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A “solar generator” is simply a portable power station paired with a solar panel, letting you recharge from sunlight instead of only from a wall outlet or car. This matters most during extended outages, when grid power and gas may both be unavailable for days. Here are our picks for solar generator kits that stay under $1,000 while still delivering meaningful backup capacity.
Not sure how solar compares to a gas backup? See our guide: Solar Generator vs. Gas Generator: Which Should You Buy?
Quick Comparison
| Kit | Battery Capacity | Solar Panel | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 (Explorer 1000 v2 + SolarSaga 100W) | 1,070Wh | 100W | ~$598-1,039 | Best overall solar kit |
| EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Solar Generator (PV160W) | 768Wh | 160W | ~$479-829 | Faster solar recharge |
| EcoFlow RIVER 2 Solar Generator (PV110W) | 256Wh | 110W | ~$479-798 | Budget entry point |
1. Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 – Best Overall
Editor’s Pick
This kit pairs the Explorer 1000 v2 (see our best power stations roundup) with a single SolarSaga 100W panel. Under good sun, that’s roughly a full recharge in around 10-12 hours — not fast, but enough to fully top off overnight-to-next-day during an extended outage. Pricing varies significantly by retailer and promotion, so compare current listings before buying.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2
Price: ~$598-1,039 depending on retailer/promotion (check current price)
2. EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Solar Generator (PV160W) – Faster Solar Recharge
EcoFlow pairs the River 2 Pro (768Wh) with a 160W panel, which can provide up to roughly 1.8kWh of solar charging per day in good conditions — useful if you expect a multi-day outage and want to keep the battery topped up daily rather than fully depleting and slow-recharging it.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Solar Generator (PV160W)
Price: ~$479-829 depending on retailer/promotion (check current price)
3. EcoFlow RIVER 2 Solar Generator (PV110W) – Budget Entry Point
The base RIVER 2 (256Wh) with a 110W panel is the most affordable way into solar backup, best suited for charging phones, small electronics, and running a router or modem rather than appliances.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Solar Generator (PV110W)
Price: ~$479-798 depending on retailer/promotion (check current price)
A Note on Pricing
Solar generator kit pricing fluctuates heavily with manufacturer promotions and bundle configurations (number of panels, included accessories). The prices above reflect a representative range we observed across manufacturer and retail listings; always check the current price before purchasing.