Vivint Solar LG Chem
Is This Your Business?Author: Kaitlyn Short
Vivint Solar falls under the Vivint company umbrella. Vivint, originally founded as APX Alarm in 1999, offered home security and automation solutions to homeowners. That initial operation has expanded to offer security services in a majority of the United States and Canada serving over 500,000 customers. In 2011, Vivint Solar was created as a way to provide a more simple and straightforward process for clients to access energy through solar alternatives.
While Vivint Solar is a subsidiary of Sunrun solar, the company is able to offer a number of different equipment products to its clients. This, of course, includes battery solutions. Vivint Solar has installed the LG Chem RESU system for a number of years and has recently been certified to also install the Tesla Powerwall. Vivint Solar specialists are available to help clients decide which solar battery will work best for their particular property.
The LG Chem RESU battery system is one of the most tried and tested solar battery systems on the market. LG has come out with a new battery model (LG RESU Prime), but Vivint Solar continues to install the original LG Chem RESU. The Vivint LG Chem RESU system is a DC solar battery system that can be mounted indoors or outdoors, on the floor, or it can be hung on a wall. The unit itself is more compact in size which allows for daily cycling of stored solar energy.
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The Good
- Extended Production Guarantee
- Financing Options
- Automatic Recharge
- Outage Protection and Limited Grid Reliance
Extended Production Guarantee
The best service provided by Vivint Solar when it comes to having the LG Chem RESU battery system installed is its industry leading production guarantee. When homeowners go through traditional battery manufacturers, the units are typically covered for an average of 10 years.
Through Vivint Solar, homeowners can rest assured that the LG Chem RESU system will produce as expected for 25 years. Not only will homeowners have access to a smart energy system, their financial investment is backed by an extended warranty not commonly found in the storage industry.
Financing Options
When a homeowner goes through a battery or storage manufacturer to purchase a system, there are tax incentive programs that are available to help reduce the initial upfront costs. However, those incentives continue to decrease while the prices for solar batteries continue to trend upwards. Even with a tax incentive, a solar battery can cost thousands and thousands of dollars depending on how many units are needed and what manufacturer a client goes through.
Vivint Solar has found a way to help homeowners stay within budget by providing a more cost-effective means to obtain solar batteries. Depending on a client’s financial situation, Vivint offers the following financing solutions:
- Solar PPA/lease — pay a fixed rate per kWh
- Solar loan — own, purchase, and then finance the system
- Solar cash purchase — buy the system in cash and own it outright
By offering financing options, Vivint Solar is helping clients that would not otherwise be able to afford the LG Chem RESU system access it in a budget-friendly manner.
Automatic Recharge
Each LG Chem RESU system installed by Vivint Solar has an automatic recharge feature. That means that the LG Chem RESU unit can keep appliances up and running for several days with energy provided directly by the solar batteries as they recharge naturally in sunlight. There is no need for a homeowner to constantly be monitoring and prioritizing the battery’s efforts and controls. When the utility grid goes down for whatever reason, the LG Chem RESU system will automatically switch on and start to send electricity to areas of the home automatically.
Outage Protection and Limited Grid Reliance
Many homeowners find out during a power outage that their backup generator simply does not provide the electricity desired. When Vivint Solar installs the LG Chem RESU battery unit, homeowners can continue to utilize their renewable energy produced by their installed solar system that can last through the night.
The LG Chem RESU system installed by Vivint Solar also allows homeowners to depend less on the traditional utility grid. Clients can avoid using utility grid energy during peak hours reducing monthly costs. Between a Vivint Solar system and an installed LG Chem RESU system, Vivint customers will have direct access to renewable energy, drastically reducing monthly energy costs.
The Bad
- Not Manufactured by Installation Company
- Limited Service Area
Not Manufactured by Installation Company
Unlike most battery units reviewed, the Vivint Solar battery solutions are not manufactured directly through Vivint. Instead, Vivint Solar is a licensed installer of the LG Chem RESU system.
There are a number of reasons this is a disadvantage. For starters, LG has the ability to continue to make advancements and improvements to its battery solutions. As a result, the global manufacturer has released a new battery storage model — the LG RESU Prime.
Vivint Solar still installs the older model, the LG Chem RESU. Homeowners that go directly through manufacturers can access the latest and greatest technology and then can locate an installation provider. Those that go through Vivint Solar are stuck with what the company is certified to install and has on hand.
Limited Service Area
Unlike the companies that manufacture battery systems, installation providers are limited in terms of areas serviced. Homeowners who go directly through a manufacturer and then find a local contractor to install the system will not have service area limitations.
However, clients who want to go through Vivint Solar should make sure that the company offers its solar installation services in their state. Currently, Vivint Solar will install solar battery units in the following states:
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Outside of these states, clients who want to access the LG Chem RESU system will have to go through an alternative installer as Vivint Solar only has operations in the states listed above.
The Bottom Line
Through Vivint Solar, homeowners can access the LG Chem RESU system. When Vivint installs the LG Chem RESU system, homeowners will enjoy an industry-leading extended production guarantee that lasts up to 25 years. To assist with hefty upfront financial requirements, Vivint Solar offers a wide range of financing solutions, something not commonly available through the manufacturer itself.
Once Vivint Solar specialists install the LG Chem RESU system, homeowners will enjoy the automatic recharge feature as well as protection from power outages and a reduced dependence on the utility grid.
There are a number of reasons to consider having the LG Chem RESU system installed by Vivint Solar, but there are also drawbacks that prospective clients should be aware of. Vivint Solar is a sales and installation company; it does not manufacture its own products. LG manufacturers the LG Chem RESU and it even has a newer system available for sale directly through the manufacturer. Vivint Solar also only offers installation services in 22 states, limiting how many homeowners can access its solar solutions.
Homeowners concerned about performance and production when it comes to a solar battery system may want to consider Vivint as it installs the LG Chem RESU battery system and backs it with a 25-year production guarantee. However, those looking to go directly through a manufacturer will not find a storage solution through Vivint.
