In a street full of darkness, one home stayed lit – thanks to solar and battery backup.
Spain’s Power Cuts Were a Wake-Up Call
With millions affected by recent blackouts in Spain due to extreme weather and grid instability, it’s no surprise we’re seeing a spike in enquiries from homeowners worried about what would happen if the same hit the UK.
And here’s the kicker…
Even if you’ve already invested in solar panels and battery storage, you might still lose power when the grid goes down, unless you’ve got the right system in place.
Here’s Why Most Solar Setups Don’t Work in a Power Cut
It’s a common assumption: “I’ve got solar and a battery, so if the grid goes down, I’ll still have power.”
But without a gateway system (also known as an emergency power supply or EPS), your solar inverter will automatically shut down during a power cut to protect engineers working on the grid. That means:
- Your lights go out
- Your sockets stop working
- Your solar stops producing power
- Your battery can’t discharge
You’re back to square one.
Enter the Gateway System: The Smart Backup You Actually Need
Thanks to new technology like the SolaX MateBox, you can now seamlessly power essential parts of your home during an outage — even when the rest of the grid is offline.
Here’s how it works:
- When the grid fails, the gateway automatically detects the loss of power and reroutes energy from your battery to a second consumer unit.
- This second board is connected to key appliances you’ve chosen in advance — like your lights, fridge, boiler, sockets, or router.
- It isolates those circuits from the grid, meaning they stay live — and safe — powered by your battery and solar.
⚠️ Important: You can’t run everything. A gateway setup supports essential loads only – not high-draw appliances like a hot tub or EV charger.
But it’s more than enough to keep your home ticking over during a blackout.
Retrofitting Is Possible (And Affordable)
Already have solar installed? No problem. The SolaX MateBox can be retrofitted to your existing system.
Whether you installed last year or last week, we can add a dedicated backup board and gateway system to your home, giving you a true energy security upgrade.
🔌 What Can You Power in a Blackout with a Gateway System?
| Appliance | Protected During Cut? |
|---|---|
| Lights | ✅ Yes |
| Wi-Fi Router | ✅ Yes |
| Fridge/Freezer | ✅ Yes |
| Gas Boiler | ✅ Yes |
| Sockets for small devices | ✅ Yes |
| Hot Tub | ❌ No |
| EV Charger | ❌ No |
🌤️ Don’t Wait for a Blackout
The grid is under pressure. Energy costs are volatile. Weather extremes are becoming the norm. The time to act is before a blackout leaves you in the dark — literally.
At Novus Energy, we’re committed to making homes across the UK more self-reliant, future-ready, and resilient.
👉 Ready to protect your home from power cuts?
If you’ve already got solar but want true peace of mind, this is your moment.
Contact is today – call the team on 01422 768113, or email us today to book your gateway install using the form below.