If you've started shopping for a solar system in Kenya, you've almost certainly encountered two battery technologies: LiFePO4 and lead acid. Both store energy, but they behave very differently — and the right choice depends on your budget, load, and how long you want the battery to last.
LiFePO4 — the modern standard
LiFePO4 is the technology inside almost every quality solar storage product on the market today, including Solarlux-recommended brands like Felicity Solar and Hinen.
- Cycle life: 3,000–6,000 full charge cycles (8–15 years typical)
- Depth of discharge: 80–90% usable capacity
- Efficiency: 95–98% round-trip
- Maintenance: Zero — fully sealed
- Cost: Higher upfront, significantly lower cost-per-cycle
Lead acid — the established option
Flooded lead acid (FLA) and AGM batteries have been used in solar systems for decades. They're cheaper upfront, widely available, and well understood.
- Cycle life: 300–700 full cycles (2–5 years at 50% DoD)
- Depth of discharge: 50% usable capacity
- Efficiency: 70–85% round-trip
- Temperature: Performance drops significantly above 35°C
- Cost: Lower upfront, higher cost-per-cycle over time
True cost comparison: A 200Ah LiFePO4 at KES 60,000 lasting 10 years = KES 16/day. A 200Ah AGM at KES 25,000 lasting 3 years = KES 23/day — 44% more expensive per day of use.
Which should you choose?
For any new installation in 2025 and beyond, we recommend LiFePO4 for almost all residential and commercial projects. The upfront cost difference has narrowed significantly, and the total cost of ownership advantage is now compelling.
