It’s been a long day and you and your family are looking forward to a peaceful night of winding down in front of the TV and maybe even playing a few board games. But right as you return home, you find that the house is without power. After checking your phone, you realize that there must have been a widespread blackout that had affected the whole area. With no power or lights or technology at your disposal, the whole family has to rethink how theyâre going to spend the rest of their evening.
Blackouts can seem like a rare occurrence, however, they are quite common. Blackouts and power outages occur far more often than people think, and not being prepared could realistically leave you without power when you need it most. And while most blackouts are short-lived, some major outages may last longer due to significant damage to power equipment such as transmission lines and transformers. Utility companies must quickly replace or repair damaged equipment in order to restore power as quickly as possible. The frequency of blackouts can also vary based on location, environmental conditions, and population density. One of the emerging causes for blackouts is that energy initiatives are shifting, leaving many infrastructures unable to meet demand. Some entire grids outright ban non-green forms and cities arenât producing enough energy during peak demand. This inability to meet demand is called a “brownout.â
As consumption eclipses production, entire cities could experience brownouts in some or all areas. We rely on electricity to keep our homes lit, our TVs buzzing, and our cell phones available, so it’s no wonder a blackout can seem like an absolute disaster. Blackouts are even more serious for vulnerable people relying on essential services or critical medical care.
As you can see, relying solely on the electrical grid for all your power needs is a risky move. Though it is convenient, it exposes you to potential outages and other interruptions to service. It’s probably best to have an alternative energy source as backup â like solar, wind, or geothermal â just in case the grid goes down unexpectedly. That way, you’re still able to keep the lights on and charge your devices without compromising your lifestyle. Even if your alternative energy source doesn’t meet all of your power demands, having some back-up power brings peace of mind that you’ll never be left totally in the dark.Â
What You Need to Protect Yourself
Blackouts are progressively inevitable in states like California where officials are attempting to switch the grid over to greener options. Unfortunately, they didn’t innovate nor plan well enough and California frequently experiences grid strain. But, you can protect yourself while still using green energy like solar by storing that energy.
An ESS, or Energy Storage System, is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to protect against blackouts. By powering a home or business through the stored energy of a battery array, ESS provides a potential solution for ensuring it remains powered even during unexpected power outages. Not only does this provide significant utility savings in the long run, but it can also help people keep their critical operations running smoothly. Crucially, an ESS allows owners to become energy independent and take decisive steps to reduce their reliance on the electricity grid while also cutting their emissions. For those looking to safeguard themselves against possible future power failures, installing an Energy Storage System is a must-have investment that promises both financial benefits and peace of mind.
All Energy Storage Systems Are Not Equal
Depending on how much power you need to store, or when you plan to use it, there are different ESS models to choose from. While many ESS systems can be tailored to store power generated by a solar or wind installation, most cannot provide the power needed to fuel high-consumption appliances in a home, unless you buy multiple units. Paladin is the answer, if you rely on your air conditioner during the summer months, because you need an ESS designed to handle high loads. Most claim that they can run your A/C, but they cannot. Knowing the KWof surge, KW of continuous output and number of circuits powered will go a long way toward ensuring energy independence and reliability.
If you’re looking to install an A/C unit, you need to ensure the ESS has a high enough surge capacity or starting wattage which is necessary to start the unit. At a minimum, starting wattage is necessary to keep the A/C unit running efficiently and provide climate control. If the circuit is overloaded because of inadequate surge capacity, then a generator may need to be added on top of the existing power source at a substantial cost which can become quite expensive.
If You Have One or Multiple EVs, Your Power Draw Is Even Greater
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular due to their low operational costs and their ability to bring a fully grid-independent lifestyle, relying on your own solar instead of the grid and gas for example. However, they also require a lot of energy to run. This means that your charging infrastructure must be able to accommodate the power requirements of EVs. High-capacity charging stations are becoming more widely available but there is still room for improvement when it comes to availability and accessibility. Increased investment in EV infrastructure will make EVs more attractive for consumers and help give them the widespread adoption they need to meet our planetâs environmental goals.
So, your energy needs are a bit more complicated if you own an electric vehicle. An industry standard ESS will likely not provide enough energy for your EV even with efficient solar panels, because it’s not the solar panelsâ fault. Many ESSs only output 20 amps, which could take days to charge the average EV fully. If you use an EV regularly, then you need a battery system that outputs generously, allowing you to charge your EV in an hour, even if the battery is fully empty! Paladin outputs 80 amps, putting it in a league of its own.
Start Preparing Today
With energy storage technology increasingly becoming a hot topic, there has never been a better time to start looking into your options. By investing in an energy storage system, you can guarantee the security of your power supply and gain access to reliable renewable energy resources. Nowadays, the market is filled with advanced systems that allow for the safe integration of large-scale batteries or hydrogen tanks into existing networks. With natural disasters occurring more frequently around the world due to global warming, it’s a good idea to stay on top of modern advances in sustainable energy so that you can protect yourself from unforeseen events.
If you want to stay safe during a blackout, check out our Paladin ESS. Itâs the only system on the market which provides 80 amps of output, enough surge to start up your A/C, and enough storage to keep your home running for days, even on days your solar isnât generating as much or any power. Paladin is also the cheapest-per-circuit option on the market, which means no one gives you more power for less. If you want to power every circuit in your home today, check out Paladin.
Still not convinced, we created an entire article describing how weâre different. Paladin PowerTM, powering your entire home and Evs without limit.