What happens to solar power during a blackout?

In a blackout situation, the power from your solar panels goes nowhere - unless you have some way of storing the electricity (with a battery) or otherwise cutting your system off from the grid. In this video Will White explains what it takes to ensure you have power with solar during an outage: How can you use solar power to survive a power outage?

Can solar panels run a home during a power outage?

By creating your own little “island” of a home with solar panels and batteries, you can run essential appliances for days during a power outage. Read on to learn more about how to keep your home running during a power outage. Why don’t solar panels work in a blackout?

Do you need grid power if your solar system goes down?

When your solar system produces excess energy, you’re sending it out to your neighbors and getting credit for it (under net metering), but when the sun goes down, you still need grid power from the utility company. If you play this balancing act just right, you can have a power bill near $0.

Why are rooftop solar systems connected to the grid?

It's a safety precaution for utility workers. Most rooftop solar systems are connected to the grid so that you can sell your excess power for bill credits and other incentives. Any energy you don't use at home automatically flows into local power lines and back to the grid.

Will a rooftop solar array work if the grid is down?

Most rooftop solar arrays won't work when the grid is down. But backup batteries and some inverters offer a workaround.

What if I export solar power to the grid?

Luckily, there two easy ways to overcome this obstacle: Net metering: A law known as net metering requires utilities to compensate those who export excess solar power to the grid. In most cases you will be credited at the same rate you purchase power at on a cents per kilowatt-hour basis.