Your microwave beeps. Your TV flickers. The lights go out.
It’s a power cut. No worries, though, because you have solar panels.
Unfortunately, despite the common belief, solar panels alone do nothing for your home when the power’s out.
We’ll clear up this misconception and explain how solar works with and without the grid, what happens during an outage, and how to keep your power on when your neighbour’s is out.
How grid-tied solar panels behave during a power cut
Here in the UK, most solar-connected homes are on-grid. This means the grid provides your power on those grey, rainy days. It also allows excess energy to be sent back to the local provider.
It’s the best of both worlds, right? Well, yes, most of the time.
However, there’s a catch. When the grid goes down, so does your solar system.
Standard grid-tied solar systems are actually designed to shut down during power cuts. The reason is simple. Safety.
If your solar panels were to keep running during an outage, they could send electricity back to the grid, potentially hurting utility workers trying to fix cables. That’s why they’re installed with a built-in safety mechanism, meaning they’ll stop generating power – even if it’s perfectly sunny.
That means your solar panels won’t generate electricity for your home during a power cut.
The role of battery storage in keeping the lights on
So, if your solar panels can’t provide power during an outage, what can you do instead? That’s where solar battery storage comes in.
Adding a battery to your solar setup creates a bridge between the energy your panels produce and the power your home requires during a blackout. You’ll have all the energy you need stored in your battery and ready to use when the power goes out.
Battery systems come with a specialised solar inverter. When there’s a power cut, the inverter automatically switches from grid power to battery reserves. Now, the energy stored inside the battery takes over, powering your home. These days, this transition happens so quickly that you’ll hardly notice.
Concerning solar, the real advantage here is that the battery storage system bridges the solar panels and your home’s electrical systems. In other words, your home can run off its battery reserves, which in turn are being repleted by solar energy, if it’s daylight, of course. Smart!
Size, costs, installation and energy resilience
As always, though, it’s not always quite that simple. Here are a few things to think through to help you decide if a battery storage system is right for you:
- Battery size – the bigger the battery, the more energy it can store, and the longer you’ll be able to run your appliances during an outage. However, if the power’s only out for 15 minutes, you won’t need anything too big. The trick is focusing on the essentials – lights, fridge, freezer and perhaps heating. A good battery system could keep these running for several hours or even days, depending on its size.
- Solar system connection – solar storage batteries work best in tandem with a new set of solar panels to maximise efficiency. You’ll also need that specialist inverter to manage the switch between on-grid and battery sources. On normal days (those sunny days without power cuts), the batteries store energy, releasing it at night. During the day, the batteries provide the bridge for your solar panels to power your house directly.
- Additional energy security – in some parts of the country (and the world), power outages are far more common than in others. The more frequently you experience power cuts, the better the return on investment (ROI) will be for your solar battery.
- Factor in the costs – solar panels can be expensive, but rapidly advancing technology means they’re always getting cheaper. The most important consideration for you is the ROI. How much money will a solar installation with battery storage save you? And how long will it take before the savings’ pay off’ the initial cost? Here at Electrical Innovations, we’d be delighted to help you do the maths.
Ask Electrical Innovations if solar is worth it for power outages
Solar is a reliable, low-maintenance power source. With the proper setup and battery storage, you could stay powered up no matter what.
With Electrical Innovations, you’re investing in a complete energy solution for you. With over 20 years of experience, we provide expert advice, professional installation and sustainable energy options. Although we’re based in Derby, we travel further afield. If you’re ready to take the next step and ensure your power stays on, even when the grid goes down, get in touch with us today.
