As more homeowners seek energy independence and protection against rising electricity prices, grid-connected photovoltaic systems have become a popular choice. These systems help offset utility costs by generating clean solar energy and, in many regions, even allow homeowners to sell excess power back to the grid through net metering.
However, when it comes to power outages, grid-tied solar systems often fall short—leaving many users surprised and frustrated. If your goal is to secure uninterrupted electricity during blackouts, it’s essential to understand how grid-connected systems work and whether they’re truly reliable in such scenarios.
A grid-connected or grid-tied photovoltaic system is designed to operate in coordination with the public electricity grid. Here's how it works:
Solar panels generate electricity during the day.
The electricity is either used directly in your home or exported to the grid.
When your solar output is insufficient (e.g., at night or on cloudy days), your home draws electricity from the grid.
In areas with net metering, any surplus electricity you send back can earn you credits on your utility bill.
At first glance, this sounds like the perfect solution: reduce your utility bill and contribute to a greener planet. But the key limitation becomes clear during a power outage.
In the event of a power outage, most grid-connected solar panels will "go off duty" religiously. Even on days when the sun is shining brightly outside, the house plugs won't be able to draw in any electricity - unless you have put batteries into your system, or simply made it off-grid/hybrid.
Don't electrocute the grid workers
When the power grid is down, the repairmen can be scaling poles and handling wires. If your panels are still secretly delivering electricity to the grid, they are equivalent to discovering that the red wire remains live when disarming a bomb, and innocent lives can be lost within a minute.
Don't make the grid "arrhythmic"
The grid is such a metronome, which typically oscillates 60 times per second (60 Hz). When power goes out, the beat is broken. Coercing electricity onto your solar panels is akin to slapping on drums at random, which will burn household appliances at minimum and take down the grid at worst.
Don't do bad things
The building codes and national regulations in black and white language formally state: grid-interconnected systems must have "automatic shutdown in the event of power failures." If someone thinks it's in the way and wishes to disassemble or switch it off, it is not only unsafe but also in outright breach of the law.
If you want to keep the house from descending into darkness even for a moment during a power failure, then mere grid connection won't suffice. There are two reliable options.
This is upgrading the grid-connected system to a `hybrid version` from the traditional version, wherein, sometime in the daytime, the generated electricity will be dumped into the batteries and when the grid goes off, the systems will automatically switch to battery power for lighting and refrigerating air, and the change is absolutely seamless.
Cut out the grid and construct for yourself an "independent small grid": solar panels + huge battery pack, fully autonomous 24 hours a day all through the year. The positive side for this is never can a power outage hold you hostage, and the downside is to invest more money and time at the very beginning. You will need to be comfortable with the bigger battery.
| Feature | Grid-Tied | Hybrid Solar + Battery | Off-Grid |
| Works during blackout | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Relies on grid | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (optional) | ❌ No |
| Net metering available | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Higher upfront cost | ✅ Low | ⚠️ Moderate | ✅ High |
| Energy independence | ❌ Low | ✅ Medium-High | ✅ Very High |
As the weather becomes harsher, the power lines face aging, and people use more and more electricity, power outages have become the new normal. Homeowners now not only want to cut costs on their electricity bills, but also want peace of mind in the dark hours.
What can a "hybrid" solar system do?
Make a list first: lights, Wi-Fi, refrigerator, air conditioning/heating, which ones need to be powered?
Calculate their power consumption and determine how many kWh they use in a whole day.
Add a 20% margin extra, just in case.
Choose a battery that can be installed piece by piece, and add "building blocks" when you want to expand the capacity in the future.
Calculate how much electricity you should produce during the day to fully charge the battery.
For an average family who would want to "power the whole house", the battery should have 10 to 40 kWh of electricity, depending on your house size and electricity consumption patterns.
For over 20 years, Huijue Group has been a pioneer in renewable energy and smart energy storage solutions. Our advanced energy systems are trusted in hundreds of residential, commercial, and industrial settings worldwide.
High-efficiency solar panels
Durable LiFePO₄ batteries
Smart EMS platform for real-time monitoring
Versatile configurations (hybrid, off-grid, microgrid-ready)
Time-tested performance in a range of climates and applications
Whether you're retrofitting your current solar system or beginning anew, Huijue has bespoke solutions to shield your home from blackouts and provide seamless power.
While grid-connected solar systems are wonderful for saving on electricity bills and promoting sustainability, they fall short in a power cut. If energy independence for your home is top priority, opt for hybrid or off-grid solar systems with battery backup.
With a reliable system in place, light will be a thing of the past.
Do you require help choosing the proper system for your home?
Contact Huijue Group today for a custom-made energy solution. We can help you adapt to clean energy—without hassle, safely, and efficiently.
