Is it acceptable to cover a junction box with wall-mounted equipment? (USA NEC)

Hello -

I am trying to provide wall space for a solar installer to place backup battery modules (the safer LiFePo chemistry if you're curious). The perfect spot is near the main panel but there is an outlet 4' from the ground and a battery module would cover it. The outlet box has two lines in it so it can't be moved far. The cables both come in through the bottom so I can probably move it down enough to clear the battery module. But, by my read, it seems I could remove the outlet, plate it off as a junction box, and leave it behind the battery module. The code says you can't put permanent finishes over a junction box. Is mounted equipment covering a junction box ok?