Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)

What Is Lithium Iron Phosphate?

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) is a lithium-ion battery chemistry that uses iron phosphate as the cathode material. LFP batteries are the current standard for stationary home storage in photovoltaics and excel through high safety and longevity.

Properties

Property	Value
Nominal voltage per cell	3.2 V
Energy density	90—160 Wh/kg
Cycle life	6,000—10,000+ cycles
Temperature range	-20 to +60 °C
Thermal stability	Very high (no thermal runaway)
Calendar life	15—20 years

Comparison with NMC

Criterion	LFP	NMC
Safety	Very high	High
Cycle life	6,000—10,000	3,000—6,000
Energy density	Lower	Higher
Weight	Heavier	Lighter
Raw materials	No cobalt/nickel	Cobalt/nickel required
Cost	Less expensive	More expensive

Advantages for Solar Storage

LFP is particularly suited for stationary applications since the higher weight is not a concern, and the superior cycle life maximises lifespan. Additionally, no critical raw materials such as cobalt are required.

Practical Tip

When purchasing a home storage system, look for LFP chemistry. Most current storage systems from reputable manufacturers (BYD, CATL, Pylontech) already use LiFePO4.