar energy project. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to go solar or a business owner seeking to enhance sustainability, understanding the main differences between Sunsynk and Givenergy will help you on your solar journey in choosing the best-fit solution for your specific energy needs. Join us as we unravel the Sunsynk vs. Givenergy debate and empower your solar journey
Sunsynk or Givenergy Inverters
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| Single Phase Hybrid Inverters Sizes | 3.6kW 5.5kW 8.8kW 16kW | 3.6kW 5kW |
| Start Up Voltage | 125V | 150V |
| Max PV Efficiency | 97.6% | 97.6% |
| Max Charge/Discharge | Only Limited to the Size of The Inverter i.e the 8.8kW model can provide 8.8W Charge/Discharge and Battery Capacity | 3.3kW/3.6kW |
| Number of MPPT Trackers | 3.6kW - 2 MPPT Trackers 5.5kW -2 MPPT Trackers 8.8kW -2 MPPT Trackers 16kW -3 MPPT Trackers | 2 MPPT Trackers |
| IP Rating | IP65 | IP65 |
| Max DC Power | 3.6kW - 7kWp 5.5kW - 6.5kWp 8.8kW - 10.4kWp 16kW - 20.8kWp | 7.5kWp |
| Warranty | 5 Years | 12 Years |
| Battery Compatibility | Lead-acid or Li-lon | Givenergy LiFeP04 Only |
| Monitoring | Sunsynk Connect | Givenergy Monitoring |
| Protection | - DC Reverse Polarity Protection - PV Arc Fault Detection - PV Input Lightning Protection - Anti-islanding Protection - PV String Input Insulation Resistor Detection - Residual Current Monitoring - Output Over Current Protection - Output Shorted Protection - Surge protection | - DC Reverse Polarity Protection - DC Switch Rating for each MPPT - Output Overcurrent Protection - Output Overvoltage Protection - Ground Fault Monitoring - Grid Monitoring - Earth Leakage Current Monitoring |
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Inverter Usability Screen
Setting Sunsynk apart from many other solar inverter brands, including Givenergy, is the inclusion of a vibrant colour touch-screen LCD display. This feature offers a comprehensive overview of your system, presenting real-time data such as a flow chart, solar generation, grid power, battery status, and more.
While most homeowners are accustomed to using a solar monitoring app to manage their solar PV system, Sunsynk offers an additional point of feedback with its user-friendly touch-screen display. In a comparison of monitoring platforms, the Sunsynk Connect app boasts a user rating of 3.4 out of 470 online reviews, surpassing the Givenergy app’s average rating of 2.85 from the same number of online reviews.
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Inverter Versatility
While both Givenergy and Sunsynk inverters are capable of accommodating a solar array up to twice their rated size, Sunsynk emerges as the superior choice when it comes down to significantly larger solar panel installations.
Although, Givenergy’s 3.6kW and 5kW Gen 3 inverters can handle a maximum of 7.5kWp DC power, larger arrays may experience clipping during peak generation periods in the summer months. With Sunsynk offering a wider range of inverter sizes, including the new 16kW Single-phase hybrid inverter, Sunsynk inverters can meet higher energy demands of up to 20.8kW domestically, accommodating for 3 MPPT strings and handling a maximum of 17.6kW of AC Power in off-grid scenarios.
Sunsynk also provides a more sophisticated commissioning process, wherein your installer will remotely set the battery parameters, charge and discharge rates, define the depth of discharge, and specify the number of batteries in your system over the phone. In contrast to Givenergy’s plug-and-play approach, Sunsynk empowers homeowners with greater control over their system. Moreover, in terms of compatibility, Sunsynk inverters not only handle larger capacities of solar but also offer superior communication capabilities, especially when installing multiple inverters in parallel.
WINNER SUNSYNK
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Inverter INputs
At the rear of a Sunsynk Inverter, you’ll find three connection ports: one for your load/off-grid, one for grid connection, and an In/Out Auxiliary port. The versatile Auxiliary port serves multiple functions, enabling homeowners to connect a generator for off-grid support or link a hot water tank directly. With this setup, your system efficiently diverts excess power to automatically heat your water appliances, leveraging power-shaving to use Solar PV to heat your water when your batteries have reached their maximum capacity. This results in Zero Export and maximises your solar savings.
By directly hardwiring your hot water tank into your Sunsynk inverter, you eliminate the need for external immersion diverters like the myenergi eddi. This is just one of the many ways you can reduce energy bills with solar panels. Choosing a Sunsynk inverter offers numerous advantages over a Givenergy Inverter, and this integration showcases its versatility and cost-saving potential.
WINNER SUNSYNK
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Off-Grid Capabilities
Some home or business owners who live in remote locations, where schedules power outages and poor grid stability is common, may see off-grid capabilities as a key deciding factor. Sunsynk inverters have multiple operating modes, including: Grid-tie only, Hybrid, Off-grid and Battery only, and is overall well-known for its off-grid capabilities, hence why they are so popular in South Africa, where Load-Shedding is common. Even in off-grid mode a Sunsynk system can generate DC power via solar panels, wind turbines a connected generator, or use any energy stored within your battery to power the homes demand.
One notable feature of Sunsynk systems is their capability to provide an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), activating instantaneously upon detecting a grid loss. On the other hand, Givenergy offers an Emergency Power Supply (EPS) Solution, which involves a changeover that is not instantaneous. In contrast, the Givenergy All In One Battery, in partnership with their solar Gateway, has a 20ms changeover time. Whilst there really isn’t much in it, a quick transition is particularly crucial for households with connected computers, servers, or medical equipment.
While the new AC Coupled Givenergy AIO ensures complete home backup through its gateway, implementing an EPS with the Givenergy hybrid solution requires the installation of a contact or manual changeover switch, a maintain board, along with the use of Load-shedding. This board limits the power usage during EPS mode, dependent on the inverter size. For instance, a 5kW hybrid Givenergy inverter supports only 21 amps of power during off-grid operation, allowing selected circuits power during grid failure. Whereas with a Sunsyunk off-grid solution you can have full home backup power. This is due to the inverters rated output voltage.
Both Givenergy and Sunsynk hybrid solutions necessitate switch gear installation by the installer. However, the Givenergy AIO distinguishes itself by offering full home backup through its companion, the Givenergy gateway. The Giv-Gateway simplifies and streamlines the EPS installation process, making it less technically challenging for installers, saving on installation time and therefore making it more cost-effective for customers.
WINNER – YOU DECIDE
Sunsynk or Givenergy Batteries
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| Battery Capacities | 3.00kWh 5.32kWh (Wall Mounted) 5.32kWh (Racked) 5.10kWh | 2.6kWh 5.2kWh 8.2kWh 9.5kWh 13.5kWh (AC Coupled) |
| Maximum Storage Capacity | 3.00 kWh - 4 Per Inverter (12kWh) 5.32 kWh Wall Mounted - 16 Per Inverter (85.12kWh) 5.32 kWh Racked - 8 Per Inverter (42.56kWh) 5.10 kWh - 32 Per Inverter (163.8kWh) | 2.6 kWh - 5 Per Inverter (13kWh) 5.2 kWh - 5 Per Inverter (26kWh) 8.2 kWh - 5 Per Inverter (41kWh) 9.5 kWh - 5 Per Inverter (47.5kWh) 13.5 kWh (AC Coupled) - PENDING 6 Per Inverter (81kWh) |
| Depth of Discharge (DoD) | 3.00 kWh - 90% 5.32 kWh Wall Mounted - 80% 5.32 kWh Racked - 80% 5.10 kWh - 90% | 2.6 kWh - 80% 5.2 kWh - 80% 8.2 kWh - 100% 9.5 kWh - 100% 13.5 kWh (AC Coupled) - 100% |
| Max Charge/Discharge Rate | 3.00 kWh - 60A 5.32 kWh Wall Mounted - 5kW 5.32 kWh Racked - 5kW 5.10 kWh - 100 A | 2.6 kWh, 5.2 kWh, 8.2 kWh, 9.5 kWh - 3.3kW/3.6kW 13.5 kWh (AC Coupled) - 6kW (30s at 6.5kW, 10s at 7.2kW) |
| Battery Compatibility | Lead-acid or Li-lon | Givenergy LiFeP04 Only |
| IP Rating | 3.00 kWh - IP65 5.32 kWh Wall Mounted - IP20 5.32 kWh Racked - IP20 5.10 kWh - IP65 | IP65 |
| Cell Technology | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Monitoring | Sunsynk Connect 3.4 Stars from almost 500 Reviews | Givenergy Monitoring 2.85 Stars from almost 500 Reviews |
| Warranty | 5 Years | 12 Years |
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Battery Cell Quality
While Givenergy and Sunsynk batteries both leverage advanced LiFePO4 prismatic cell technology, it’s worth noting that Sunsynk batteries utilise CATL battery cells. CATL is renowned for producing some of the most efficient battery cells available today, serving as the source manufacturer for leading automotive brands such as Tesla and BMW. When choosing the best solar battery for your solar panel system, life expectancy and longevity of the battery matters. By choosing to install Sunsynk batteries, you are guaranteeing a better quality of battery cells, which is vital as batteries are now expected to do more than ever.
WINNER SUNSYNK
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discharge rate
One of the main limitations of the Givenergy Hybrid Inverter range, is their charge/discharge rate. Whilst a Givenergy Gen 3 Hybrid Inverter can discharge 5kW of solar to your home, the battery can only charge and discharge at a 3.6kW rate. In comparison, as Sunsynk manufactures bidirectional inverters, which use the power of the inverter in reverse to charge the battery, they can charge and discharge batteries at the same rated power as the inverter. This makes Sunsynk ideal for grid charging, enabling users to fast-charge their battery storage during off-peak hours to use late when the price of electricity peaks.
Whilst the AC Coupled Givenergy all-in-one battery system does offer a competitive 6kW Discharge rate, as the Sunsynk inverter range offers a 8kW Hybrid Inverter domestically, they can offer homeowners a massive continuous output power of 8kW.
Therefore if you have a large demand or high base load in your home and considering a Sunsynk or Givenergy system, Sunsynk is the right option for you.
WINNER SUNSYNK
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Battery Compatibility
While Givenergy provides the flexibility of pairing various capacity modules within its battery system, Sunsynk takes compatibility to a broader level by seamlessly integrating with multiple brands. In contrast to Givenergy, Sunsynk inverters demonstrate compatibility with a diverse range of solar batteries, including Pylontech,Solax, Alpha Ess and Dyness to name a few. As Sunsynk Hybrid Inverters support both lithium and AGM batteries, this versatility allows you to tailor your choice of accompanying battery to your budget and specific requirements.
WINNER SUNSYNK
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Battery flexibility
Givenergy provides a diverse array of battery storage sizes, offering modules ranging from 2.6kWh to 13.5kWh. The UK company even caters to homeowners with existing solar panels through its Givenergy All In One AC Coupled Battery Solution, enabling battery storage to be added retrospectively.
WINNER GIVENERGY
With Givenergy’s DC Coupled battery range, users can achieve a maximum storage capacity of 47.5kWh per inverter. In comparison, Sunsynk boasts an impressive maximum storage capacity of 163.8kWh, although installations exceeding 20kWh of battery storage are uncommon in domestic settings.
WINNER SUNSYNK
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Works With Octopus Energy
Givenergy stands out among the select few brands which officially “Works with Octopus”. This sought-after badge signifies the seamless integration between Givenergy’s battery range and Octopus Energy tariffs, making home energy management simple. With a direct API link to Octopus and real-time energy prices, Givenergy empowers homeowners to effortlessly capitalise on cost-saving opportunities.
But that’s not all, Givenergy is also the exclusive battery brand compatible with Octopus Energy’s latest game-changing tariff Intelligent Octopus Flux. This innovative tariff promises to maximise the benefits of solar panels and battery storage, offering potential annual savings of over £450. With symmetrical rates for importing and exporting electricity, customers enjoy optimal pricing without the need for manual programming of their batteries.
While Octopus Energy explores compatibility with other solar battery brands, Givenergy remains the sole brand currently supported by the Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff. Whilst you can schedule force charging from the Grid from a Sunsynk system, it requires manual scheduling, making Givenergy the more user-friendly solution.
WINNER GIVENERGY
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Warranty
When it comes down to product warranty, Givenergy are currently offering a market-leading 12 years warranty of both their inverters and battery storage options. This shows the confidence Givenergy places in their products. Nevertheless, in order for your warranty to be valid for 12 Years, you must get your system health checked by an approved Givenergy installer on year 5, year 8 and year 10, which requires additional costs.
If you’re based in the UK your Sunsynk products are automatically covered under warranty, with a standard 5 years of warranty provided for both Sunsynk batteries and inverters. There is also an option to purchase a 10 year warranty period at an extra fee.
WINNER GIVENERGY
The Final Verdict on Sunsynk vs Givenergy
The choice between Sunsynk and Givenergy ultimately boils down to individual priorities. If you prioritise advanced inverter technology, larger system capacities, and precise control over system parameters, Sunsynk emerges as the leading option. Additionally, if you have a high demand or substantial base load in your home, and are considering full EPS backup, Sunsynk should be your go-to choice as it offers superior UPS support.
On the other hand, if supporting a UK brand and prioritising warranty coverage and automated grid charging with smart tariffs like Octopus Flux are your main considerations, then when it comes to Sunsynk vs Givenergy, Givenergy is your best bet.
Both Sunsynk and Givenergy are highly regarded solar PV systems here at Deege Solar. As certified installers for both brands, we can assure you that you won’t be disappointed with either system. We always recommend consulting with an energy advisor to determine which solar panel system best suits your requirements.
If you’re a UK homeowner considering installing a Sunsynk or Givenergy system, don’t hesitate to contact our installation team today at 01322 479369 or click the “Enquire Now” button to discuss your options further.
