The device commonly referred to as a “solar generator” is often actually a portable power station –a large battery–with the ports to accept electricity from solar panels.

The first is whether you’ll be installing a new solar system at the same time that you install battery storage, or whether you’ll be retrofitting a battery to an existing system.

Rooftop solar panels and battery storage are similarly expensive. In Texas, costs to install a 5 kilowatt solar system range from $11,400 to $15,500, according to Home Depot.

For generators, the up-front costs are slightly lower. On average, the price of purchasing and installing a standby generator can range from $7,000 to $15,000.