Winter Preparedness: Convenience, Comfort and Continuity

Oregon winters have a way of keeping things interesting. Wind, falling trees and occasional snow are all part of living here, and sometimes so are power outages. At Sunpath, we install battery storage for new solar systems and we add battery backup to existing installations. The winter months are a good reminder of what that extra layer of energy independence can provide: convenience, comfort and continuity when the grid isn’t available.

What Happens to Solar When the Power Goes Out?

One of the most common questions we hear! Grid-connected solar is designed to immediately shut down during a utility outage to protect the crews working to restore power. When solar is paired with batteries, your home can disconnect and use the energy stored in your batteries. Solar can also continue producing electricity to recharge the batteries and help with your electrical loads, as long as there is enough light hitting the panels. In other words, solar and batteries give you a way to store and use energy when the grid isn’t available.

Keeping Everyday Life Running

Think about your normal evening routine… dinner is cooking, someone is doing homework, the refrigerator is full, the Wi-Fi is running, and phones and laptops are charging. Then the power goes out. Battery backup can make that moment considerably less disruptive. Stored energy can keep important parts of your home operating, including refrigerators, lights, internet equipment and other electrical loads.

One of the biggest conveniences of a properly configured battery backup system is that the transition can happen automatically. You don’t have to be home to make it happen - the battery steps in, and important parts of your home can continue operating.

What About Oregon’s Cloudy Winters?

Shorter days, lower sun angles and cloudier weather mean solar panels produce far less electricity during the winter months. That’s something we account for when designing a solar and battery system. During an extended winter outage, how long your home can run on backup battery power will depend on the weather, your battery capacity and your home’s usage. These are topics we discuss with you and account for during the initial system design process.

We can’t pretend that Oregon has Arizona sunshine in January, so it’s important to design a system for the place you actually live and to make sure you understand what you can realistically expect during an outage.

Designing Backup Around Your Life

If the power went out tonight, what would you want to keep running? Your answer gives us a starting point for designing the system. Every household is different, which is why battery systems aren’t one-size-fits-all. One homeowner may want to keep the refrigerator, Wi-Fi and lights running. Another may have a well pump or other equipment that is especially important during an outage. Part of designing a battery system is determining what you want to keep powered and then sizing and configuring the system around those priorities.

Free Solar + Battery Assessments

If you already have solar and are curious about adding battery storage, or you are considering including backup power with a new solar installation, Sunpath can help! We listen to your needs, explain the best options and solutions, and then design a system around your home and the way you use it. Reach out today if you would like to learn more!