If you live anywhere in southern Vermont, it is likely that you have experienced a power outage in the past few years. In fact, due to the heavy snow that fell overnight on November 26, 2018, many thousands of our local utility’s customers were without power for an extended period of time.
If you were one of those people, you may be wondering if a clean, renewable energy and battery backup system is right for you. Here are a few things to consider:
- If you experience frequent extended power losses, a backup system to energize your critical loads would be a good alternative to waiting in the dark for power to be restored, or listening to a noisy generator for several hours or days;
- If you experience infrequent power outages, but still want the security that comes with having heat and lights, a battery backup system might be your answer; or
- If you need electricity for critical loads that should not be without power, a battery system with a backup generator may be right for you.
A typical battery backup system includes the following components:
- Battery bank – battery chemistry may be lithium, lead-acid, or other technology that stores power for later use;
- Inverter – this converts the direct current (DC) electricity in the battery bank into alternating current (AC) that your house loads use. It may or may not include a means of charging the battery bank;
- Solar array – if you want to generate electricity for use by your house loads or to store in your battery bank, an array comprised of solar panels would turn the sun’s energy into electricity. The solar array may require a charge controller between the solar panels and battery bank.
Net Zero Renewable Resources has extensive experience in designing and installing battery backup and off-grid systems to get you through those days when the electrical grid is down (in fact, we live off-the-grid). There are many different options to meet your needs and budget, and we are happy to talk to you about how we can help you get through the next power outage. Please call us for more information at 802-875-3654, email us at info(at)nzrr.net, or complete our contact form.
We look forward to hearing from you!