In New Jersey, we’re at risk of power outages for most of the year, with hurricanes threatening to take out the grid during the summer and fall and winter storms barreling through soon after. Lately, storms have been getting stronger and happening more frequently, increasing the risk of long-term outages. To keep your family safe and comfortable during an emergency outage, you need to have a reliable backup power system for your home.
There are two main options for home backup power: a generator or solar panels with battery backup. In this guide, we compare the pros and cons of solar batteries vs generators to help you choose the best home power backup for your needs.
Home Backup Power Options
Solar Panels with Battery Backup
A solar panel and battery backup system is one of the best ways to power your home during a grid outage. Here’s how it works:
- Solar panels power your home directly during the day by turning sunlight into electricity.
- Any excess electricity not used by the home is stored in the battery backup system.
- When a power outage occurs, the system automatically disconnects from the grid to prevent electricity from backfeeding into power lines, ensuring the safety of utility workers.
- During a daytime outage, your solar panels operate normally. At night, the battery takes over, using stored energy to supply power to essential circuits.
It’s important to note that, without a battery, rooftop solar panels do not work during a power outage. To use your solar panels during a power outage, they must be connected to a battery.
Standby Generators
Standby generators use fuel, typically propane, natural gas, or gasoline, to generate electricity for your home. They come in many different sizes and can provide partial or whole-home backup power. Most whole-home generators are designed to turn on automatically during a power outage and can power your home indefinitely, as long as they have enough fuel.
Solar Battery vs Generator: Pros & Cons
Installation Costs
No matter what type of home power backup you install, it’s not going to be cheap, but a solar panel system with battery backup is more expensive than a standby generator alone. That said, you get more value from solar panels with battery backup than you do from a generator. Solar panels with battery storage reduce your reliance on the electric grid at all times, not just during a power outage, while also eliminating your electric bill. A generator, on the other hand, is only useful during a power outage and can still run you upwards of $10,000.
Operating Costs
Installation costs are only one piece of the puzzle—you also have to think about what it costs to use your backup power system. A solar battery runs on energy from the sun, which is free to use, so the operating costs are essentially zero. A generator needs fuel, which is an ongoing expense that adds up.
Fuel Availability
All backup power systems need fuel. But not all fuel types are readily available during an emergency. Sunlight will always be available during the day and is an extremely reliable fuel source. Of course, clouds can block sunlight and reduce your access, but they don’t cut it off completely. Other types of fuel, like gas and propane, can be caught up in shortages, especially during an emergency. They also need to be delivered. If a truck can’t get through to refill your generator because of downed trees and road blockages after a storm, you will be without power.
Environmental Impact
A solar battery is, of course, the environmentally friendly choice. Generators burn fossil fuels, and increase your carbon footprint. Solar energy is a renewable resource that’s good for the planet and does not emit harmful exhaust.
Incentives
Solar panels and batteries both qualify for incentives, including a federal tax credit worth 30% of their total cost and installation, making them significantly more affordable. If you choose to install a generator, you’ll have to pay for it on your own; generators don’t qualify for incentives.
The Final Verdict: Solar Batteries Come Out on Top
Solar panels with battery backup are an investment that not only provides backup power for your home but also pays for itself and, ultimately, earns money. It’s the only way to become completely self reliant during an emergency and to ensure you always have access to power when you need it.
NJ Solar Power is the local solar company New Jersey homeowners have trusted for over two decades. We can help you get the energy security and peace of mind you deserve with a solar plus battery system for your home.