Alex Carey
Why Do You Lose Solar When the Grid Goes Out?
Solar power systems are, overall, very reliable sources of clean, renewable energy. On any given day, if there’s sunshine, your system is almost certain to produce power for your home—unless the utility grid goes down. Many solar users are surprised to learn that their solar panels stop working during a grid outage, even when the sun is shining. Why does this happen, and is it possible to get around it? Keep reading to find out.
Understanding Grid-Tied Solar Systems
Most residential solar power systems are grid-tied, meaning that they are connected to the utility grid and use it as a backup power source when solar is not available. They also are designed to feed excess power back into the grid, usually in return for a credit on your next utility bill. When the grid goes down, the grid-tied solar power systems go down with it, regardless of how sunny it is.
Why It Happens
The primary reason for these automatic shutdowns is safety. Grid-tied systems have a built-in safety feature called “anti-islanding.” The term “islanding” refers to a situation in which your solar system continues to push electricity into the grid when it’s down, which can be very dangerous for utility workers who might be trying to repair power lines. If live power from solar-using homes is still feeding into the grid, it could lead to serious injury or death.
Anti-islanding prevents grid-tied systems from producing and pushing power to the grid by detecting grid outages and shutting off power production entirely until the utility company confirms it’s safe to continue.
Can You Get Around It?
So, you’re probably now wondering if there’s any other way around this situation that’s still safe for utility workers. Is it possible to prevent your system from pushing power to the grid while still allowing it to create energy for your home? In fact, there is, but it requires some additional equipment.
The primary thing you’ll need is a solar battery, which allows you to store excess solar energy that you can use when the grid goes down. During an outage, your system will automatically isolate itself from the grid and power your home from the battery and solar panels until the grid is back online. You’ll also need to install a hybrid inverter that can disconnect from the grid and create a temporary off-grid environment for your home.
Preparing for Future Outages
If you live somewhere with an unreliable grid, where blackouts are common, it may be worth investing in some extra wholesale solar panels, a hybrid inverter, and a solar battery bank. That way, when the grid goes out, your solar power system can keep your home functioning without a hitch in your power supply.
by Alex Carey on 2025-08-27 12:38:18
No comments yet.