Can Solar Panels Work During a Power Outage?

If you’re a business owner in Columbus exploring solar energy, this question probably crossed your mind:
“Will my solar panels keep my building powered if the grid goes down?”

Here’s the honest answer:
No—solar panels alone won’t keep your power on during an outage.
But with the right system design, they absolutely can.

Why Solar Panels Alone Don’t Work in a Blackout

Most commercial solar systems are grid-tied. That means:

• They feed power to the grid during the day.

• Your business pulls power from the grid when needed.

• If the grid fails, your system automatically shuts off.

This is a built-in safety feature required by utility standards like UL 1741 and IEEE 1547. It prevents solar systems from pushing electricity onto power lines during outages, which could endanger utility workers.

How BC Solar Keeps Businesses Powered

At BC Solar, we specialize in solar + battery systems. These are called hybrid or “battery-backed” solar systems.

Here’s how they work:

• Your solar panels generate electricity during the day.

• Excess power charges your battery storage system.

• When the grid goes down, your inverter seamlessly switches to battery power.

No flicker. No stress. Your business stays operational.

Our clients keep:

• Lighting on

• Security systems active

• Refrigeration running

• Critical equipment protected

We typically use Sol-Ark inverters, which are UL 1741-certified and built specifically for backup scenarios. These systems are smart, scalable, and Ohio grid-compliant.

Real-World Example: Columbus Office Building

One local business added a third battery to their Sol-Ark system after experiencing several brownouts. Now, even if the grid drops unexpectedly, their entire lighting and refrigeration load remains up and running—automatically.

They didn’t just gain backup power. They gained peace of mind.

FAQ: Commercial Solar and Outages

Q: Can I install batteries later?
Yes. BC Solar designs systems to be modular. We often “future-proof” commercial installs so you can easily add battery storage down the line.

Q: Do batteries work without solar?
Yes. In fact, some Columbus businesses use batteries alone to avoid peak demand charges. Our inverters can intelligently switch to battery power during high-usage periods to save money—even without panels.

Q: Is backup power automatic?
Yes. With a properly configured hybrid inverter, the switch to battery power happens instantly during an outage.

Looking to protect your business from Ohio's next outage?

Let’s design a battery-backed solar system built for resilience and ROI.

Call BC Solar at (614) 442-9700 or visit bc.solar.