And suddenly, the power goes out. That’s exactly what happened in South Australia in 2022, when severe storms brought down transmission towers and left the entire state without power. Across Australia, blackouts are becoming more common, whether from intense summer heatwaves, bushfires damaging transmission lines, or storms lashing the east coast. An unexpected, widespread outage can happen at any time, and for many households, this is a frightening prospect.
The good news is that a solar (or PV) system can keep supplying your home with power during a blackout, provided it is properly equipped. Fronius offers a range of solutions to keep your home running when the grid goes down.
Why most solar systems stop in a blackout
Most solar systems shut down during a grid failure. To keep producing your own solar energy, you need an inverter with an emergency power function. Fronius offers several options.
Backup power socket
During an outage, selected single-phase loads (up to 3 kW) can be powered via a fused socket as long as the sun is shining. This backup socket, known as a PV Point, works without a battery and can run essential devices such as routers, fridges or mobile phone chargers.
All Fronius GEN24 and GEN24 Plus inverters are PV Point-capable, making it simple to implement this type of basic backup supply.
Automatic switchover to full backup mode
If you want your entire household to stay powered during a blackout, a full backup system is the answer. An automatic switching device detects the outage and seamlessly switches to alternative power sources, such as the battery or solar system. When the grid is back online, the system automatically reconnects without manual intervention.
Solar battery: a dependable energy reserve
A solar battery can store energy for use at night or on cloudy days. But not every battery is blackout-ready. For true reliability, the battery needs a backup power function and solar recharging capability in stand-alone mode.
With the Fronius Solar.web platform, you can even pre-charge your battery from the grid at the touch of a button, for example, if a storm is forecast or bushfire conditions are likely, increasing the chance of a localised outage.
Modern storage systems can also be intelligently managed, charging or discharging at cost-effective times of day, helping to ease the household budget.
Black start capability: restarting without the grid
What if the power goes out at night and the battery is flat? That’s where black start capability becomes a game-changer. Many systems can only restart once the grid stabilises. A black start-capable system, however, can power up automatically with the first rays of sunlight, no grid support required.
Not all solar inverters or batteries offer this feature. If you’re aiming for true energy independence, it’s worth considering. Fronius hybrid inverters and the Fronius Reserva high-voltage battery are both black start capable.
Secure energy supply
Those interested in short-term cost savings often overlook the cybersecurity risks that come with modern solar technology. There are growing concerns backed by expert reports that some inverters have vulnerabilities or undocumented communication components that, in worst-case scenarios, could allow malicious actors to interfere with grid stability. While there’s no confirmed case in Australia yet of an inverter being used to trigger a blackout, the risk is taken seriously by regulators and government bodies.
Fronius takes issues such as energy security, cyber security, remote control and data protection very seriously. Their systems are developed in Europe and meet the most stringent security requirements. Data is stored exclusively on servers in Austria and in European clouds.
All-inclusive solution from one provider
Fronius offers all the components you need for 24 hours of sun, a complete solar system from a single source. The Fronius Reserva is a powerful battery that perfectly rounds off the energy system for your home, complementing the portfolio. All components are perfectly matched and work together seamlessly. This ensures efficient and reliable operation. Customers also benefit from the Fronius warranty and the expertise of an Austrian family business with over 80 years of experience.
For more information about the Fronius Backup Power Solutions visit: https://www.fronius.com/en-au/australia/solar-energy/home-owners/products-and-solutions/backup-power
Content provided by Fronius Australia
