Is There a Powercut Season in Kent & Sussex? How to Protect Your Home with Solar + Battery Storage

Introduction

It always seems to happen when you least expect it. The lights flicker off halfway through cooking dinner, the Wi-Fi drops in the middle of a work call, or the kids are suddenly left without TV or laptops for homework. Power cuts are more than an inconvenience — they disrupt modern life in ways we’ve all felt.

In Kent and Sussex, many homeowners notice outages more often in the colder months. While there isn’t an official “powercut season,” statistics show that autumn and winter bring a higher risk of blackouts. According to the Met Office, there was a 320% increase in major UK storms from 2010–2015 to 2015–2020, and Storm Darragh in 2024 left more than 259,000 homes without electricity, with 66,000 still in the dark 24 hours later.

For families, home workers, and EV drivers across the South East, resilience has become more important than ever. The good news? With solar panels paired with battery storage, you don’t have to sit in the dark when the grid goes down.

Why Power Cuts Are a Growing Concern in Kent & Sussex

Autumn and winter storms and the local grid

Climate change is making extreme weather more frequent. High winds, heavy rain, and flooding regularly damage overhead lines and underground cables. In storm-prone regions like Kent and Sussex, outages are more frequent in autumn and winter.

Projections show:

• Prolonged rainfall in autumn and winter is expected to double by the 2060s.
• Rainfall from once every two years summer events is projected to rise25%.
• Winter windstorms are increasingly extending into autumn and spring.

For a region heavily reliant on above-ground infrastructure, these trends mean more grid instability and more evenings spent without power.

The impact on families, home workers, and EV drivers

The consequences are real:

• Families face food spoilage — fridge contents become unsafe after just 4 hours without power.
• Home workers lose productivity and income when Wi-Fi and equipment shut down.
• Vulnerable residents using medical devices face potential health risks.
• EV owners can’t recharge vehicles, leaving them stranded at the worst times.

And while many assume solar panels keep running during an outage, the reality is different — without a battery, panels automatically shut off for safety reasons.

How Solar + Battery Keeps You Powered During Outages

Do solar panels work in a power cut?

Not on their own. Around 90% of UK solar systems are designed to disconnect immediately when grid power fails. This prevents electricity flowing back into the grid and endangering engineers making repairs.

Why battery storage makes the difference

With a home battery, the story changes. Solar panels charge the battery during the day, and during an outage, the stored energy automatically powers your home. In fact, with the right configuration, panels can even keep charging the battery during blackouts — giving you potentially unlimited backup power as long as the sun is shining.

How Emergency Power Supply (EPS) keeps essentials running

An EPS system isolates your home from the grid within seconds of an outage and keeps power flowing to essential circuits. That means lights stay on, Wi-Fi remains connected, and the fridge keeps running — while your neighbours sit in darkness.
For households in Kent and Sussex, this peace of mind during storm season is invaluable.
 

“We hear it all the time from homeowners in Kent and Sussex — power cuts always seem to strike at the worst possible moment. That’s why more families are choosing solar with battery storage, not just to cut bills, but to make sure they’re never left in the dark. With today’s systems, you can keep your essentials running through a blackout and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with real energy independence.”

Grant White – Head of Commercial

Everyday Benefits of Solar Battery Storage

Lower bills and protection from rising tariffs
Solar batteries can reduce your electricity bills by up to 90%, according to Octopus Energy. By using stored solar at peak times, you avoid expensive grid tariffs. Some households even make up to £300 profit annually by exporting excess energy.

Reduced reliance on the National Grid
By storing your own solar energy, you shield yourself from outages and from the volatility of UK energy prices. A well-sized battery system can increase your self-consumption from around 50% to 70%, meaning you’re far less dependent on the grid.

Greener living and a lower carbon footprint
Solar + battery systems reduce household CO₂ emissions by an average of 1.1 tonnes per year — the equivalent of planting 150 acres of forest. They also help balance grid demand, making the entire network more sustainable.

Boosting your home’s value and EPC rating
Installing a battery can improve your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) by 18 points and increase your property’s value by up to £10,000. With buyers seeking energy-efficient homes, this makes solar + storage a smart long-term investment.

FAQs About Power Cuts and Solar Batteries

Is there a powercut season in the UK?
Not officially — but power cuts are more common in autumn and winter when storms, high winds, and flooding disrupt the grid. Kent and Sussex are especially vulnerable due to coastal weather.

Do solar panels work in a power cut?
Not without a battery system. Standard panels shut down automatically for safety reasons during outages.

Can a solar battery power my whole home at night?
Yes, depending on the battery size and your energy use. A 10kWh system can usually power essentials (lighting, Wi-Fi, fridge) for 10 hours. Larger systems like the Tesla Powerwall can support entire households, even charging EVs.

Can I add a battery to my existing solar system?
In most cases, yes. Retrofit options such as AC-coupled batteries make it straightforward to upgrade. Costs typically range from £5,000–£7,000 depending on capacity.

Protect Your Home from Power Cuts

Why choose The Little Green Energy Company

Since 2010, we’ve been helping households in Kent, Sussex, and across the South East generate, store, and manage their own energy. As certified installers of Tesla Powerwall, SigEnergy & SolarEdge systems, we design solutions that don’t just cut bills but keep families secure during outages.

Our approach is simple: if solar + battery storage isn’t right for your home, we’ll tell you. That transparency has earned us awards and hundreds of five-star reviews from local customers.

Free consultation for homeowners in Kent & Sussex
Power cuts aren’t going away. In fact, with extreme weather events on the rise, they’re likely to become more frequent. But you don’t have to wait for the next storm to find yourself in the dark.

Book your free consultation today with The Little Green Energy Company. We’ll show you exactly how solar + battery storage can protect your home, lower your bills, and give you peace of mind all year round.