Will my solar panels work in a power cut?

This depends on the type of solar panel system you want installed.  Presently, for most residential homes in the UK the answer will be NO. This is because of a safety feature in the most installed systems which are grid-tied solar panels with no battery backup.

Grid-Tied Solar Panels with No Battery Backup

These are popular because homeowners can:

• Benefit from financial incentives like the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) or the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)  and get compensated for the electricity exported to the grid.
• Increase eligibility to certain government led grants and incentives.
• Save on the cost of batteries particularly in the UK where the infrastructure is good and power outrages are few.

Safety

Of course, solar panels can continue to generate electricity while there is sunlight. But during a power outage, these systems are designed to automatically shut down. This is to stop your electricity being sent back to the grid while workers are trying to repair the power line.

Off-Grid Solar Panel Systems:

These systems rely on batteries to store excess energy generated during the day so that it can be used at night and also during power cuts. These are more popular in rural areas and in countries where the national power supply is less consistant.

This energy independence might be liberating, but it comes with a greater initial cost, limited storage and batteries maintenance.

Grid-Tied Solar Panels with Battery Backup

This is something you might want to talk to us about if you are in the Sutton and Croydon area.

In these systems, excess electricity generated by the solar panels is stored in batteries rather than being sent back to the grid. When there is power cut the battery backup can provide electricity to your home. Of course, whether you can continue using all your electrical appliances and lights or some will depend on the capacity of your battery.

With a Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) they can be set to provide uninterrupted power or be turned on manually in the event of a power cut.

If you are interested  home solar panel installations please see the contact form below or contact me on 020 8914 8297 . We are never pushy!  See our reviews:

4.9 out of 5 from 150+ Google reviews

We install solar panels and batteries in these South London (UK) areas:

Wallington, Purley, Carshalton, Coulsdon, Sutton, Croydon, Merton, Wimbledon, Streatham. Tooting, Mitcham, Reigate, Sevenoaks, Chipstead, Banstead, New Malden, Surbiton, Bromley, Beckenham.