Did you know that there are more than 2.7 million homes in the United States of America that have solar-powered renewable energy? Solar energy systems are a great option for your household if you’re looking to meet your power needs in a sustainable way. But, do solar panels work during a power outage?
You never know when a power outage will strike, and your home’s solar panels should have the ability to continue capturing energy from the sun for sustainable power. If you’re worried about experiencing a solar panel outage then you’ve come to the right spot to gain more information.
Keep reading to learn about the factors that determine if your solar panels will continue working during a power outage today!
Different Solar Energy System Options
The two options that you can choose from for sustainable living with a solar energy system are the grid-tied solar energy option and the off-grid energy option. The solar energy system that you pick will come down to your priorities with renewable energy.
Some homeowners choose to get solar panels installed as a way to save money on the electric bill each month. Others choose to install a solar energy system to become independent from the energy companies.
Grid-tied solar energy systems will face a bigger impact when a power outage occurs in your area. These systems are built into the local electrical grid, which offers a number of benefits for your finances.
You’ll gain the ability to draw power from the power grid when your panels aren’t collecting energy. You can also sell excess energy through net metering.
Off-grid solar energy systems differ in the sense that they’re not connected to anything other than your storage batteries. This is great if you avoid becoming dependent on energy companies. It comes with the trade-off that you’re reliant on the energy that your solar system produces, but you’ll maintain power if the electrical grid goes down.
Do Solar Panels Work During a Power Outage?
The big factor that determines if your solar panels will work during a power outage is whether or not they’re connected to the local electrical grid. Any extra electricity that you produce gets sold to the grid. During a power outage, all of the energy that you’re collecting gets sent to the grid rather than your home.
The cables running to your home all get powered down so that maintenance workers can fix the power outage in a safe manner. You’ll be unable to get power to your home until these issues are fixed.
Ways to Use Solar Panels During Power Outages
You still have some options at your disposal if you want to collect electricity and keep your home running during power outages. Off-grid solar energy systems are effective. If you want a cheaper alternative then you’ll need a storage battery for your grid-tied system.
Off-Grid Solar System
Off-grid solar systems are effective if you’re worried about getting power for your home when the grid goes down. Keep in mind that it’s the more expensive option if you’re set on using solar power for your home.
You’ll need to start with getting multiple batteries that will store the energy that you need to keep your appliances on and your food cold. The average suburban or urban home will have a hard time getting the best use from an off-grid solar energy system.
An off-grid system is great during power outages but it opens the door to other issues like overcast weather and the inability to collect more energy during the night. If your batteries are running low on power then you’ll be out of luck since you can’t draw more power from the electrical grid.
If you’re planning on building a home in a remote location then an off-grid system makes a lot of sense. You can live in a comfortable manner with an off-grid system when grid electricity isn’t available. You won’t need to worry about power outages if you choose an off-grid system, especially as better solar technology hits the market.
Backup Battery Systems
If you don’t want to commit to an off-grid solar energy system then you should consider getting backup batteries for your home. It’s a nice compromise that helps you benefit from the best of both systems.
Grid-tied systems allow you to have a backup battery that collects extra energy from your panels. Odds are that you won’t need as many batteries as an off-grid system. The decreased need for these batteries will help you save money.
Choosing to purchase a couple of backup solar batteries will give you a nice amount of stored energy in the event that your power grid goes down. You can use the stored energy to keep your home running without putting the electrical workers in harm’s way.
One thing that you need to remember is the price involved with getting these backup solar batteries. Solar batteries are becoming more mainstream, but they’re still quite expensive for homeowners and business owners. A large solar battery could cost close to $15,000.
The best solar companies will recommend the most important appliances to keep running in the event of a power outage. The most common options are things like medical devices, refrigerators, and personal electronics. Getting specific with the items that you wish to power will keep your spending on solar batteries lower.
If you’re worried about keeping your entire home running for days then it’s a good idea to find some other options. You can combine your solar batteries with a traditional generator. Keep in mind that this isn’t a sustainable energy option.
Find the Best Renewable Energy Option for Your Needs
When it comes to the question, “Do solar panels work during a power outage?”, it all comes down to the type of sustainable power system in your home. A grid-tied system will not provide power to your home during a power outage for safety reasons. An off-grid solar system will provide power during power outages but it comes with other drawbacks like the expense of storage batteries.
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