Sigenergy and GoodWe are two of the battery systems we get asked about most. GoodWe ESA is the system we fit most often, across more than 60 homes. Sigenergy’s SigenStor is the newer name that people increasingly search for. We install both, so this is an honest side by side from people who have to live with the results.
The short answer
Both are excellent modular systems with an inverter on top of stackable batteries. For most single phase homes that want a clean, quiet, proven battery, GoodWe ESA is very hard to beat. For larger or three phase homes, complicated roofs, EV heavy households and people who want the finest control over a smart tariff, SigenStor has the edge.
Side by side
| Sigenergy SigenStor | GoodWe ESA | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Sigen Energy Controller (hybrid inverter) on top of stackable battery modules | GoodWe ESA hybrid inverter on top of stackable battery modules |
| Battery modules | 5.2 kWh or 7.8 kWh usable per module | 8.3 kWh modules |
| Typical sizes we fit | 1 to 6 modules per controller, sized to the home | 8.3, 16.6 or 24.9 kWh |
| Chemistry | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Weather rating | IP66 | IP66, fanless and quiet |
| Backup | Sigen Gateway, 0 ms load-side with the HomePro SP-F | GoodWe gateway, 4 ms switchover |
| Single and three phase | Yes | Yes |
| EV charging | Sigen 7 kW AC charger, or a DC module on the battery’s DC bus | Separate EV charger, for example a myenergi zappi |
| App | mySigen with Sigen AI Mode | GoodWe SEMS |
| Product warranty | 10 years on battery and controller | 10 years |
Specifications come from each manufacturer’s published datasheets and can change. We confirm the exact models and warranty terms on your quote.
Battery sizing: fine steps vs big blocks
This is the biggest practical difference. GoodWe ESA batteries come in 8.3 kWh modules, so the usual choices are 8.3, 16.6 or 24.9 kWh. That suits most homes well, and the steps line up neatly with typical evening and overnight use.
SigenStor offers two module sizes, 5 kWh and 8 kWh class, and up to six per controller. That lets us size more precisely, and it suits people who want to start small and add capacity later. Each Sigen module has its own DC optimiser, which is designed to let new modules sit alongside older ones without dragging the stack down.
Backup in a power cut
Both systems can keep the house running in a power cut, and both need a gateway to do it. GoodWe quotes a 4 ms switchover with its gateway, which is fast enough that most homes will not notice. Sigenergy specifies 0 ms load-side disruption with the HomePro SP-F gateway when paired with its controller and battery. In everyday terms, both are good. If you run sensitive equipment, such as a home office or medical devices, the Sigen setup is the more seamless on paper. Whichever you choose, the size of the inverter and battery sets how much you can run, and we design the backup circuits around that.
Three phase homes
Both brands make three phase versions. Sigenergy’s three phase controllers offer up to four solar inputs on selected models, which is useful for big arrays split across several roof faces. If you have a three phase supply and a large or awkward roof, SigenStor is often our first suggestion.
EV charging
GoodWe works happily with a separate charger, and most of our GoodWe customers pair it with a myenergi zappi to soak up spare solar. Sigenergy goes further with its own 7 kW AC charger in the same app, and an optional DC charging module rated at 12.5 kW or 25 kW that connects to the SigenStor DC bus. The DC module is designed for vehicle to home and vehicle to grid, but that depends on your car and on software support, so we would not buy it for V2H alone today. More in our Sigenergy EV charger guide.
Apps and smart tariffs
GoodWe’s SEMS app is solid and shows generation, use and battery state clearly. The mySigen app is slicker, and Sigen AI Mode plans charging around tariff prices, weather and your usage. If you are on a dynamic or time of use tariff and want the system to make the decisions, Sigenergy has the stronger software today.
Track record
GoodWe has been making inverters for well over a decade and is one of the most widely installed hybrid brands in the UK. Sigenergy was founded in 2022. Its hardware is impressive and the early reviews are strong, but the long-term UK track record is still being written. Neither is a reason to avoid the other. It is one more reason to choose an installer who will support you for the long run.
Our verdict
- Choose GoodWe ESA if you have a typical single phase home, want a quiet, tidy, proven system, and an 8.3, 16.6 or 24.9 kWh battery suits your usage.
- Choose Sigenergy SigenStor if you have a three phase supply or complex roof, want to start small and expand, want the most seamless backup, or want EV charging and battery in one app.
Cost depends on the size and options you choose. We do not publish prices, but our guide to what affects the cost of a Sigenergy battery explains what moves the number.
Talk to an installer who fits both
Because we install both Sigenergy and GoodWe, we have no reason to push one over the other. We survey your home, show you both options where they make sense, and give you a fixed written quote. Visit our Sigenergy installers or GoodWe installers pages, or request a free quote anywhere in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.