In the event of a prolonged blackout, most homes lament not having solar panels installed. Most are also curious whether they would be protected from blackouts after installing solar panels.
The sort of solar panel you buy or invest in is just one of several variables that could affect this response.
If you place a solar panel on your roof, you can count on having access to electricity even when the grid is down. This is because the panel will continue to collect solar energy even when the sun goes down.
While installing solar panels is great for the environment, if your system is connected to the grid, you won’t be able to use the energy generated by your panels in the event of a blackout.
Due to safety concerns, the solar panel system will be cut down automatically. Having a battery backup means you can rest easy. In this post, we will learn about how to use solar panels during a power outage.
How To Use Solar Panels During A Power Outage
1. Back Gas Generator
While we solar enthusiasts only sometimes recommend burning fuel to create electricity, a generator is the most cost-effective solution to ensure you have backup power in the event of a power outage.
A gas-powered generator with more than 9,000 watts can be purchased for roughly $1,400, without including the fuel cost and the installation of an external electrical connector.
If the power system is down for an extended period, you can get by with your generator and some fuel, and you might even be able to help out a neighbor if you feel obligated to do so. You will be able to use your solar panels once the electricity grid is restored.
2. Off-Grid Solar Energy Systems
There must be enough batteries for off-grid solar systems to store enough energy to get them through cloudy days and the night. This usually makes it much more costly than solar systems connected to the power grid.
There are very few situations where installing an off-grid solar system makes financial sense for a home or business. If your solar panels aren’t producing enough power and your batteries are empty, you won’t have any backup plan for getting energy.
You may consider installing an off-grid system if your cabin is extremely isolated. But it allows you to be self-sufficient in terms of energy; you can utilize your solar system even if the power grid goes down.
For structures in outlying places when grid-tied electricity is unavailable, off-grid solar is a viable alternative.
3. Battery Backed Solar Power System
Consider constructing a system that stores energy for you to use if the power grid is ever downed. The grid-tied solar panel system is an excellent choice if you hope to reduce your energy bill by employing solar panels.
The main advantage of this system is that it is more cost effective than an off-grid solar panel system because fewer batteries are needed.
When employing this technique, one or two batteries are needed to store the excess energy produced by your solar panels.
Since the utility workers repairing the energy grid won’t be interrupted, you can safely discharge your batteries to full capacity. Even though a solar panel system supported by batteries seems like the ideal solution for your needs, you need to be aware of its constraints.
While solar batteries have become more affordable overall, they still need to be in reach for most households and businesses. They might also significantly increase the cost of installing solar panels.
The average cost of a 9.8 kWh battery, including installation and applicable rebates, is around $15,000.
4. Powering Through Blackout With Solar Battery
A solar panel system with a battery backup is an environmentally friendly and reliable way to keep your home running during a power outage. This is a fantastic approach to ensure that you are in complete command of your energy reserves.
As long as you have a battery to store the extra energy your solar panels produce, you may continue to use your electronics and keep the lights on even when the power is off.
While generators can provide a steady supply of energy or a temporary fix during a blackout, they frequently use polluting fossil fuels. You won’t be reducing your carbon footprint but adding to it by releasing more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Solar panels, which use sunshine to generate power, benefit the environment because they reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, with a solar panel, you’ll have the choice to store plenty of power for later usage in the event of a blackout.
5. Inverter System
Fortunately, solar-panel owners can use the power their panels generate even if they don’t hook up to the grid or install a storage system.
In a power outage, solar inverters from companies like SMA and Enphase are programmed to instantly disconnect from the grid while continuing to power your home using solar panels.
The automatic shutoff we discussed above is a feature of most solar inverters; however, SMA Sunny Boy inverters could be outfitted with a unique circuit that enables homeowners to switch to pure solar power following a power outage.
Although 2,000 watts seems like a lot (20 standard 100-watt light bulbs! ), it likely isn’t enough to power an air conditioner, only necessary electronics are allowed to run on opportunity power. It’s possible to charge your phone, tablet, and laptop and run a TV and refrigerator simultaneously.
Conclusion
An excellent choice is installing solar panels connected to the power grid. As an alternative, the off-grid solar panel system is ideal for locations without access to a grid, such as rural areas.
There are drawbacks to any solution; for example, if you use a solar panel system that is connected to the grid, you will only have electricity if the grid goes down.
Battery-backed solar panel systems are the finest alternative to employ, especially during power outages, if you can afford to use them.
Battery-backed solar panel systems are great for use during blackouts, but they can be pricey. We hope you msut have acknwoeldged everything regarding how to use solar panels during a power outage.
