“No one warned me about this”: Homeowner reveals what really happens every night after installing rooftop solar panels

Solar panels are often described as a “smart” and “future-proof” way to save money, reduce dependence on the grid, and achieve energy independence. Most homeowners envision the process as straightforward: solar panels get installed, a battery gets added, and savings follow. Yet, the experience of one homeowner illustrates that the experience of living with a solar panel system can be far more complicated – especially after the sun sets.

Solar in the dark: How does the installation of solar affect nighttime hours?

A solar system continues to function at night; however, it does affect how a household receives its electricity. At night, without direct sunlight, households will either receive their electricity from a stored battery or the grid. When a solar system is not appropriately designed to meet the needs and habits of the homeowner.

In a video published by @markoborn (a TikTok user who shares personal experiences, reflections, and practical information on everyday life), a homeowner reflects upon what he has learned after installing solar panels. @markoborn’s videos are known for presenting real-world experiences that people can learn from, and this example is no different.

He states that during the solar panel installation, the installer only discussed the annual electricity usage to establish the size of the system components – such as the inverter, battery, and number of panels – but did not discuss his future strategy for utilizing the system’s generated electricity.

A homeowner’s strategy for utilizing the solar-generated electricity

The homeowner further stated that the installer never asked him about his strategy for utilizing the solar-generated electricity. As a matter of fact, the homeowner had developed a strategy for utilizing his solar-generated electricity.

He wanted to charge the battery at night through off-peak electricity pricing and then sell excess electricity back to the utility company during the day when electricity demand and prices were higher. While an energy arbitrage strategy like this can be effective, the system must be properly sized and configured to perform the strategy as desired.

It was not designed to support the intended usage

One of the largest surprises for @markoborn was the rate at which his battery charged each night. Rather than being able to last through the night, the stored electricity was depleting at a greater rate than anticipated. Consequently, instead of waiting until the next morning to recharge, the household was required to purchase electricity from the grid earlier than initially planned. The system was functioning as intended; the problem was simply that it was not designed to support the homeowner’s intended usage pattern.

“No one told us this could happen”

That realization led to the statement made in the video that is central to the video’s message: “No one told us this could happen.” The problem was not the solar technology itself but rather the lack of proper planning and communication.

Upon reflection, the homeowner acknowledged that he would have done more research and had a deeper conversation before installation to ensure that his expectations and plans for utilizing the solar-generated electricity were incorporated into the design of the system. To accomplish this goal, he would have requested:

• Additional solar panels
• A larger inverter
• A larger battery

These changes would have enabled the homeowner to optimize his strategy

This experience illustrates a fundamental principle of solar: the amount of electricity used is only part of the equation. To those contemplating rooftop solar panels, the moral of this experience is that homeowners should ask detailed questions and provide a description of their goals and plans for utilizing the system to produce electricity, and consider more than just their average daily electricity usage. The true test of whether a homeowner has achieved success with their solar panel system may occur after the sun sets.

Disclaimer: Our coverage of events affecting companies is purely informative and descriptive. Under no circumstances does it seek to promote an opinion or create a trend, nor can it be taken as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind.