Will Solar Panels Work During Power Outages in Nigeria?

Over the years many people continue to go solar due to the constant power challenges ravaging Nigeria, however most Nigerians still have their skepticism on how reliable solar energy will be when there’s power outage.

They often ask Will solar panels work during power outages in Nigeria? Well when you consider the fact that power outage happens regularly in Nigeria, you will understand the fears on those wishing to install solar system, in this article, we’ll try to explain to you how solar system do function in case of power outage, we’ll also explain how you can keep your solar system running irrespective of the power situations you will find yourself

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight then converting it to electricity using photovoltaic (PV) cells. These solar panels do not actually store these electricity directly, instead you will make use of the electricity immediately or it can be sent to the grid for those operating a grid-tied systems or you can store these energy with solar batteries.

For your solar system to function very well when there’s power outage, the type of system you Install is going to pay a huge role. we’ll briefly take a look at some of the different types of solar systems out there and how they can function incase of power outage.

Types of Solar Systems and Their Performance During Power Outages

1.Grid-Tied Solar Systems

With grid-tied systems, your solar system will be connected to the national grid and they’re going to always work hand in hand. you do not need to have battery storage as your solar energy will rely on the power of the grid in order to continu to function

Will solar panels work during power outages in Nigeria if you have a grid-tied system?

The answer is a No. Once your solar system is tied to the national grid without batteries, they’re going to stop working immediately the power grid goes down, the reason is very simple, the inverter needs grid electricity before the can function very well. in order to escape this conudurm, if your solar system is already grid-tied, you can easily upgrade it to a hybrid system, to do this, just add batteries.

2.Off-Grid Solar Systems

For off-grid systems, they are very much independent of the national grid, they usually rely totally on the solar panels as well as the batteries for their power.

This particular system comes with a charger controller that is able to regulate the charging of the battery, they also make sure enough energy is stored up for use during the night or cloudy days. you may ask Do off-grid solar systems work during blackouts?

The answer is Yes! since your power generated is not connected to the grid, whether the grid is powered or not, it won’t affect you, so you have no business with power outage, if you stay in rural areas or places where electricity is not constant, this might be very ideal for you.

3. Hybrid Solar Systems

With the Hybrid system, you are going to enjoy both benefits of grid-tied and off-grid setups, Here you are going to make use of solar panels and batteries, however you still have the option to get your power directly from the grid

Will hybrid solar systems work during power outages? Of course, Since you already have the battery as the backup, they will continue to give you electricity even when the grid is down.

The Role of Batteries in Keeping Your Solar System Running

If you have intentions of keeping your solar system running especially during blackouts, then you definitely need to get batteries. What batteries does is to help you to store excess solar energy that was generated during the day, then they will supply the energy when the sun is no longer shining or when there’s power outage

Types of Batteries Used in Solar Systems

1.Lead-Acid Batteries: These types of batteries are very affordable, however the have very short livespan, and the also needs regular maintenance, the can last for around 3 to 5 years before you replace them with new ones.

2.Lithium-Ion Batteries: These types of batteries are more expensive than the Lead-acid batteries, they also charge faster and last longer too, the require less maintenance too, the can last for about 8 to 15 years before you replace them.

How to Ensure Your Solar System Works During Power Outages

If your major goal is to enjoy an uninterrupted power supply even when there’s power outage, then you must have to follow these steps.

1.Choose the Right System

If you happen to live in an area that always Experience frequent power outages, you should simply go for an off-grid or Hybrid system instead of a grid-tied one. this way you will be in complete charge of the power you generate

2.Invest in a High-Quality Inverter

The Job of The Inverters is to help convert the energy from the sun into useable energy for our appliances, A hybrid or off-grid inverter is very important if you want a system that will work very well during power outage.

3.Use Reliable Batteries

The power of your battery capacity should be able to match the kind of electricity power you need, for example, if you have a 200Ah Lithium ion battery, it will be able to power just some basic appliances like your fan, light, TV’s

4. Get Professional Installation

If you have proper Installation, it means you are going to maximize your energy, so we recommend you reach out to Arenahub Global for expert Installation services, we promise with us you’ll get the most out of your solar system

5. Regular Maintenance

You should cultivate the habit of cleaning your solar panels as well as checking how well the battery is performing. this will help your system to run actively for years to come.