Solar panels absorb the sun's energy throughout the day and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. Most homes and businesses run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so the DC electricity is then passed through an inverter to convert it to usable AC electricity. At that point, you either use the electricity in your house or send it your battery bank to charge your batteries for when loadshedding happens.

When you install a solar energy system on your property, you save money on your electricity bills and protect yourself against rising electricity rates in the future. How much you can save depends on the utility rates and municipal policies in your area, but going solar is a smart investment regardless of where you live.

Solar power, like other renewable energy sources, has many environmental and health benefits. Going solar reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change, and also results in fewer air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, which can cause health problems.

Studies have shown that homes with solar energy systems sell for more than homes without them. In most parts of the country, going solar will actually increase your property value more than a kitchen renovation.

The amount of power your solar energy system can generate is dependent on sunlight. As a result, your solar panels will produce slightly less energy when the weather is cloudy, and no energy at night. However, because of high electricity costs and financial incentives, solar is a smart decision even if you live in a cloudy city.

Most solar systems are grid-tied, meaning they are connected to the local power grid. This allows solar homeowners to use their solar systems when the sun is shining, and to switch seamlessly over to municipal electricity on cloudy days or at night.

For grid-tied solar systems, it’s important to understand how a power outage will affect your system and your home. Firstly, when the grid goes down, your solar panels will automatically stop producing electricity. This is a required safety feature on all solar systems.

As a result, when the grid is down and your solar panels stop producing electricity, your home will not have power (even if the sun is shining).

If you want your solar panels to continue producing electricity even when the grid goes down, you will need to pair your solar array with batteries. This pairing – called a hybrid system – allows your panels to produce electricity while remaining isolated from the grid, avoiding any safety issues.

Your solar electricity will be stored in the batteries and can be consumed by your home when the grid is down, allowing your home to remain powered during a grid outage.

There are two categories of batteries currently on the market:

1. Lead Acid Batteries:

Lead acid batteries have been around a long time. They’ve powered cars, tractors, submarines, and have been used to provide backup power to homes and buildings. The most common variety of lead acid batteries for backup power is called “sealed lead acid”. These types of lead acid batteries do not require regular maintenance to keep them operational. Lead acid batteries have a lower upfront cost than newer lithium-ion batteries. They also take up more space than newer options. Depending on how often they are used (or “cycled”), they can last from 3 to 6 years.

2. Lithium-Ion Batteries:

The market for lithium-ion batteries is growing rapidly, with more options coming out often. The technology offers a higher density of energy (more energy per unit of space) than traditional lead acid batteries and can be used (or “cycled”) more often during their lifespan. The upfront cost of lithium-ion batteries is higher than that of lead acid batteries. However, because of their longer lifespan (+ 15 years) and their ability to be charged and discharged more frequently, lithium-ion batteries have a lower lifetime cost than lead acid counterparts.

In fact, most manufacturers test and certify their solar panels to withstand hail up to 2.5cm in diameter falling at 80km per hour.

Today's solar panels are also extremely resilient against high winds and heavy rain. Most solar panels are certified to withstand hurricane force winds.