{ "id": 90007, "date": "2026-06-28T00:00:00", "date_gmt": "2026-06-28T00:00:00", "guid": { "rendered": "https:\/\/genixenergy.com.ua\/?p=90007" }, "modified": "2026-07-05T22:04:11", "modified_gmt": "2026-07-05T14:04:11", "slug": "c-rate", "status": "publish", "type": "glossary", "link": "https:\/\/genixenergy.com.ua\/en\/glossary\/c-rate\/", "title": { "rendered": "C-rate" }, "content": { "rendered": "

C-rate is the charge or discharge rate of a battery expressed as a multiple of its rated capacity: at 1C the battery delivers its full rated capacity in one hour, at 0.5C in two hours, and at 2C in thirty minutes.<\/p>\n\n

Why it matters for home backup power<\/h2>\n\n

C-rate connects the energy stored in a battery to the power it can actually deliver. When a home loses grid power, the battery must sustain real appliances: a refrigerator, lights, a medical device, a pump. If the combined load demands more kilowatts than the battery’s rated continuous discharge C-rate can supply, the system either shuts down or delivers less kWh<\/a> than its nameplate suggests. Matching C-rate to peak household load is therefore as important as choosing the right capacity. Higher C-rates also stress cells: sustained operation above the rated discharge C-rate accelerates heat and aging, reducing the total number of cycles the battery delivers.<\/p>\n\n

C-rate in practice<\/h2>\n\n

Key numbers<\/h3>\n\n

Most residential LiFePO4 storage systems are designed for a continuous discharge C-rate of 0.5C, meaning a 10 kWh pack delivers 5 kW continuously; a 5 kWh pack at the same rate delivers 2.5 kW. Short-duration peak loads can draw at a higher C-rate for seconds to minutes. Sustained high C-rate discharge is what wears cells. On the charge side, most home packs accept up to 0.5C from solar or grid, so a 10 kWh system charges fully in about two hours at maximum rate.<\/p>\n\n

Charge rate vs discharge rate<\/h3>\n\n

Both charging and discharging carry a C-rate. Charging at high C-rates raises cell temperature and shortens cycle life<\/a>; the BMS enforces safe limits automatically so the homeowner never has to manage this directly. The depth of discharge<\/a> per cycle sets the total energy moved; combined with C-rate, it determines the daily mechanical and thermal stress on the cells.<\/p>\n\n

How Genixgreen uses C-rate<\/h2>\n\n

Genixgreen rates every home storage system for both a continuous discharge C-rate and a peak C-rate for short load spikes. Genixgreen has built LiFePO4 storage in its own factory since 2011 and ships to 100+ countries, with local stock in Odesa for delivery across Ukraine. The integrated BMS in each unit enforces charge and discharge C-rate limits cell by cell, protecting longevity without requiring manual intervention from the homeowner.<\/p>\n\n

Related terms<\/h2>\n\n