Solar photovoltaic panels are created to absorb the sun’s energy and convert it to usable AC energy in your home. You may be wondering then, do my panels work when there is a blackout? It’s a great question. The sun is up so my system is producing. Thus, I have energy, don’t I? The answer is? It depends.

All solar systems are tied into the utility grid. The benefit of this is that your system will receive net metering credit. During the day, your panels will produce energy. The excess energy will go into the utility grid and you will earn credits for this production. Your panels will not produce energy at night but you will be using the credits that you generated during the day. The downside of being connected to the grid is that if there is a blackout your solar system will not work. All grid-tied solar systems are installed with an automatic shutoff switch which turns off your solar system in a power outage. This is done as a safety precaution to protect you, your neighbors, and the utility employees from any live wires that may be touched.

Related reading: How To Choose Solar Panels for Your Home

Operating Once The Power Goes Out

There are things that can be done if you want your system to operate during a blackout. Because your solar system produces direct current (DC) energy something will need to convert it to the alternating current (AC) that is used inside homes. There are string inverters and micro-inverters that accomplish this task. The SMA SunnyBoy with Secure Power Supply (SPS) is a string inverter that does this AND features a plug-in option. This plug-in is designed to operate under blackout conditions. However, it will only work while your solar system is producing energy. The plug-in will not produce any energy at night if there is a blackout.

For more details on Micro and String inverters, check the video below.

This secure power supply will provide up to 2000W of energy. For comparison, a 60W light bulb will use 60W in an hour. Five lights would utilize 300W in an hour. The secure power supply would be able to keep the power running for five lights for six hours (300 * 6 = 1800W) under blackout conditions. This should give you a general understanding of what the secure power supply can handle.

Battery Backed Solar

But what if you want to have more security and energy capability if there is a blackout? There is a solution for that: batteries! A solar system that has batteries will work during a blackout. The reason for this is that the solar system and battery will be wired independently of the grid. There will be no danger to utility employees and your home will have usable energy.

To size the battery properly we will need to know which critical loads you’d like to have backed up. Your solar system will operate during the day and if it not being used to full capacity the excess will go into the battery to be used at night when your system is not producing. Depending on the size of the battery and the energy consumption you may be protected for the entirety of the blackout!

There is also the chance that your power lines may suffer a brownout. This happens when there is a drop in voltage in the electrical power supply. Basically, there is not enough electricity available to everyone. It can be intentional by the utility to avoid a blackout, or unintentional. A brownout may last a few moments or a few hours. Your lights may flicker, some appliance may have reduced performance, and some electronics can be damaged or destroyed due to the irregular voltage. If this is common in your area, or if you want to protect yourself from them batteries provide that level of protection. Batteries will protect the critical loads that are connected to the battery.

So, if one of your main needs to go solar is to have power during a blackout, then there are a few solutions. If you want something that will work but will not add much cost to your array, then the SMA SunnyBoy with SPS is the way to go. If you want true 24-hr backup protection and a larger capacity, then a battery will be your solution![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

LG is a brand you may already be familiar with. They are a South Korean multinational manufacturer that makes televisions, mobile devices, tablets, smartwatches and a variety of household appliances big and small that may already be in your home. But did you know they also make premium solar panels?

While you may be familiar with LG’s other products and how they compare to the competition, you may not know how LG’s panels stack up against others in the solar industry.

LG currently offers two lines of products: Mono X Plus and NeON 2. Both come in 60 and 72 cell configurations. A solar cell is a unit inside a panel that converts solar radiation into electricity. Each panel has several cells, with 60 cells in a 6 x 10 configuration being the most common for residential purposes. Panels with 72 cells are bigger and typically heavier and are generally only used for commercial purposes. LG’s NeON 2 72 cell panels, however, are lighter and durable, causing some installers to consider them in residential applications as well. Solar panels vary in their efficiency to convert solar radiation into electricity based on their materials and construction, so even panels with the same number of cells will not give you the same amount of energy.

LG Solar Panel Efficiency

The Mono X Plus line is generally less efficient at 275-285 Watts (W) per panel and overall efficiency of 16.8-17.4%. The 60-cell NeON 2 panels range from 305-320 W and have efficiencies of 18.6-19.5%. NeON 2 72-cell panels have higher production due to their size (365-375 W), but they are slightly less efficient at 18.6-19.1%. With the average solar panel ranking at 14-15%, both LG options are premium panels.

Degradation

When considering a product, you need to know how durable it is. All solar panels degrade over time and their solar production wanes. The power potential is rated by the manufacturer to meet a specific target within the first year and every year thereafter for the typical 25-year lifetime of the product. The average panel is expected to perform with at least 97% of its capacity in the first year and degrade at no more than 0.7% every year after that for its 25-year lifespan. LG panels perform at a better than average 98% in the first year and 0.6% reduction every year thereafter.

Solar Warranties

Another thing to consider the stability of a company’s promises to you through their product. LG offers a 25-year performance guarantee on its above average claim against degradation. It also offers a 12-year warranty on defects and labor. Many other companies offer 25-year performance guarantees, but 10 years is the standard product warranty. Not only is LG’s offer above average, but the company is also a large multinational corporation with a diverse product base which gives it the stability to offer you peace of mind on its continued accountability for the lifetime of your panels.

LG Aesthetics

If you are concerned about the aesthetics of LG’s panels, they offer some variation in their product lines. There are generally three things which are considered aesthetically: cell color, backsheet color, and frame color. You may be ambivalent to the look of solar panels, but black panels are generally considered more aesthetically pleasing, and if you have a homeowner’s association where you live, you may need to consider the aesthetics of the panel. All of LG’s current products have black cells. Frames are anodized aluminum and come in either silver or black. The backsheet for almost all LG panels is white, creating a visible line between the cells of the panel. However, if you require an all-black panel, the LG NeON 2 305W Black panel can meet your needs.

LG Solar Panel Costs

The only downside to premium quality panels is that you will probably have to pay more than the average panel. While prices vary with offers from installers, the typical homeowner may expect to pay $0.40/W more for higher-end LG panels over lower quality ones. This equates to $128 more for each LG NeON 2 320 W panel over the equivalent number of lower quality panels. This means that a moderate 6.72-kilowatt system would require 24×280 W panels or only 21×320 W LG panels, but the LG system would cost $2,688 more. When determining which panel may be best for you, LG offers panels that may come at a significant cost premium, but also higher quality, efficiency, durability, and dependability.