Solar Power: The Solution to Power Outages

It seems that we are experiencing power outages more and more often each year. Mostly due to climate change and natural disasters, power outages and blackouts are often caused by wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme winter weather, and everything in between.

You might not even be in the trajectory of the inclement conditions but could suffer from a power outage simply from being on the same power grid as the affected area. Adding solar power to your home can reduce or even eliminate power outages for you, even when the house next door is in a total blackout.

The Difference Between an Off-Grid and Grid-Tied Solar System

When adding solar power to your home, you typically have two options: a grid-tied solar panel system or an off-grid solar system that includes a separate battery system to store excess electricity.

Benefits of Grid-Tied Solar Systems

A grid-tied solar system isn't going to help you when your electricity is out, as you're still dependent on the electrical grid for power.

The benefit of a grid-tied solar system is that you most likely will qualify for some type of financial incentive for using solar energy. Either from federal or state tax credits or net metering incentives, many municipalities reward residents for going solar.

A grid-tied solar system is not self-sufficient and doesn't store any electricity for later use. The energy that is generated from your solar panels is sent back into the electric grid for your electric company to redistribute.

Any excess energy you generate above what you consume is measured and added as a "credit" to your electric bill for later use. So, you can "bank" energy credits during the long days of summer and then use them over the shorter winter days.

Solar panels produce clean energy, even when tied to the electricity grid. So you can rest easy knowing that you're contributing to grid power in a clean, sustainable way.

Benefits of Off-Grid Solar Systems

An off-grid solar system is just that: solar energy is generated while being completely untied to any grid and includes battery storage for excess power to be used at a later time. When your solar panels aren't generating power, you can draw from the excess solar energy stored in your battery backup system.

Having complete energy independence and not being tied to a utility company to be able to generate electricity for your home is perfect for when there is a power outage. Being able to store unused power generated by your solar panels in an off-grid system to meet all of your energy needs is empowering, if nothing else.

In case of a natural disaster, having backup power is essential. There are more power outages than ever before. Having enough electricity to power essential appliances may make the difference between having to leave your home entirely or having the ability to stay home, even during a power outage.

How Solar Power Can Help You Survive a Power Outage

In addition to having solar panels on your home, complete with a solar inverter and solar battery backup, there are more ways you can utilize stored solar energy in the event of a power outage.

Being 100% dependent on the electric grid and only being able to draw power without any type of energy storage option is never a good idea. Keeping a few packs of AA batteries on hand will not suffice as a battery backup system or meet your energy storage needs.

There are various portable, rechargeable solar battery storage options available on the market if you do not want to invest in a full solar system.

Solar portable battery

If you simply want an option to charge your phone and a few other small electronic items, a portable solar battery will work in a pinch. Companies like Goal Zero and Jackery make various portable solar battery banks with portable solar panels connected to them to recharge.

Solar generator

More expensive than a small portable solar battery but more affordable than a complete residential solar system is a solar generator. With a power storage capacity to run a refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner, or even recharge your bike, a solar generator will give you peace of mind in a power blackout.

Cons of a backup gas generator

Many people default to a gas generator as a backup power system. They are readily available and cost considerably less than a solar generator. You don't have to plan to recharge during daylight hours, and if you're running low on power, you simply add more gas.

Unfortunately, gas generators are loud and produce pollutants. They also can't be used indoors. Using a gas backup generator also burns fossil fuels which is terrible for the environment. Although they come with a lower price, at what cost is it to the planet?

What States Have the Most Blackouts?

According to Climate Central, since 2000, the top reporting states with weather-related power outages are Texas, Michigan, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. This is an astounding 83% of all power outages reported.

In the California Bay Area, residents are often asked in the summer months to conserve electricity during peak times due to extreme heat waves. In fact, there are so many threats of blackouts in the Bay Area that the local utility company, PG&E, implemented a "Public Safety Power Shutoff" protocol to lower the risk of fires and other damage caused by power lines being knocked in the event of severe storms or wildfires.

Florida also has many power outages due to high winds taking out power lines. Recently, thousands of Florida residents were without electricity after hurricane Nicole made landfall.

In 2021, Texax had a massive power grid failure due to a record-breaking winter storm that swept the area. The cause of the power outages was due to failure to winterize electricity-producing sources, like wind turbines and natural gas infrastructure.

Solar Systems for Power Outages

Array can help you with your solar panel installation process regardless if you're connected to the grid or want something completely off-grid. We have a team on hand that can help you determine how much power you will need in case of a power outage.

Once you qualify your roof, someone on our team will get back to you to discuss your solar panel installation options.