Blackout Protection in Geelong & Surrounds
Geelong and surrounds
What It Means
Keep the Lights
On When the
Grid Goes Down
Blackout protection (also called battery backup power) is what lets your home keep running when the grid goes off. The moment your network provider drops out, a properly configured battery and hybrid inverter detects the outage, disconnects your home from the grid, and starts powering your essential circuits — usually within a few seconds.
It sounds simple, but here's the catch: not every solar and battery system does this. A standard grid-tied solar system is required by Australian standards to shut down during a blackout (it's called anti-islanding, and it protects the linesmen working on the network). Without the right inverter, switchgear and wiring, your panels and battery sit there doing nothing while you fumble for a torch.
We design every battery install with a clear answer to the question: what do you actually want to keep running? Then we build the system to match.
What Stays On
What You Can Power During a Blackout
Most homes opt for essential circuit backup — the appliances that matter most during an outage. Here's what a typical setup keeps running.
Lights
Essential lighting circuits stay on so you're not navigating your home in the dark. Modern LED lighting draws very little power, so this barely touches your battery.
Fridge & Freezer
Your food stays cold and your freezer stays frozen. For most families this is the single most important thing during a multi-hour outage.
Internet & Wi-Fi
Modem, router and Wi-Fi keep working so you can still work from home, check outage updates, and contact people who matter.
Power Points
Selected GPOs keep running so you can charge phones, run a laptop, and use the small appliances you actually need.
Garage Doors & Security
Garage door openers, security systems and alarm panels stay operational. You're not locked out and your home stays protected.
Heating & Cooling (Optional)
Air conditioners, ovens and EV chargers are high-draw appliances and are usually excluded by default. We can add them as an option if your battery is sized for it — we'll be honest with you about the trade-off.
The Technical Bit
How Blackout Protection Actually Works
When your local network goes down, three things have to happen — and they have to happen in the right order, in the space of a few seconds.
- Detection. Your hybrid inverter senses the grid is no longer present (via voltage and frequency monitoring) and immediately initiates blackout mode.
- Isolation. An automatic transfer switch (or built-in equivalent) physically disconnects your home from the grid. This is the critical step — it stops your battery from back-feeding power into the network and protects line workers.
- Re-energise. The inverter forms its own micro-grid using power from the battery (and during the day, your solar panels too if your system is DC-coupled or hybrid-coupled). Your essential circuits come back online.
When the grid returns, the inverter syncs back up and reconnects automatically. You don't have to do anything.
Honest Advice
Things You Should Know Before You Buy
Most blackout protection sales pitches gloss over the small print. We don't. These are the things you actually need to understand before you sign anything.
Not every battery is "blackout ready" out of the box
Some batteries need additional hardware (a backup gateway, transfer switch, or specific hybrid inverter) to deliver blackout protection. If a salesperson tells you "it just works" — ask them which switchgear they're installing. We'll always show you the parts list.
Your panels may or may not charge the battery during a blackout
If you have a hybrid (DC-coupled) inverter, your solar panels can keep recharging the battery during the day, extending your runtime indefinitely in good weather. If you have an older AC-coupled setup, your panels will usually shut down during an outage. We tell you upfront which category your system falls into.
Switchover isn't always instant
Most modern systems switch over within 20 milliseconds to a few seconds. Fast enough that you'll barely notice — but not fast enough for sensitive equipment like medical devices or some computers. If you need true uninterruptible power (UPS-grade), tell us and we'll design accordingly.
Battery size determines how long you stay powered
A 10 kWh battery powering essential circuits will typically last 10 to 20 hours. Add solar recharging during the day and you can ride out multi-day outages. Run high-draw appliances and you'll be empty in a few hours. We size your battery using your actual smart-meter data, not guesswork.
How We Set It Up
From Enquiry to Backup-Ready
A quick five to ten minute call to understand your situation: do you have solar already, what hardware is on the wall, and what you want to keep running during an outage.
We come to your property, walk through your switchboard, and identify which circuits matter most. We pull your smart-meter data so we can size the battery to your real-world consumption.
We design the backup configuration — essential circuits or whole-home, which appliances are in or out, and what size battery and inverter you need to deliver it.
You get a clear, itemised quote showing the battery, inverter, switchgear, labour and any backup sub-board work. No hidden line items.
Our CEC-accredited electricians install the system, wire your backup circuits, and test the blackout function on the day so you can see it working before we leave.
We walk you through what happens when the grid drops, show you the monitoring app, and connect your system to our back-to-base portal so we can keep an eye on it from day one.
Why Choose EES
Local, Honest, and Accountable
We're a Geelong family business that's been installing solar and battery systems in this region for over 10 years. We don't subcontract, we don't disappear after install, and we don't sell you backup capability you don't need.
Every system we install comes with our 10-year workmanship warranty (double the legal minimum) and back-to-base monitoring. If your battery has an issue — including during a blackout event — we usually know about it before you do.
And because we're local, if something does need a hands-on fix, an electrician from our team is on your doorstep within 48 business hours.
Blackout Protection FAQ
The questions we get asked most often by Geelong homeowners considering battery backup.
Common Questions
Do solar batteries automatically work during a blackout?
Not always. A solar battery only provides backup power during a blackout if it has been specifically configured for it — that means the right hybrid inverter, the right switchgear, and the right wiring on your switchboard. If a salesperson didn't mention blackout protection during the sale, your battery may not have it.
Will my solar panels work during a blackout?
On their own, no. Australian standards require grid-tied solar inverters to shut down during a blackout to protect line workers (this is called anti-islanding). With a battery and a hybrid inverter, however, your inverter can form its own isolated micro-grid and keep your panels generating power into the battery.
How long can a solar battery power my home during a blackout?
It depends on three things: your battery size, what you're trying to run, and whether your solar can recharge it. A typical 10 kWh battery powering only essential circuits (fridge, lights, internet, a few GPOs) will last 10 to 20 hours. With solar recharging during daylight, you can ride out multi-day outages indefinitely in good weather. Run high-draw appliances like air-con or an oven and you'll empty the battery in a few hours.
How much does blackout protection add to the cost of a battery system?
For a simple essential-circuits backup, blackout protection often adds very little to the install cost — sometimes just additional switchgear and a few hours of electrical work. Whole-home backup is more expensive because it requires a larger battery and additional hardware. We break the cost out clearly on every quote.
What appliances should I include on the backup circuit?
For most families: lights, fridge and freezer, internet/Wi-Fi, a few power points for charging, garage door, and security system. We usually recommend excluding ovens, electric cooktops, ducted air-conditioning, EV chargers, and electric hot water — they drain the battery very quickly. We'll walk you through it during the consultation.
Is there a delay when the grid goes down?
Most modern systems switch over from grid power to battery power in 20 milliseconds to a few seconds. You'll usually notice your lights flicker briefly. It's not fast enough for sensitive medical equipment or a desktop PC running an unsaved document — if you need uninterruptible power for those, we can design a system around that requirement.
Can I add blackout protection to my existing solar system?
Usually yes, but it depends on your existing inverter. If you have a hybrid inverter, adding a battery with backup is straightforward. If you have a standard string inverter, we either add an AC-coupled battery with its own backup circuitry, or upgrade your inverter to a hybrid. We assess this during your free consultation.
Does blackout protection qualify for the Victorian battery rebate?
The rebate applies to the battery itself, not to the backup capability specifically. Blackout protection is a configuration choice that uses the same hardware. You get the rebate either way, and we handle the application paperwork on your behalf.
What's the difference between blackout protection and a generator?
A generator runs on petrol or diesel, needs to be manually started in most cases, requires fuel to be on hand, and only runs while you have fuel. A solar + battery system kicks in automatically, runs silently, has zero fuel cost, and can be recharged by the sun every day. Plus, the same hardware saves you money on your electricity bill every other day of the year.
Will blackout protection work overnight or in bad weather?
Yes — your battery is the storage layer. As long as you have charge in the battery, your essential circuits stay powered regardless of whether the sun is shining. Solar simply tops the battery back up the next time daylight is available.
