The world’s most installed residential solar inverter never actually left Australia. It just got a new name, a local warranty team, and a headquarters in Malaga, Western Australia.
iStore is the Australian brand behind Huawei’s residential solar inverter and battery technology. Every iStore hybrid inverter and battery module is manufactured by Huawei on the same production lines, using the same firmware and hardware that earned the company eight consecutive years as the global number one in solar inverter shipments. The difference is who stands behind it locally: an Australian-owned company with its head office right here in Perth.
For Perth Solar Warehouse customers, iStore matters for one reason above all others: if you have an existing Huawei inverter and you want to add battery storage, iStore is your path forward. The iStore battery is fully compatible with Huawei SUN2000 hybrid inverters, and Perth Solar Warehouse installs them as part of the broader iStore ecosystem.
- iStore is Huawei’s residential solar technology rebranded for Australia. Same hardware, Univers firmware, same production lines.
- iStore batteries are fully compatible with existing Huawei SUN2000 hybrid inverters. No inverter replacement needed.
- Perth Solar Warehouse supplies iStore batteries for Huawei inverter customers and iStore EV chargers as part of the ecosystem.
- iStore is headquartered in Malaga, WA, with Australian-based warranty and technical support.
- Modular battery design scales from 5kWh to 30kWh. Start small and expand without replacing hardware.
- Inverter warranty: 12 years (when internet-connected). Battery warranty: 10 years, 70% capacity retention.
iStore is a well-established company in Australia, having built its reputation over the last decade with heat pump hot water systems. In 2024, they signed an OEM agreement with Huawei to distribute residential solar inverters (40kW and under) and batteries nationwide. Although Huawei still manufactures these products and provides support for larger industrial inverters, iStore now manages warranty claims, technical support, and local compliance through its Australian team.
Founded in 2005, iStore is backed by Solargain Pty Ltd, a family-owned business based in Western Australia. With over 190 staff and their headquarters in Malaga, iStore offers reliable after-sales support, ensuring assistance is available in your timezone.
If you already have a Huawei SUN2000 hybrid inverter connected to solar on your roof, you’re in a strong position. The iStore battery connects directly to your existing inverter with full DC-coupled compatibility. No inverter swap required. No rewiring. The battery simply slots into the ecosystem your system was already designed for.
This is the primary reason Perth Solar Warehouse supplies iStore batteries. We’ve installed Huawei inverters across Perth since they first arrived in Australia, and many of those systems are now ready for battery storage. The iStore battery is the manufacturer-supported solution for that upgrade.
One important note: if you’re considering expanding an existing Huawei battery stack with 5kWh modules, compatibility with future 7kWh modules is not guaranteed. You cannot mix 5kWh and 7kWh modules in the same stack. If expansion is on your horizon, it’s worth having that conversation sooner rather than later.
iStore offers a full suite of home electrification. Perth Solar Warehouse primarily supplies inverters, batteries, and EV chargers within this ecosystem, but understanding the full range gives you context for how the pieces fit together.
Hybrid inverters
Model | Power | Phase | Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|
IS-HYB 5000/6000 | 5–6kW | Single | Battery-ready, AFCI, 2 MPPT |
IS-HYB 5000/6000 3PH | 5–6kW | Three | Battery-ready, AFCI, 2 MPPT |
IS-HYB 10000 1PH | 10kW | Single | 3 MPPT, 3 PV strings, up to 98.1% efficiency |
IS-HYB 10/15/25k 3PH | 10–25kW | Three | Battery-ready, suited to larger homes |
IS-INV 29/40k 3PH | 29–40kW | Three | Commercial-scale, solar-only (no battery) |
Modular battery (iStore Smart Battery 5000 ES)
All hybrid models include AI-powered arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) technology, which detects and shuts down DC arc faults in under 0.5 seconds. This is a genuine safety differentiator. Most competing AFCI systems achieve 50–60% detection accuracy; iStore’s system, trained on Huawei’s global dataset of millions of inverters, operates at significantly higher accuracy.
Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
Usable capacity | 5kWh per module, scalable 5–30kWh (single stack to 15kWh, parallel to 30kWh) |
Chemistry | Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) |
Depth of discharge | 100% |
Max output power | 2.5kW (1 module), 5kW (2–3 modules) |
Peak output | 7kW for 10 seconds (2–3 modules) |
Inverter compatibility | iStore hybrid inverters and Huawei SUN2000 hybrid inverters |
Warranty | 10-year product warranty, 3.65MWh throughput per kWh, 70% capacity retention |
Operating temperature | -20°C to 55°C |
Protection rating | IP66 (suitable for outdoor installation) |
Backup capability | Yes, with separate backup gateway. Charges from solar during grid outage. |
The modular design is one of the iStore battery’s strongest selling points. You can start with 5kWh and add modules later without replacing any hardware. Each 5kWh module includes built-in energy optimisers that allow individual modules to operate at their own capacity, so a partially degraded older module won’t drag down a newer one added later.
For context, a typical Perth household consuming 20kWh per day would find 10–15kWh of storage covers most overnight usage. A 10kWh system stores enough to run your home from sunset through the overnight hours in most seasons, while 15kWh provides a buffer for winter evenings or higher-consumption households.
EV charger
Perth Solar Warehouse also supplies the iStore EV charger as part of the ecosystem. Available in 7kW single-phase and 22kW three-phase configurations, it integrates with the iStore inverter and battery through the Univers EMS platform. With a smart power sensor installed, the charger can prioritise surplus solar energy over grid draw, charging your vehicle with energy that would otherwise be exported at DEBS rates.
Dynamic load balancing prevents the charger from overloading your switchboard, and RFID card activation adds access control if the charger is in a shared location.
Every iStore product connects through the Univers EMS app, which replaced the Huawei FusionSolar platform for Australian residential users. Real-time monitoring covers solar generation, battery state of charge, household consumption, EV charging, and heat pump operation from a single interface.
You can set operating modes for your battery (self-consumption, time-of-use optimisation, or backup priority), schedule EV charging windows, and view historical performance data. The platform runs on Australian-hosted servers, which addresses one of the most common concerns people had about the Huawei FusionSolar ecosystem.
For existing Huawei inverter owners: adding an iStore battery requires transitioning to the Univers EMS platform. Historical data from FusionSolar does not carry over to Univers. Your system will work normally, but you’ll start fresh on monitoring history.
Heat pump hot water
While Perth Solar Warehouse doesn’t supply iStore heat pumps directly, they’re worth mentioning because they complete the single-brand electrification story. The iStore 180L and 270L heat pumps use surplus solar to heat water, and they integrate into the same Univers EMS monitoring app. If you’re exploring full home electrification with an iStore inverter and battery, the heat pump is a natural addition through iStore’s dealer network.
All warranty claims are handled by iStore’s Australian team. The inverter’s 12-year warranty (when connected to the internet) exceeds the standard 10-year warranty offered by most competing brands. The battery throughput warranty of 3.65MWh per usable kWh is also above the industry norm of around 3MWh.
Perth Solar Warehouse backs every iStore installation with our own workmanship guarantee. As a NETCC-accredited installer, ISO-certified (9001, 45001, 14001), and Sunwiz’s number one Perth South-West installer for 2025, the quality of the installation itself is as important as the product on the wall.
Product | Warranty |
|---|---|
Hybrid inverters | 10 years parts and labour, plus 2 years parts-only extension if internet-connected (12 years total) |
Battery modules | 10 years, 70% capacity retention or 3.65MWh throughput per usable kWh |
EV charger | 3 years |
iStore occupies a mid-range price position in the Perth residential battery market. It’s not the cheapest option available, and it’s not trying to be. The technology is premium (it’s Huawei hardware), but the pricing is below that of fully premium European alternatives.
Where iStore genuinely stands apart is the ecosystem depth. No other brand in this price range offers a hybrid inverter, modular battery, EV charger, and heat pump hot water system under one roof, controlled through a single app, with an Australian-based support team headquartered in Perth. For homeowners who want one vendor, one app, and one support line for their entire home energy system, iStore is hard to match.
Image: Huawei
iStore batteries are eligible for the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (CHBP), which provides subsidies that reduce the upfront cost of residential battery storage. The WA Battery Scheme, where available, may offer additional state-level rebates for Synergy customers. Both programs have eligibility criteria and caps that change periodically, so confirm current eligibility and caps when you request a quote.
Important distinction: STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates) apply to the solar panel component of your system, not the battery. They are tradeable certificates, not a government rebate. Perth Solar Warehouse applies the STC value as a point-of-sale discount on eligible solar installations.
With Synergy’s DEBS (Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme) providing variable time-of-export rates, a battery allows you to store daytime solar generation and use it during evening peak hours rather than exporting at lower midday rates. This self-consumption strategy is where the real bill reduction happens for most Perth households.
From May 2026, all new inverter installations on the SWIS grid must comply with CSIP-AUS (Common Smart Inverter Profile for Australia). This standard enables the network operator to manage distributed energy resources across the grid more effectively. iStore’s current-generation hybrid inverters support remote management capabilities that align with these requirements.
The updated rules also introduce a 30kVA aggregate inverter limit for residential connections and require flexible export capability with remote disconnect/reconnect for systems seeking higher export allowances. A fixed 1.5kW export cap remains as the alternative for installations that don’t adopt flexible exports. These changes apply to new installations; existing systems are grandfathered under their original connection agreements.
If you’re planning a new system or adding battery storage to an existing Huawei inverter, discussing CSIP-AUS compliance with your installer is essential. Perth Solar Warehouse ensures every installation meets current Western Power requirements at the time of connection.
Can I add an iStore battery to my existing Huawei inverter?
Yes. The iStore battery is fully compatible with Huawei SUN2000 hybrid inverters (L1, M1 models). This is the primary use case Perth Solar Warehouse supports: adding battery storage to existing Huawei systems across Perth.
Is an iStore inverter just a rebranded Huawei?
The hardware is identical. Huawei manufactures every iStore inverter and battery on the same production lines using the same components. The difference is the Australian support structure: iStore handles all warranty, commissioning, and technical support locally, with their head office in Malaga, WA.
Will my Huawei FusionSolar monitoring data transfer to iStore?
No. Historical FusionSolar data does not migrate to the iStore Univers EMS platform. Your system will function normally after the transition, but monitoring history starts fresh.
What size iStore battery should I get?
For most Perth households, 10–15kWh covers overnight usage effectively. A household consuming 20kWh per day typically finds 10kWh sufficient for three-season overnight coverage, while 15kWh provides a winter buffer. The modular design means you can start at 5kWh and expand later, though 5kWh alone won’t cover overnight needs for most families.
Does the iStore battery work during a blackout?
Yes, with the addition of the iStore backup gateway. The system can charge the battery from solar panels even while the grid is down, which iStore describes as full off-grid backup capability.
Does Perth Solar Warehouse install iStore inverters?
Perth Solar Warehouse primarily supplies iStore batteries for existing Huawei inverter customers and iStore EV chargers as part of the ecosystem. For customers exploring a complete new system with an iStore inverter, contact our team to discuss the best configuration for your situation.
