Key takeaway
Most solar panels don't work during a power outage. A grid-tied solar system shuts off automatically when the grid goes down, so it doesn't send power into lines that utility workers may be repairing. To keep solar power during an outage, you need a solar battery and an inverter set up for backup power.
Who this guide is for: Massachusetts homeowners with solar, or thinking about it, who want to know what happens to their solar when the power goes out.
If you have solar and the power goes out, you might expect your panels to keep the lights on. Most of the time, they don't, even on a bright sunny day. That surprises a lot of homeowners in Massachusetts.
Here's what happens to your solar system during a power outage, why it works that way, and what it takes to keep power when the grid goes down.
Do Solar Panels Work During a Power Outage?
Not on their own. Most home solar in Massachusetts is a grid-tied solar system, which means it's connected to the power grid through your utility. When the grid goes down, a grid-tied solar system shuts off within seconds. Your solar panels are not producing power for your home until the grid comes back.
So if your neighbor has solar panels and they lose power too, nothing is broken. That's the system doing exactly what it's designed to do.
Why Do Grid-Tied Solar Systems Shut Off When the Power Goes Out?
It's about safety. During an outage, utility workers may be repairing power lines in your neighborhood. If your solar panels kept sending power into the grid, those lines could be live while crews are working on them.
To protect utility workers, your solar inverter watches the utility grid all the time. The moment it senses that grid power is gone, it stops your solar panels from sending power into the grid. Grid-tied solar systems automatically shut down this way under national safety standards, and they turn back on by themselves once grid power returns.
How Can You Keep Solar Power During an Outage?
You need a place to store energy and a way to safely separate your home from the grid. That's what a solar battery system does.
Add Solar Battery Storage
Solar batteries store excess solar energy your panels make during the day. When the power goes out, a solar and battery system disconnects your home from the utility grid and runs on the battery instead. During the day, your solar panels generate electricity to power your home and recharge the battery, even while the grid is down.
That's the big difference between solar with a battery and solar without one. With a battery, you get uninterrupted power to the circuits it backs up. Without one, you lose power like everyone else.
Hybrid Solar Systems
A hybrid solar system is connected to the grid and has battery storage. A hybrid solar inverter manages power from the solar array, the battery and the grid. Hybrid solar systems offer the best of both: net metering credits when the grid is up, and backup power when it's down.
Off-Grid Solar Systems
Off-grid solar systems aren't connected to the power grid at all. They rely on solar panels and energy storage for every bit of electricity, so they need a lot of battery capacity and often a generator. They're rare for homes in Massachusetts, where most homeowners want to stay connected to the power grid and use net metering.
Grid-Tied vs. Hybrid vs. Off-Grid Solar Systems
| System | Connected to the grid? | Power during a power outage? | Net metering? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grid-tied solar | Yes | No, it shuts off | Yes |
| Hybrid solar (solar and battery) | Yes | Yes, for the circuits the battery backs up | Yes |
| Off-grid solar | No | Yes, if there's enough stored energy | No |
What Can Solar Batteries Power During a Blackout?
It depends on how much storage capacity you have, how many batteries are in the system and how much sun you get during the outage. Most homes set up a solar battery backup system to power the essentials.
- Your refrigerator and freezer
- Lights and outlets in key rooms
- Wi-Fi and phone chargers
- A well pump or sump pump
- The blower on your furnace or boiler
Big loads like central air, electric heat and EV charging can drain a battery fast. A larger system can cover more, but backing up the whole home takes more batteries and a bigger investment. Your installer can help you decide which circuits matter most to you.
Thinking about solar with backup power?
Send Mark your quote. He'll tell you if the battery setup actually covers what you want to keep running.
Mark, review my quoteIs Backup Power Worth It in Massachusetts?
For a lot of homes, yes. Nor'easters, ice storms and summer thunderstorms can knock out power for hours or days, and most outages in New England happen in winter. Power outages can disrupt everything from your heat to your work-from-home setup.
A solar battery does more than cover outages here, too. Through ConnectedSolutions, Massachusetts battery owners can get paid when their battery helps the grid during peak demand, which mostly happens on hot summer afternoons. If you mainly want coverage for long outages, it's worth weighing a solar battery vs generator, and some homes use both.
FAQs About Solar Panels During a Power Outage
Will my solar panels work during a Massachusetts winter storm outage?
Not without a battery. A grid-tied solar system shuts off any time the grid goes down, whatever the season. With solar battery storage, your home can keep power during the outage, and your panels can recharge the battery whenever there's daylight.
Can I use solar power during an outage without a battery?
Not with a standard grid-tied solar system. It shuts down to protect utility workers and stays off until the grid comes back. To use solar power during power outages, you need energy storage and an inverter built for backup.
Does my battery still back up my home if it's enrolled in ConnectedSolutions?
Yes. ConnectedSolutions events mostly happen on hot summer afternoons, and you can opt out of an event if you want to. When the grid goes down, your battery switches to backing up your home.
Do I need a battery to go solar in Massachusetts?
No. Solar works without one, and net metering credits your bill for the extra power you send back to the grid. You only need a battery if you want power during an outage or want to earn ConnectedSolutions payments.
About Mark Featherstone
Mark has been in solar for 14+ years, working at some of the biggest solar companies in the country, before co-founding Your World Solutions. His goal is simple: help homeowners get into solar deals that actually work for them, and make sure they understand every part of it before they sign.