Can You Lose Power with Solar Panels?

Solar panels providing power during an outage

If you’re considering installing solar panels on your home, you may be wondering if you’ll lose power during a blackout or other power outage. The answer to this question depends on whether or not your solar system includes battery storage.

Home Solar Systems with Battery Backup

A home system with solar battery storage allows you to store excess energy generated by your solar panels during the day for use at night or during an outage. This means that even if the grid goes down, you’ll still have access to power from your stored energy.

However, it’s important to note that the amount of stored energy will depend on the size of your battery and the amount of energy your system generates. A larger battery will be able to store more energy, and a larger solar system will generate more energy to store.

Home Solar Systems without Battery Backup

If you don’t have battery storage, your solar system will be connected to the grid. This means that during an outage, your solar panels will stop producing energy, and you’ll lose power just like with a traditional utility connection.

System Size and Consumption

The size of your solar system will also affect the amount of power you can generate and store. A larger system will be able to generate more power, but it will also require more space and cost more to install. It’s important to consider your energy consumption needs and budget when deciding on the size of your system.

Battery Storage and Weather

Battery storage also interacts with weather conditions. In extreme temperatures, the performance of the battery may be affected. In addition, during periods of extended cloudy weather, the battery may not be able to store as much energy, and you may need to rely more on grid power.

Whether you lose power with solar panels depends on whether or not you have battery storage. A home solar system with battery storage will allow you to store excess energy for use during an outage, but the amount of stored energy will depend on the size of the battery and the solar system. It’s also important to consider system size and consumption, as well as how weather can affect battery storage. If you’re considering a solar system, be sure to speak with an expert solar consultant to determine the best option for your needs.