Across Australia, power outages and summer blackouts are a fact of life. Storms, heatwaves, and faults in the power grid can leave homes without electricity for hours at a time. If you’ve invested in a solar panel system, it’s natural to wonder if your solar panels will keep running when the grid goes down.
The answer depends on the type of solar system you have. A grid-tied solar system behaves very differently to an off-grid system when the grid fails. Most households are connected to the electricity grid, and under Australian Standards, those systems automatically shut down in a blackout to protect power line and electricity workers. In contrast, an off-grid solar system with its own battery backup system is designed to keep powering your home during an outage.
In this article, we’ll explain the difference between on-grid solar systems and off-grid solar systems, why most panels shut down in a blackout, and what options, like a hybrid inverter or solar battery storage system, can provide real blackout protection. If you’re considering buying a new solar system, it’s worth deciding early whether blackout protection is a priority.
On-Grid Solar Systems
Most Australian households use a grid-tied solar system, meaning the home is connected to the wider electricity grid. In a power outage or blackout, these systems automatically switch off under Australian Standards. This safety measure, known as anti-islanding, prevents electricity from flowing back into the power lines where it could endanger repair crews.
Even though your solar panels are still generating solar energy during the day, that power cannot be used without some form of backup capability such as a hybrid inverter or battery backup system. For many homeowners, this is a surprise the first time a blackout occurs.
The upside of a grid-tied solar system is that it is generally more affordable, eligible for feed-in tariffs, and easier to install than a fully off-grid setup. The limitation is that, on its own, it does not provide blackout protection. Households that want the benefits of solar while staying connected to the power grid often choose this system, with the option to add a solar battery later for backup power.
Off-Grid Solar Systems
An off-grid solar system is completely independent of the electricity grid. Because it isn’t tied to mains power, it keeps supplying electricity to the home during a power outage or blackout without interruption. These systems rely on battery storage and are designed to provide full energy independence.
Off-grid setups are more common in rural and regional Australia, where connecting to the power grid can be difficult or costly. In suburban areas, most homeowners use grid-tied systems, but an off-grid solar system remains the most reliable choice for anyone who wants guaranteed blackout protection. The trade-off is cost and practicality: off-grid systems require larger battery storage capacity, careful management of energy consumption, and generally higher upfront investment. This is why most households choose a grid-tied option with the flexibility to add battery backuplater.
How to Keep Your Home Running With On-Grid Solar
A standard grid-tied solar system cannot power your home during a blackout, but there are ways to design it for backup power. The two most common approaches are adding a solar battery system or installing a hybrid inverter with a backup output. These create an isolated circuit, known as a backup circuit, that keeps selected appliances running when the power grid goes down.
A battery backup system paired with a hybrid inverter gives you the ability to power critical loads, usually essentials such as refrigerators, lights, Wi-Fi, or medical equipment. At the time of installation, you’ll need to tell your solar installer which circuits you want protected, because a backup system is not designed to cover the entire house. High-demand appliances like an air conditioner or electric oven may exceed the system’s battery storage capacity and are typically left off the backup circuit.
If you think you may want to add a home battery in the future, it’s best to choose a hybrid inverter at the time of purchase. Retrofitting later can be more costly and complex. While batteries are not the main focus of this article, they are currently the only practical way to keep a grid-tied solar system operating during a power outage, making them an attractive option for households seeking blackout protection and greater energy independence.
Do Solar Panels Charge Batteries During a Blackout?
A common question for homeowners is whether solar panels can continue charging a battery backup system during a blackout. The answer is yes, but only if the system has been designed with backup functionality.
In a standard grid-tied solar system without a battery, the panels shut down completely during a power outage because of anti-islanding requirements. When a system includes a hybrid inverter or a multimode battery system, the solar PVarray can still generate solar energy and direct it into the battery storage unit. This allows the home to keep charging its energy storage system during the day, extending the ability to run essential appliances at night or through longer outages.
Charging performance still depends on factors such as solar panel efficiency, weather conditions, and the available battery storage capacity. On cloudy days or in homes with high energy consumption, the battery may take longer to recharge. For households that want reliable blackout protection, system design matters. The size of the solar panel system, the choice between AC-coupled batteries and DC-coupled batteries, and the quality of the solar inverter all influence how well the system performs during a grid outage.
The key point is that not every solar setup will allow charging during a blackout. A well-designed solar battery backup system with a suitable hybrid inverter ensures that solar panels continue to generate usable power and keep the battery charged when the grid goes down.
The Short Answer?
When it comes to blackouts and power outages, the type of solar system you own makes all the difference. An on-grid solar system will shut down during a blackout unless it has been designed with backup power in mind. An off-grid solar system, on the other hand, keeps running as normal because it is completely independent of the electricity grid.
For households connected to the grid, adding a solar battery and hybrid inverter has become the most effective way to achieve blackout protection. This approach not only provides peace of mind during outages but also contributes to long-term energy independence. As battery technology improves and prices fall, more Australians are choosing to include battery backup systems in their solar panel systems as part of a shift toward reliable, resilient solar energy solutions.
If you’re considering solar or want to know whether your current system can protect you during a blackout, the team at Solar Water Wind can help. Our specialists can evaluate your system, explain your options for battery backup or hybrid inverters, and design a solution that meets your household’s needs. Call Solar Water Wind today to discuss how you can make your home more secure and resilient during the next power outage.
