Does Solar Work During a Power Outage


As more Australian homeowners turn to solar energy, a common question arises: “Will my solar system work during a power outage?” The answer isn’t as straightforward as most expect. Let’s break down exactly how solar systems operate during blackouts, and what you can do to ensure your home stays powered when the grid goes down.

Whether you’re installing a new system or upgrading your existing one, understanding the relationship between solar power and grid outages is crucial.

How Grid-Tied Solar Systems Work

Most residential solar panel systems in Australia are grid-tied — meaning they are connected to the utility grid. During the day, your solar panels generate electricity. If your household doesn’t use all of it, the excess is fed into the grid (and often earns you a feed-in tariff).

But here’s the catch: standard grid-tied solar systems shut down during a power outage.

Why Standard Solar Systems Stop Working During a Blackout

It might sound odd — the sun is shining, your solar panels are working, yet your lights are off. This happens due to a safety feature called anti-islanding protection.

Anti-islanding is designed to prevent your solar system from sending electricity back into the grid during a blackout, which could endanger utility workers performing repairs.

This means that without a battery or backup solution, your solar system will automatically shut off during an outage, even if it’s a sunny day.

How to Keep the Power On During Outages

To keep your home running during blackouts, you’ll need a solar battery system with backup functionality. Here are your main options:

1. Solar + Battery Storage System

A solar battery stores excess energy generated by your panels, which can be used:

  • During the night

  • On cloudy days

  • When the grid goes down

Not all solar batteries provide backup. You need one with backup or emergency power mode.

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