While solar systems require a fairly hefty initial investment, they can save you significant amounts of money in the long run. It’s no surprise that these systems are becoming increasingly popular. But now the question is: What happens when the grid goes off? Will you be able to keep your lights on during a blackout when you use solar panels?
The simple answer is that, with a basic solar installation, you won’t. In this post, we’ll look at why this is, and what you can do to keep your lights on during a blackout when using a solar system.
Why Solar Panels Won’t Work in a Blackout
To understand why your solar panels won’t work during a blackout, it’s important to understand how they work. These panels will capture sunlight, which your system then uses to generate electricity. In turn, you’ll use this electricity to power your home and appliances. Any excess electricity generated by your system is pushed back into the grid. And it’s here where the problem comes in.
Safety of Power Line Technicians
The first issue is that, during a blackout, technicians might work on the power lines to fix a problem. When doing this, they’ll work on the assumption that there is no power in the grid. Unfortunately, when your solar system pushes extra electricity into the grid during a blackout, this assumption will be wrong. As a result, these technicians will be exposed to an increased risk of injury or even death.
Prevention of Further Infrastructure Damage
Another problem is that, when your system pushes electricity into the grid during a blackout, it could cause damage to the grid, especially when it comes back online. So, your solar panels shouldn’t work during a blackout in order to prevent infrastructure damage.
How to Use Solar Panels in a Blackout
Now, despite the reasons we mentioned above why your solar panels won’t work during a blackout, you’ve probably noticed that some homes with solar panels have electricity when the grid is off. And yes, this is possible. You only need to have the right installation.
Solar Batteries
The first thing you’ll need is solar batteries. Typically, these batteries store any excess electricity generated by your solar system. This enables you to use electricity when there’s little to no sunlight. For example, your batteries will store electricity during the day and enable you to use solar power in the evenings. However, these batteries can also allow you to use your solar system during a blackout.
Blackout Protection
To do this, your batteries will need blackout protection. You’ll also need to use a hybrid inverter. Combined, this will allow you to use your solar system during a blackout, as it will automatically switch to battery power when the grid goes off and prevent any electricity from being pushed into the grid.
Conclusion
There you go, now you know why your solar system won’t work during a blackout. More importantly, you now know what you need to ensure that you can use your solar panels when the grid goes off. To learn more about solar systems and the benefits they offer, get in touch with your local solar panel installer.