Power Outages and Solar Energy
Recent power troubles after severe storms have made many homeowners ask themselves an important question: what happens to solar energy if my power goes out? The answer is simple. Solar power will not serve as a backup generator. Solar energy will go out just like other forms of energy do during a severe storm.
Keep in mind, however, that this does not make solar energy any less of a valuable investment for your home. As DC, Maryland, and Northern VA solar panel installation experts, we at Prospect Solar are dedicated to helping you understand the mechanics of how your system operates and what happens when the power goes out.
How Does My Solar Energy System Work?
Solar energy is powered by solar panels. These panels absorb the sun’s energy in order to create direct current (DC) electricity. However, since most establishments and houses run on alternate current (AC) electricity, DC electricity is converted to AC electricity through an inverter. Once solar energy is converted to AC electricity, it powers your home. Therefore, solar panels cannot serve as a backup if AC electricity goes out during inclement weather or other events.
Additionally, solar energy cannot be used in the case of a power outage in order to protect utility repairmen working to restore power. If electricity is back-feeded while utility repairmen are working on the lines, it could be dangerous or even fatal.
Can I Have a Backup Battery?
Backup batteries can be installed. Prospect Solar has the ability to design and implement a custom backup system. Nonetheless, we do not believe that a custom backup system is necessarily worth the price yet. Technology has not caught up enough to provide a good cost to benefit ratio. Having one’s solar provider in Northern VA, DC or Maryland install a backup battery can increase the cost by 30-50%. Additionally, custom backup systems require significant maintenance and replacement every 7-10 years.
However, the invention of the Tesla Power Wall may change these prospects. We believe there are still some things to work out in regard to this new invention. However, we are an authorized vendor and are happy to educate our clients on the details of the Tesla Power Wall.
How Can Prospect Solar Help?
The experts at Prospect Solar are adept at solar panel installation in Northern VA, DC and Maryland. We provide solar energy installation for homes, businesses and farms. Additionally, we provide services like Green Roof Integrated Photovoltaic and information on Community Solar.
As leading solar providers in Northern VA, DC and Maryland, we take pride in our residential solar energy installation services. We aim to install a solar energy system that provides both clean energy and a decreased cost. Prospect Solar’s solar panel installation for Northern VA and beyond is engineered to be less expensive over the course of 25 years than conventional energy would be in that 25-year span.
Additionally, our solar energy services give homeowners access to net metering. Net metering makes it possible to credit power and reduce monthly electrical costs.
Although your solar panel system will not function during the rare power outage, solar panel installation is overall a lucrative investment that not only helps cut down your energy costs but helps promote a greener planet.
Contact us online for a free solar estimate and evaluation. You can also give us a call at (703) 444-2447.