The U.S. has more blackouts than any developed country in the world.

During times of increased uncertainty and intensifying extreme weather, we’re here to help put the power in your hands. To protect your family and your home, it’s vital to have an emergency plan in the event of a power outage. Weather the next blackout with home solar battery backup like Sunrun’s Brightbox, which provides reliable energy for you and your whole family.

Brightbox offers more than solar battery storage—it’s a holistic service that puts you in control. We only partner with top-notch innovators in lithium-ion battery technology, so you’re backed by the highest-quality home solar plus storage system available today.

Now’s the time to support your family with clean, renewable energy so you can be better prepared when the next blackout strikes.

5 reasons to use a home solar battery

1. Provide your family with protection during blackouts.

The U.S. has more blackouts than any developed country in the world.¹ With some parts of the power grid at over 100 years old, it’s become clear that the country’s current infrastructure is no match for increasingly severe weather events resulting from climate change.² At a time when millions across the country have already been devastated by severe storms, wildfires, and dangerous heat waves, solar battery storage is a reliable, affordable solution to protect your family during the next blackout and beyond.³

With global temperatures and major power outages rising,⁴ now is the time to have a robust backup power plan for you and your family. With a home solar battery, you can:

• Keep electronic devices charged.

• Stay connected to Wi-Fi so you can work and seek out essential resources and information.

• Keep your refrigerator running so food and medications stay safe to consume.

• Keep the AC on so you can stay cool during major heat waves.

• Charge your electric vehicle.

• Have the choice to back up your whole home or just the essentials.

2. Generators are dangerous.

We know you want to do all that you can to protect your family. While generators sometimes offer a temporary solution, they typically run on dirty fossil fuels, can be disruptive, and at their worst, are quite dangerous.⁵ In fact, portable generators have caused hundreds of carbon monoxide deaths across the country.⁶ Generators must be kept in outdoor, well-ventilated areas and away from windows.⁷ The CDC even recommends keeping generators 20 feet away from your home⁸ to minimize the risk of carbon monoxide exposure. With these precautions, generators hardly feel like a safe backup plan. Instead, a solar battery system offers secure and worry-free power without the risk.

3. Home batteries are clean, reliable, and affordable.

In contrast to generators, home solar batteries are safer, more reliable, emissions-free, and can be installed indoors. Instead of running on fossil fuels, solar batteries’ energy stores are replenished by your solar panels during the day, giving you emergency backup power until the grid is up and running again. They also allow you to store excess energy generated during peak sunlight hours for use at night or during power outages.

We’re here to help make safe battery backup accessible to everyone. With the Sunrun Solar Lease, you can provide backup power for your home with as little as $0 down and lock in a predictable energy rate for 25 years.

Our home solar system agreements include our industry-leading Sunrun Guarantee, which offers 24/7 maintenance, free repairs, product replacement, and a roof warranty for the life of your agreement.

4. Staying home is the new normal.

Many people are now working remotely, so we’re increasingly reliant on our homes' power.⁹ As life continues to be managed from home, it’s more important than ever to ensure you have sufficient power. A solar battery can offer a clean, uninterrupted energy reserve so that a blackout doesn't slow you down.

5. Lower the risk of wildfires.

It’s no surprise that the risk of wildfires increases during the summer.¹⁰ As more and more Americans choose to remain home, electricity usage spikes in the summer and the risk of overloading the grid increases.^11,12 In especially hot and dry regions, utilities rely on public safety power shutoffs (PSPS), or planned power outages, to prevent sparking dangerous wildfires.¹³ Unfortunately, this means that residents in those regions face blackouts as a way to prevent wildfires.¹⁴

Sunrun is here to change that. We’re actively supporting electricity companies nationwide to help offload an overloaded grid with solar battery storage. We also aim to keep you updated on significant changes to utility services so you can stay informed and in control.¹⁵

Do solar panels work in a power outage?

Solar system owners should not solely rely on solar panels to back up their homes. The only way solar panels can continuously provide reliable power during a blackout is with solar battery storage systems.

Without a solar battery, your residential solar system installation will likely shut down during a power outage. Currently, the electric grid fails during a severe storm or if energy consumption overloads the system, which is precisely when you need stored energy the most.

This power outage would likely include your solar panel system; however, when you incorporate a solar battery storage system into your home solar installation, your solar panels can continue replenishing your battery so it can generate electricity day and night. Knowing how much energy your household consumes will help you determine the appropriate size for your solar battery system.

How many solar batteries do I need?

Just like solar-only systems, the size of your rechargeable solar battery system is determined by your unique energy habits. Specific factors, such as the amount of electricity you use at home and the devices and appliances you want to back up, will play a key role in determining the home battery solution that’s right for you. Understanding how much energy you need to store is crucial for choosing the right battery setup.

Knowing how much energy your household typically uses during different times of the day will help you make an informed decision about your solar battery system. Evaluating the battery capacity required will ensure that your solar panel and battery system provide sufficient power to meet your needs, even during outages.

What are my options?

Sunrun's Brightbox offers two home solar battery options: LG Chem and Tesla Powerwall. Both are industry-leading lithium-ion batteries. Your family’s daily energy consumption will determine which solar battery you should include with your solar panel system. An LG Chem solar battery backs up part of your home, while a Tesla Powerwall backs up your entire home.

Are you unsure which one you need? Our easy-to-use Product Selector can help you find the best solution for your solar power needs.

References

1. The US has more power outages than any other developed country. Here’s why.

2. How Giant Batteries Are Protecting The Most Vulnerable In Blackouts

3. 36.7 Million Affected by Power Outages in 2017, Per Eaton Study

4. It's Not Just Texas. The Entire Energy Grid Needs An Upgrade For Extreme Weather

5. How to Safely Operate a Backup Generator

6. Portable Generators Create Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

7. Power Outage Safety

8. What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly

9. Gartner: Over 80% of company leaders plan to permit remote work after pandemic

10. Facts + Statistics: Wildfires

11. COVID drives up electricity bills, here's how to save money

12. Remote Work Statistics: Navigating the New Normal

13. Wildfires and blackouts mean Californians need solar panels and microgrids

14. Wildfires and blackouts mean Californians need solar panels and microgrids

15. Recovering Residential Solar Industry Prepares for Wildfire Season — With Batteries