Outsmart the outage.

A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) stores energy from solar panels, the grid or a generator so it's ready to use at a later time, whenever you need it. Whether you want backup power during an outage, lower energy bills or complete independence from the grid, the BESS works quietly in the background to make it happen automatically.

Whether it's your home, cottage, off-grid cabin or business, a BESS puts you in control of your own energy, delivering reliable backup power, significant cost savings and a smaller environmental footprint.

A BESS would be a perfect fit for you if you are looking for:

• Backup power during a power outage
• Ways to lower energy bills
• More independence or complete independence from the grid
• Advanced use of renewable energy, like solar power

Yes. The BESS stores energy when electricity rates are low and uses it when rates are high, so you're never paying peak prices for everyday power. If you have solar panels, you can store the energy they produce for free and use it any time instead of drawing from the grid. Depending on your setup and region, you may also be able to sell excess energy back to your utility provider for additional savings.

The BESS is made up of two parts — an inverter and a battery. The inverter draws energy from solar panels, the grid or a generator and directs it to the battery for storage. When you need power, whether during an outage, overnight or during peak rate periods, the inverter automatically draws from the battery and delivers it to your home. The whole process is silent and automatic.

Always. The BESS works around the clock storing energy, avoiding peak rates and automatically switching to backup power during an outage, and it’s completely customizable to how you want to use it.

Through the app, you can monitor and control everything in real time, set schedules and receive outage notifications. Whether you want to set it and forget it or stay fully hands-on, the BESS works exactly the way you want it to.

You can! Paired with solar panels and sized to your home or business’ needs, a BESS can give you full energy independence. Without a BESS, you cannot use solar power during a power outage without feeding back to the grid.

If you already have solar panels, the BESS is your best option for storing and using the energy they generate. If you don’t have solar panels, there are still many ways to take advantage of the benefits of the BESS and gain energy independence. You can connect your BESS to a generator or the grid and run essential items in your home, keeping you connected, safe and secure during an outage.

Some of the key benefits of this BESS include:

• Power Through Longer Outages — 16kWh of storage per battery keeps your lights on, essentials running and life moving when the grid goes down
• Built-In Safety You Can Count On — LiFePO4 battery technology, full Canadian safety certifications and an internal fire suppression system mean this is the safest systems on the market
• Grows With You — Ready for whatever comes next – start with what you need today and easily expand your system as your family, home or business grows
• Backup Power in an Instant — The moment your power goes out, your BESS takes over automatically. No switches, fuel or interruptions, just instant power.
• Power What Matters Most — From lights and refrigerators to well pumps, HVAC systems and point of sale systems for a business, power is ready and available when you need it
• Lower Energy Bills — Charge your BESS when electricity is cheap, and then use that power when the rates are high to save money each month
• Get More From Your Solar — Works with your existing solar panels, or you can install a new system for energy use day or night
• Monitor From Anywhere — Stay connected from the palm of your hand through the smart app, giving you full control over your system. Monitor your battery, check backup status and control your system from your phone, no matter where you are
• Works With What You Already Have — Connect to the grid, solar panels or even a portable or home standby generator for complete energy independence

Absolutely. Start with whatever setup suits your needs today and expand any time. You can combine up to 9 inverters for more than 400A of power at 240V, and each inverter supports up to 16 batteries — that's up to 144 batteries and 2.3 MegaWatt Hours of total storage.

It depends on your energy consumption and how many batteries you have. A single 16kWh battery can power essential loads in an average-sized home for approximately 2–3 days under moderate use. With solar panels, your system can recharge daily and run indefinitely.

A good starting point is your electricity bill. It will show your average daily energy use in kWh. From there, think about what you need to keep running during an outage. Medical equipment and heating are typically priorities, while high-draw appliances like ovens may not be. A licensed electrician or energy advisor can help size your system to your specific needs.

Here's a quick way to understand the specs:

• kW (Kilowatts) relates to the inverter — it measures how much power is being used at any given moment
• kWh (Kilowatt-Hours) relates to the battery — it measures how much total energy is stored and available for use

Yes, the BESS is absolutely safe to have in your home. The Benchmark BESS uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery technology, which is significantly safer than standard lithium-ion batteries. It won't self-oxidize if damaged and is far less likely to experience thermal runaway. The system is also tested and certified as a complete unit, not just individual components, and includes protection against overheating, overvoltage and arc faults. It is fully code-compliant and certified to the highest safety standards available in Canada.

Any licensed electrician can install the BESS with no specialized training required. Installation is done indoors, typically in just a few hours, with no concrete pad, gasfitters or additional trades needed.

Yes. The BESS is designed to work seamlessly with existing solar panel installations. If you already have solar panels, it simply adds storage so you can use that energy any time, not just when the sun is shining. If you don't already have solar panels, the BESS performs best as part of a complete solar setup, so Benchmark offers solar panels to allow you to build the full system you need from the ground up.

Yes. The BESS helps reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-powered grids, stores renewable energy that would otherwise go to waste and produces zero emissions during operation. The battery is also fully recyclable. The materials inside can be reclaimed and used to build new batteries with no loss in capacity.

When you call our customer service line (1.877.528.3772), you'll speak to a Canadian customer service representative. Our team understands Canadian provincial regulations, local installation environments and the specific needs of Canadian homeowners. The 10-year warranty includes tech support, express parts and access to skilled local service. So, if anything ever comes up, help is close by.

A home standby generator and a BESS both provide backup power during an outage, but they work very differently and offer very different day-to-day value. A generator runs on fuel, often requires modifications to your home (by way of a concrete pad, the installation of a gas line and more), will need regular maintenance, and produces noise and emissions every time it runs. With the BESS, it is installed indoors by any certified electrician, it operates silently, produces zero emissions and requires no fuel or ongoing maintenance. More importantly, a generator only works during an outage, while the BESS works for you every day, storing energy when rates are low, powering your home when they're high and helping lower your energy bills year-round.

The Benchmark BESS uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery technology, which is known for its exceptional longevity compared to standard lithium-ion batteries. With proper installation and normal use, you can expect many years of dependable performance. The system is backed by a 10-year warranty. And after that, it doesn't simply stop working. The battery continues to operate at around 80% of its original capacity, meaning it still delivers reliable, everyday performance well beyond the warranty period.

Very little – it's a "set it and forget it" purchase that just keeps on giving back! Unlike a generator which requires regular oil changes, filter replacements and fuel management, the BESS operates with virtually no ongoing maintenance. There are no moving parts, no fuel to manage and no seasonal servicing required. The app keeps you informed of your system's status in real time so you always know everything is running as it should.

The BESS is designed for indoor installation — a utility room, basement or any suitable interior space will work. It's compact and completely self-contained, so it doesn't take up much room and doesn't require any outdoor space, concrete pad or special ventilation. Installation is completed by any licensed electrician in just a few hours.