Do Solar Panels Work During Power Outages?

Power outages can be disruptive and stressful, leaving you without essential services like heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration. While solar panels generate clean energy for your building, their ability to keep the lights on during blackouts depends on the type of system you have.

Battery Backup Solutions

For grid-tied systems, adding battery storage provides a reliable backup during blackouts. Instead of sending surplus energy to the grid, your system stores it in the battery for later use. During an outage, the battery powers essential appliances, offering a partial off-grid experience without the full expense.

Backup batteries strike a balance between affordability and reliability, giving you access to the grid while ensuring you have power when you need it most.

Grid-Tied Systems Without Batteries

Grid-tied solar systems are the most common setup, allowing you to draw power from the grid when your panels aren’t producing enough energy. With net-metering programs, you can even send excess electricity back to the grid, helping offset your utility costs.

However unless you have a battery, grid-tied systems automatically shut down during blackouts for safety reasons. This prevents solar energy from flowing back into the grid while technicians are making repairs, protecting them from potential injury.

Off-Grid Systems

Off-grid systems operate independently, making them immune to power outages. Since they aren’t connected to the utility, you’ll continue to have electricity even when the grid goes down.

While off-grid systems offer energy independence, they require large battery banks to store power for times when the sun isn’t shining. These batteries can be expensive, making fully off-grid setups less practical for most properties.

Peace of Mind with Electricity Council of Canada

We recognize the value of energy security during unpredictable outages. That’s why we’re assist Canadians in finding the best battery storage option along with your solar installation.