The reason why even homes with solar panels weren't spared from the big blackout

According to Red Eléctrica, around 11:00 this morning, 100% of the peninsula's electricity demand was restored. It's been almost 24 hours since the massive blackout, and although virtually all the problems have been alleviated, we can't say that everything is back to normal.

Depending on where you were, and the facilities and resources available, your internet and power connection could last more or less . This is because many homes and businesses had backup batteries and generators that provided power when the general power systems failed.

Searches for these types of products multiplied during the first hours of the blackout, and many wondered about or even envied those who had solar panels in their homes.

However, the truth is that despite having photovoltaic panel systems, many buildings and homes suffered just as much from the blackout as the rest.

The reason many homes with solar panels weren't spared from the big blackout is due to how most grid-connected solar systems are designed to operate for safety reasons.

This is because the vast majority of residential solar panel systems are connected to the public electric grid . This allows homeowners to send excess solar energy back to the grid (often receiving credits) and draw power from the grid when their solar production is insufficient , such as at night or on cloudy days.

In turn, and for safety reasons, during a power outage, most of these systems automatically shut down to prevent the solar panels from sending electricity back to the grid while power company workers are trying to repair the lines.

Solar panels can provide power during a power outage, but only if the home has one of the following options:

1. An off-grid solar system : These systems are not connected to the public grid at all and rely solely on solar power, usually combined with battery storage.
2. A grid-tied system with battery backup and islanding capabilities : Some advanced solar systems include batteries and inverters that can automatically disconnect the home from the grid during a blackout and create a self-sufficient "island," using energy stored in the battery and any electricity the panels are generating.