Why Solar Backup Power Is Better for the Planet and Your Health

Instead, she and other experts recommend investing in greener backup power sources, namely solar and battery technology. These units can range from portable solar-powered batteries to larger home systems that include rooftop solar panels connected to battery storage systems. Depending on the technology and how much energy they use, some of these systems can power an entire home for days during a power outage. They can also provide year-round benefits, including lower utility costs.

“A back-up gas generator for your home is like an insurance policy where it doesn’t provide any value until you have a really bad day,” said Mark Dyson, managing director of zero-carbon electricity at energy think tank RMI. “Other solutions we want to explore – like solar plus storage, for example – save money every day and then also provide a backup in an emergency.”

We've looked at how solar-powered batteries compare to traditional fossil fuel generators. Here's what you need to know.

The size of the generator or backup battery depends on how much power you need, said Noah Kittner, a power systems expert and assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

These are the oldest and most common type of generator. They run on a variety of fuels, including diesel, propane, and natural gas, and can be portable or permanently installed.

You can use it to power a variety of electronic devices, larger appliances, and entire homes. The number of appliances a fuel generator can power depends on its size, power output, and the amount of fuel you have available.

Batteries also come in a variety of sizes and can be portable or mounted. Smaller batteries may be sufficient to power a small electric fan, charge cell phones, or operate a radio.

You might need at least eight to 12 hours of backup power for your refrigerator, Kettner said. Common household-sized rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can generally provide that much power.

Dyson said that standalone batteries have a time limit. Even larger batteries can run out of power very quickly if you’re using them to power appliances that consume a lot of power, like stoves or air conditioners. That means if you’re using these batteries during a power outage, once they’re dead, You'll have to wait for the power to come back on or find another way to charge it.

Portable batteries, which also vary in power output, It can be equipped with small solar panels, so it can be charged without being connected to electricity. If the battery is completely empty, it may take several hours to recharge it using solar power.

You can also get larger systems with rooftop solar panels connected to battery storage systems. These residential setups can benefit homeowners even when the power isn’t out, said Z. Smith, director of sustainability and building performance at EskewDumezRipple, an architecture firm with offices in New Orleans and Washington, D.C.

“Economically, you get a benefit all the time from the battery and solar system, whereas the generator is a dead loss and its benefit is only there during a power outage,” Smith said.

Solar and rooftop storage systems are connected directly to your home’s electrical system, Dyson said. Most portable batteries connect directly to individual appliances or via extension cords. Similar to a fossil-fueled backup generator, some larger batteries can be connected using transfer switches, which connect them to your electrical panel. When the power goes out, the switch allows your home to draw power from your backup source instead of the grid.

Dyson said emergency power sources can be more effective if your home is well insulated and weatherproofed to prevent air leaks.

No matter what type of backup power you have, you need to be careful about using power during a power outage, Burke said.

“It's usually important to be wise about how you use energy in your home. You shouldn't be running the dishwasher, the washer and dryer, everything in the house at the same time. These are emergency situations,” she said.

Avoiding harmful and polluting fumes is one of the main advantages of not using fossil fuel generators.

These generators produce exhaust gases that contain dangerous pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide. Operating them can also release carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can kill people in minutes if it builds up indoors. Generators also tend to be noisy.

“One of the biggest concerns is local air quality,” Burke said. “Imagine a neighborhood that has a power outage and every other home or household has some kind of fossil fuel power generation running all the time, and it’s incredibly hot and humid — and all of that builds up in the ground-level ozone layer, causing serious respiratory distress.”

He should Never use fossil fuel burning generators. Inside your home or garage, even if you leave the windows open. Place portable generators at least 20 feet from any open dwellings, windows, or garages with the exhaust directed away from homes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It's important for people to understand that if you do this kind of informal thing like get a gasoline generator and keep it powered up and put it on the porch or something like that, you're essentially bringing what could be a hazard into or near your home,” Smith said.

The cost of any type of generator depends, in part, on its size and the technology used, but prices can also vary between similar models.

For example, a mobile device. 5000 watt diesel generatorwhich is the common size that can be used for small homes, apartments, and recreational vehicles, can cost anywhere from about $500 to over $5,000. One model A solar battery that can generate 5,000 watts continuously costs about $4,700.

If you want a more powerful, sustainable form of backup power, it’s going to be expensive. Dyson said the initial price of installing a residential solar panel and battery storage system would be much higher than a gasoline or diesel generator of the same size. But these systems can generate savings for homeowners in the long run, and there are federal tax incentives and, in some cases, no-down financing options, to help lower the cost of the technology and installation.

“If you look at the value of solar alone, it pays off very quickly in most places in the country,” Dyson said, adding that battery storage is also becoming more cost-effective.

At the same time, the costs of maintaining and refueling standard generators can add up over time. Without regular maintenance, generators may not work when you need them to.

“The difference is that a diesel generator sits there and degrades, whereas a solar plus battery system gives you value all the time, and adding a battery can give you flexibility,” Smith said.