Increasing need for cleaner backup power due to blackouts in extreme weather conditions

Software engineer Kenna Ofoegbu from Houston, Texas, faces power outages regularly during the hot summer days, prompting him to seek solutions for keeping his family cool, especially his three children who rely on air conditioning. Recently, their house lost power three times in the past two and a half months, with one outage lasting three days. During one outage, Ofoegbu and his wife decided to stay in a hotel for two nights to have access to air conditioning and the internet which is crucial for his work.

To mitigate the impact of future power outages, like many others, Ofoegbu invested in a generator, costing $1,500 plus additional fees for installation. However, using generators that burn fuels like propane or gasoline contributes to poor air quality and worsens climate change. As a result, many individuals, including Ofoegbu, are turning to cleaner and more sustainable options for backup power.

One emerging trend is the installation of battery arrays in homes, especially in conjunction with rooftop solar systems. Last year, there was a notable increase in the sale of solar-plus-battery systems in the U.S., with more homeowners opting for this setup to ensure a continuous power supply during grid failures. Although these systems come at a significant cost, decreasing prices and government incentives are making them more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

On the portable side, solar generators and power stations are gaining popularity as convenient backup power sources. These devices store electricity from solar panels or the grid and can power essential appliances during outages. Solar power stations like the “Patriot Generator” are capable of running refrigerators, medical devices, or electronics for extended periods.

The rise in demand for backup power solutions is attributed to the increasing frequency of power outages due to climate change-related events like storms, heat waves, and freezes. With the aging electric grid struggling to cope, individuals are seeking reliable alternatives to traditional generators that run on diesel, propane, or gasoline, emitting harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable power sources, such as solar panels with battery storage, is becoming a preferred choice for homeowners like Jason Benedict from Berkley, Michigan, who faced multiple power outages and decided to invest in solar energy and a Tesla Powerwall battery. While traditional generators remain popular due to their cost-effectiveness, experts emphasize the importance of transitioning to cleaner energy solutions in light of the environmental challenges we are facing.