Photo: Kelly

Why I have no power from solar when grid is off?

Solar power systems will not work during a blackout for technical and safety reasons. In the hours without consistent sunlight, you'll still receive your electricity through the traditional grid system. Similarly, the majority of solar systems work is using monitoring and inverter devices.

sunenergy.com.au - Does solar work in a blackout? SunEnergy - Solar Panels Brisbane

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In Australia we aren’t strangers to an occasional blackout. These can happen for many reasons such as storms, maintenance and technical faults. All leaving you powerless and stranded in the dark.

So… does solar work in a blackout?

Although solar power has incredible financial and environmental benefits. A common misconception is that it can provide you with security during blackouts. While this can be the case with a specific system fail safes, solar power will not work during the blackout. Solar power systems will not work during a blackout for technical and safety reasons. In the hours without consistent sunlight, you’ll still receive your electricity through the traditional grid system. Similarly, the majority of solar systems work is using monitoring and inverter devices. These adjust the efficiency of the panels accordingly. Without this, as in the case of a blackout, the inverter will no longer function. Think of the inverter as the brain of your system. Without it you can experience an array of electrical issues in your home. Blackouts require immediate maintenance from local electrical teams. However your solar system still feeds excess power back into the system. While electricity is running on the grid, electricians and technicians cannot safely work in the failed areas. Therefore they shut down solar systems in the area for the safety of workers. Although this might sound painful, there is still a way you can use solar power in a blackout. Solar batteries are one of the exciting new technologies that are turning solar power into a more consistent energy choice. Consequently, they are an option for people looking to have protection against blackouts. Depending on the size of your system or the power demands of the building, you will need a certain type of battery to have ample power storage. Battery systems take the excess solar power generated throughout the day, and rather than delivering it back to the grid, they use it to charge. When the sun is down, or electricity is cut, and your panels do not work, a solar battery system can continue to give you power for a period of time. This is one way to get around the blackout issue here in Australia. While some organisations purchase large backup generators, you can count on solar batteries to help you get over the line. Whilst batteries are a great way to safeguard against black outs they also add costs to your solar power system. Therefore making the return on investment more complicated. A more economic alternative is to sell your solar back to the grid and then buy it back when needed. For more cost savings like this, check out our Solar Hacks eBook – A FREE guide on how to hack your energy bills for homeowners without Solar. For more information on the inner workings of solar panels during a blackout, or about how much a battery system will cost, give the team at SunEnergy a call for a chat. Our solar experts have all the know-how to keep the power supply on for as long as possible. *Allowable system sizes and feed in tariffs do vary by state and region. Please consult your local electricity provider or council for more information.

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How long does off-grid solar last?

Home solar battery units last anywhere between 5 and 15 years. If you decide to install a solar battery today, it's almost certain you'll need a replacement in the future to match the 20- to 30-year lifespan of your solar power system.

sunrun.com - What Is the Life Expectancy of a Solar Battery? - Sunrun

Solar Battery Type:

If you’re asking, “What are the best batteries for solar power?” then you need to know that solar power batteries are made with one of three different chemical compositions: lead acid, lithium ion, or saltwater. Of the three types, lithium-ion batteries (also known as li-ion batteries) are the most common sources of energy storage for a home solar system.4

Lead-Acid Batteries:

Lead-acid batteries have been used in off-grid energy systems for decades, and while they’re one of the least expensive options on the market, lead-acid batteries have a shorter lifespan, and lower depth of discharge (DoD) compared to lithium-ion batteries. The opposite of charging, a battery’s DoD reflects the amount of power the battery is able to discharge relative to its full kilowatt-hours (kWh) capacity.5

Lithium-Ion Batteries:

When it comes to home energy storage systems, lithium-ion batteries are the gold standard because they're lighter, more compact, and have a longer lifespan and higher DoD than lead-acid batteries. Not only that, but higher demand has decreased the cost of lithium-ion batteries by 85%, making solar power backed by solar storage that much more attainable.6

Saltwater Batteries:

Unlike lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, saltwater batteries don’t contain heavy metals and instead rely on saltwater electrolytes. This makes saltwater batteries more environmentally friendly and allows them to be easily recycled. Still, as a new technology, saltwater batteries remain somewhat untested.7 If you’re looking to maximize your solar energy potential, lithium-ion batteries will offer the most reliable source of power.

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