Both keep the lights on when the grid goes down, but they work very differently. A generator burns fuel to make electricity. A power station stores electricity in a battery and gives it back when you need it. Here is how they compare, including where the generator still wins.
Side by Side
| Power station | Generator | |
|---|---|---|
| Noise | Almost silent | Loud, often a problem with neighbours |
| Fumes | None, safe indoors | Carbon monoxide: outdoors only |
| Fuel | None. Charges from a socket, car or solar panel | Petrol or diesel, which must be stored |
| Maintenance | Practically none | Oil changes, spark plugs, starting it regularly |
| Starting | Instant. Some models switch over automatically (UPS) | Must be started by hand, outside, in the storm |
| Run time | Limited by the battery, unless recharged by solar | As long as you have fuel |
| Heavy loads for hours | Not the right tool | Stronger here |
Where a Power Station Is Better
- Outages of a few hours to a couple of days, which is most of them.
- Inside the home or a flat, where a generator cannot be used at all.
- Sensitive electronics. Our stations give a pure sine wave, suitable for laptops, routers and medical devices.
- Quiet places: camping, events, summer houses.
Where a Generator Is Better
- Running an electric heater, sauna or large tools for many hours.
- Outages that last a week, with no sun to recharge a battery.
- Powering a whole house through a transfer switch installed by an electrician.
What About Cost?
A generator is usually cheaper to buy for the same output. A power station has almost no running costs: no fuel, no oil, no service. For occasional backup, those savings and the convenience often make up the difference.
The Practical Answer
For most homes in Estonia, a power station covers what matters in a typical outage: heating controls, the fridge, internet, lights and phones. A 1,024Wh TD1200 runs a fridge for about 14 hours; a 2,048Wh TD2400 for about 29 hours, and boils a kettle too. Add solar panels and it keeps going for days.
If you already own a generator, a power station is still useful: it covers the first hours silently and indoors, so the generator only comes out if the outage drags on.
Not sure which size you need? Read Power Cuts in Estonia: What You Actually Need at Home.