Power Outages No More: Consider Solar Batteries For Your Home

Power outages are notorious. Aside from the hassle that comes with not being able to use your fridge or television, it also increases the possibility of hazard for you and your family. As more Kiwis take control of their household power, this may not be a problem anymore...

More and more New Zealand homes not only installing solar panels but solar batteries too. This means that more households have backup power in the event of an unplanned power outage, which is usually caused by weather disturbances or faulty lines.

As a pioneer in renewable energy, New Zealand leans towards cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions for Kiwis all over the country. Here’s what you need to know about going off the grid and investing in solar energy...

The first steps in going solar

If you have finally decided on going solar, it’s recommended to contact the Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand (SEANZ) - the country’s representative body for solar electricity. Before they can install solar energy options in your home, you must comply with their requirements first. 

If you want a do-it-yourself installation, you need to ensure you have compliance with NZ electrical standards, as well as city council regulators first. For some regions, a building consent is needed, so it’s best to check this before proceeding with the installation process.

Solar is green and sustainable

Installing solar panels and batteries in your home may not be the easiest option when connecting electricity, but it is worthwhile in the long run. When potential is maximised, solar energy can be as efficient as on-grid power.

A recent consulting report suggested that solar energy, in general, generates less greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to other renewable energy options. The report also showed that more and more Kiwi households will likely install solar panels and batteries in the future.

Avoiding outages by future-proofing 

In 2018, a power outage caused by a huge storm shut down the power in 120,000 households across Auckland. As a major NZ city, the power outage disrupted operations, including communications and technology; in some businesses, this lasted for 10 days! The worst part is, studies show that power outages with this scale can happen more often in the future.

Calls for safety precautions during these power outages soared, but more importantly, the movement to have more off-grid options were raised. It brought awareness to New Zealanders about being in control of their power and electricity at home.

Backup power means less panic

Although standards and precautions were set during power outages, the initial reaction of the public would be to panic. With backup power, Kiwis can become more focused on concerns such as what to do, who to call, and what to check when these circumstances occur.

If you are on-grid and off-grid at the same time, the first thing to do is to call your power provider. Ask how long the power outage is likely to last or what caused it to run out. With these answered, you can come up with a better plan on how to survive the power outage.

Saving costs in the long run

One of the greatest advantages of going solar is its cost-efficiency. While batteries can only store and generate ample power, you can utilise these whenever at full capacity. Because in no time, the sun shines again and replenishes your batteries at full bar.

Solar batteries may seem a bit costly, but they are worth it in the long run. It may not make that much difference in costs now, but the savings you are likely to experience in the next five to ten years will make a huge difference.

Are you ready to embark on your off-grid solar journey? It accounts not only for cleaner and environmentally friendly energy consumption, but also prevents you from experiencing power outages in your household.

You may also choose to have an on-grid and off-grid connection at the same time. Whatever your choice may be, be sure to check what power options are available in your area. Find out more about comparing electricity deals and providers online with Glimp!