As the South East braces for Storm Goretti and severe winter weather, the risk of power cuts and disruption to the electricity network is rising. The UK Met Office has issued red and amber weather warnings for wind, snow and ice across large parts of England and Wales, with particularly strong gusts and heavy conditions forecast across southern England in the coming days.
For homeowners and businesses in the region, this underscores the growing importance of energy security, backup power and resilient energy systems that can keep critical functions running when the grid falters.
Why Storms Often Lead to Power Cuts
Winter weather systems like Storm Goretti can bring a combination of:
- High winds capable of knocking down trees and power lines
- Heavy snow and ice that add weight to infrastructure
- Widespread disruption to transport and utility services
These conditions frequently cause localised outages and, in more severe cases, extended power cut events. Historical analysis shows that wind, lightning, snow and ice are among the most common weather drivers of power system failures in the UK.
Solar Panels and Power Cuts: What You Need to Know
Contrary to some misconceptions, solar panels alone cannot provide electricity during a power cut if they are grid tied. This is a standard safety protocol ensuring photovoltaic systems that remain connected to the grid automatically shut down during an outage to prevent back feeding electricity onto live lines that engineers are working on.
However, there is a solution: solar panels paired with battery storage and the right electrical configuration to provide Emergency Power Supply (EPS).
Battery Storage: The Core of Emergency and Backup Power
When you combine solar panels with battery storage, your system gains the ability to function independently from the grid during outages. In a properly configured setup:
- Solar panels continue to generate electricity when sunlight is available
- Battery storage captures and holds that energy for later use
- During a power cut, the system can switch to emergency power mode and supply electricity to your home or business
This is often achieved through an Emergency Power Supply (EPS) configuration or “islanding” capability that disconnects from the grid and draws exclusively on battery and solar production when grid power fails.
Key benefits of battery backed solar systems include:
- Reliable backup power during a grid outage
- Energy independence, reducing reliance on the grid
- Potential increased savings on energy bills by using stored energy during peak price periods
- A reduction in carbon emissions by maximising use of your own solar energy
Depending on battery size and household energy usage, systems can often power essential loads, such as lights, refrigeration and communications for many hours.
Emergency Power in Practice: What Homeowners Should Expect
A well sized battery storage system with EPS functionality can:
- Detect a grid outage automatically and switch seamlessly into backup mode
- Supply power to selected circuits or the whole property depending on the setup
- Continue to receive charging from solar panels during daylight hours even when the grid is down
For many households in the South East, this means that during events like Storm Goretti – when heavy rain, strong winds and potential snow are forecast – they won’t be left in the dark simply because the grid fails.
EPS and Backup Power: Planning for the Future
In a climate where extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, energy security is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s a strategic consideration for every property owner. Solar and battery installations offer both immediate resilience and long term cost efficiencies.
Investing in an Emergency Power System (EPS) with battery storage ensures that when the unexpected happens, you retain control of your energy supply and protect your household or business from prolonged disruption.
Conclusion: Be Prepared and Stay Secure
With the South East of England facing the imminent impact of Storm Goretti and other winter weather swings, planning for power cuts and energy security has never been more timely.
Solar panels along provide clean, renewable energy, but when paired with battery storage, they become a powerful tool for backup power and emergency power provision, keeping your lights on, your appliances running and your peace of mind intact when the grid goes down.
If you’re considering solar with battery storage, now is the time to act: protect your property, enhance your energy security and be ready for whatever the seasons bring.
Contact SolarTherm UK today for a free, no obligation quote and design, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice. Act now before the next storm leaves you in the dark.
Your home. Your energy. Your future.
