Load shedding
Does solar work during load shedding in South Africa?
Only if you have a hybrid (or off-grid) inverter plus battery — or another backup source. Standard grid-tied solar disconnects when the municipal/Eskom grid fails (anti-islanding). Panels alone will not keep your lights on during a stage.
Why grid-tied systems go dark
Anti-islanding protection stops the inverter feeding power into a dead grid so municipal workers stay safe. That same rule means a pure grid-tied string inverter shuts down your house PV when the grid drops — even at midday.
What keeps power on
- Hybrid inverter + battery on essential (or whole-house) backup circuits
- Correct changeover / backup wiring and commissioning
- Enough usable kWh for the outage duration you care about
Related: Stage 6 battery sizing · Hybrid vs off-grid.
Related answers
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