What Size Solar Panel Do I Need for a Pellet Stove?

100W running draw12h/day defaulthvac

Quick Answer

A Pellet Stove at 100W needs at least 400W of solar panels to run sustainably. Running 12 hours per day draws 1.2 kWh daily. You need 400W of solar total (2 panels at 200W each). Pair with a 300Ah LiFePO4 battery at 12V for 2-day cloudy weather reserve. The EcoFlow River 2 Pro is the simplest all-in-one solution for this load.

System Specs for a Pellet Stove

Calculated for 12 hours/day usage, 5 peak sun hours, and 2-day LiFePO4 battery autonomy.

ComponentMinimum SizeDetails
Daily Energy1.2 kWh100W for 12h
Solar Panels400W2x 200W or 4x 100W panels
Battery300Ah at 12VLiFePO4, 2-day reserve (3.6 kWh usable)
Charge Controller50A MPPTHandles up to 400W panel input at 12V

Running more than just a pellet stove? Add more appliances to your load with our full calculator

Recommended Power Station

EcoFlow River 2 Pro

768Wh capacity, 800W AC output — runs a fridge, lights, and electronics for 1–2 days.

768Wh

Capacity

800W

AC Output

220W

Max Solar In

Buy on EcoFlow.comView with Solar Panel Bundle

DIY Component List

Building your own system for a pellet stove? These components match the specs above.

Solar Panel

400W total

Renogy 400W Solar Starter Kit (2x200W + MPPT) on Amazon

Battery

300Ah 12V LiFePO4 minimum

LiTime 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 on Amazon

Charge Controller

50A MPPT minimum

Renogy 40A MPPT Rover on Amazon

About the Pellet Stove Solar Load

A pellet stove uses a small electric auger motor, blower fan, and controller board drawing 100–200 watts total during operation. The pellets themselves provide the heat output. Running 12 hours per day produces 1,200–2,400Wh of electrical consumption. Pellet stoves are one of the most solar-compatible heating solutions because the electrical draw is low relative to heat output.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much solar do I need to run a pellet stove?▼
A pellet stove's electrical components draw about 100W during operation and 400–600W briefly during ignition. Running 12 hours per day produces 1,200Wh of daily electrical consumption. A 300–400W solar array with a 100Ah LiFePO4 battery covers this comfortably. The EcoFlow Delta 2 with a single 220W panel can run a pellet stove through a winter day with moderate sun. For year-round cabin heating, two 200W panels and a 200Ah LiFePO4 battery is the recommended setup. The stove's pellet fuel provides the BTUs — the solar just handles the controls and blower.
Can a pellet stove run during a power outage?▼
Standard pellet stoves stop working during grid outages because they require AC power for ignition, auger control, and the blower. A solar backup system or UPS keeps them running. The EcoFlow Delta 2 (2,048Wh) runs a pellet stove at 100W for about 18 hours on a full charge — covering a full winter night and into the next morning. With a 220W solar panel, the system recharges during daylight hours and provides indefinite pellet stove operation as long as the sun shines. This is the most common use case for a solar backup battery in northern climates.
What is the startup wattage for a pellet stove?▼
Pellet stove ignition draws a higher current for the first 5–10 minutes while the igniter heats up. Typical ignition draw is 300–600W compared to 100W during steady operation. Your inverter must handle the startup surge cleanly. The EcoFlow Delta 2 and Delta 2 Max both handle pellet stove startup without issue. If using a DIY inverter, size it at 1,000W minimum for a pellet stove application to provide headroom above the ignition surge.

Related Hvac Appliances

Box Fan / Ceiling Fan

50W running draw

Size it →

Air Conditioner (window / mini-split)

1200W at 50% duty cycle

Size it →

Electric Blanket

200W running draw

Size it →

Space Heater (electric)

1500W running draw

Size it →

Running more than just a pellet stove?

Add all your appliances and get a complete system recommendation in under 2 minutes.

Open the Full Solar Calculator