I had a detailed chat with Phil from Anker at Smart Energy Sydney 2026 to get the full story on their brand new SOLIX XE battery system. This is not a minor update. It’s a ground-up rethink of what a home battery can do and the timing matters. A lot.
The federal home battery rebate scheme has changed and Anker has moved fast to build something that fits the new tiers almost perfectly.
The XE comes in 7 kilowatt hour modules. Stack two together and you hit the sweet spot for full Tier 1 rebate. Stack four modules and you’re at 28 kilowatt hours, still pulling in 60% of the rebate for the 3rd and 4th modules. Phil and I agree that the 25 to 30 kilowatt hour range is where most buyers will end up, and this system is built exactly for that.
But the story gets better when you dig into the cycle life. I pushed Phil on this because it matters if you want to join a VPP. The XE carries a 10,000 cycle warranty and is rated for two full charge and discharge cycles every single day over 10 years. Most batteries make you choose between VPP earnings and warranty protection. This one doesn’t.
NOTE: This video is sponsored. That said, I chose every question and every topic in this conversation. As you can tell from how long and detailed it gets, nobody told me what to ask. I’m supported by viewers and channel supporters who want to help keep independent, honest content alive. My opinions are always my own.
We talked through the installation side too. The AC coupled version is coming first, likely within a month or so of our conversation at the time of filming, pending CEC accreditation.
Installers should be able to complete a job in around two hours. That means two installs in a day, which matters for keeping costs down. There’s also a new Wi-Fi meter that needs just one pole in your switchboard, making flexible placement much easier, including out in a shed separate from your main house.
The new Power Dock Pro Gateway is worth watching closely.
Phil and I looked inside one together. It handles backup power in a blackout, keeps your existing non-Anker inverter running through a smart port and even enables black start functionality.
That last one is big. If your battery runs dry overnight during a multi-day outage, as soon as the sun comes up in the morning, the system can restart itself. No grid signal needed.
I also got Phil to walk through the 10 kilowatt single phase hybrid version.
It packs two 5 kilowatt inverters into one neat stack with 28 kilowatt hours built in, six MPPTs for complex or shaded roofs, and the ability to run up to 20 kilowatts of solar panels. For most single phase homes in Australia, 10 kilowatts is right at the limit your grid connection will allow. This fills it completely.
VPP compatibility is already sorted from day one. Amber, Glowbird, Origin, AGL and others are all supported, using the same backend as the X1.
My own X1 already earns money through Amber Smart Shift, and this will do the same. For people who don’t want a fully variable tariff, Phil and I talked through simpler VPP options too, including the Globird Zero hero one my dad uses on his own Anker X1 system.
There’s a new on-battery display with touch control and a motion sensor, a built-in AI assistant through the app, and an EV charger with RFID access control. A lot of ground covered. Watch the full video to hear it all.
Shared specs (both AC and Hybrid):
- Battery Type: LFP
- Cell Capacity: 314 Ah
- Battery Lifespan: 10,000 cycles
- Depth of Discharge: 100%
- Terminal Rated voltage: 400V DC
- Nominal Voltage: 22.4V DC
- Rated Capacity: 7 / 14 / 21 / 28 / 35 / 42 kWh
- Max Charging/Discharging Power: 3,500W (7kWh) / 4,999W (14kWh+)
- Ingress Protection: IP66
- Anti-Corrosion Rating: C5-M (marine grade)
- Operating Temp: -20°C to 55°C
- Warranty: 10 years
- Communication: WLAN / RS485
Hybrid-specific:
- MPPTs: 3 per 5kW Inverter (30-600V range, max 18A input, 25A short circuit)
- Battery Voltage Range: 360-600V DC
- Rated Output Power: 4,999W
- Peak Output (10s / 1s): 7,499W / 9,999W (14kWh+)
- Dimensions (28kWh stack): 670 × 1,181 × 325mm, 265.5kg
AC-coupled-specific:
- Battery Voltage Range: 360-450V DC (narrower than Hybrid)
- Rated Output Power: 4,999W (3,500W at 7kWh)
- Peak Output (10s / 1s): 7,499W / 9,999W (14kWh+)
- Dimensions (28kWh stack): 670 × 1,181 × 300mm, 262kg (slightly slimmer and lighter than Hybrid)
Leave a Reply