Powering Through Winter with Solar and Battery Backup in the Maine Foothills
Solar Electric + Solar Battery in Mercer, ME:
“The well pump for water, internet, the refrigerator and of course the heating system’s circulator… everything was still going strong, allowing us to live as we normally would.”
At New England Clean Energy Inc., we’re proud to help our customers achieve energy independence with reliable, sustainable solutions that provide peace of mind—especially in challenging conditions. Doug McCartney, our CEO, believes clean energy has the power to make a real difference in the lives of New England homeowners. One of our customers in the western foothills of Maine recently shared their experience with a 15-panel solar system and Enphase 5P batteries. We couldn’t be more thrilled to highlight their story.
The Challenge: Winter Storms and Frequent Power Outages
Located an hour from Augusta, this home sits at the end of a two-mile-long dirt road in rural Maine, an area notorious for frequent power outages, especially in winter. As heavy snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures often knock out power for days at a time, the family needed a reliable backup solution to ensure they could keep essential systems running—like heating, water, and refrigeration—without interruption.
The Solution: 15 REC 420W Solar Panels & 3 Enphase 5P Batteries
In April 2024, they chose New England Clean Energy to install a 15-panel solar system (15 REC 420W panels) along with 3 Enphase 5P batteries, providing 15 kWh of energy storage. The system was designed to store energy from the sun and provide backup power in case of grid outages.
According to Doug McCartney, CEO of New England Clean Energy, “We specialize in providing our customers with solutions that offer energy security, whether it’s sunny or snowing. This solar and battery system was the perfect choice for a home in a location where power outages are common.”
The Storm: Thanksgiving Night Outage
Thanksgiving night brought the first test of the system. A storm was forecasted, and the battery automatically switched to Full-Backup mode, which ensures the system is fully charged to support the home during an outage. Around 6:30 PM, as predicted, the grid went down—but the family barely noticed.
As they later shared, “When the grid does cut out, what we always find most surprising is how you can’t really tell that the power went out. The lights—yes, even the clock on the microwave—stay on and are not the least bit affected. The only indication was the notification from the Enphase Enlighten app.”
The family didn’t need to adjust their evening plans, continuing to watch a movie and turn off a few unnecessary lights to conserve energy. The system ran quietly and efficiently without interruption.
The Next Morning: A Quiet, Self-Sustaining Power Source
By the morning, the grid still wasn’t back online, but their 15 kWh of energy storage had kept the house running smoothly. “The well pump for water, internet, the refrigerator, and the heating system’s circulator… everything was still going strong, allowing us to live as we normally would.”
Despite heavy snow accumulation overnight, the solar panels were cleared by the morning sun. “We discovered that the morning’s sun had cleared the solar panels of snow… and shortly thereafter, it started to provide enough power to cover the entire house’s load and even recharge the battery a bit,” they explained.
Even though winter days in Maine offer limited sunlight, this small recharge was enough to keep everything running as needed. If it had been summertime, the family believes the solar system would have been able to recharge the battery fully within a day.
Peace of Mind Amidst the Noise of Generators
Later that day, the family went for a walk down the road and encountered the familiar sound of generators running in nearly every neighbor’s yard. They noted that while some homes were not year-round residences, many of their neighbors were struggling with limited fuel for their generators. “A few of our neighbors noted they were nearly out of fuel for their generator… while we had a quiet, self-sustaining system that required no service or fossil fuel.”
Meanwhile, the family’s Maine solar and battery system continued to operate silently in the background, providing reliable, clean energy. Doug McCartney echoes this sentiment, saying, “Our systems are designed to work seamlessly in any weather. It’s gratifying to know that customers, like this one, can experience the quiet comfort of energy independence—even when their neighbors are scrambling for fuel.”
Two Days of Backup Power—Without a Hitch
As the first day turned into a second day without power the family faced the real test: Could their battery last until the grid was restored? Alas, by early the next morning the system had automatically shut down with about 10% of the battery’s charge remaining so that it could restart when the sun got high enough in the sky. But could it?
It did. “The battery went on and stayed on! Once again, it looked like we would have power for the day and into the evening—if needed—for another day.”
When the grid finally came back on at 1:30 PM, the family had lived comfortably for 43 hours on nothing but solar power and stored energy. As they noted, “Our 43 hours of living off the battery wasn’t perfect, but it got us through comfortably and likely could have kept recharging itself at least somewhat for a very long time.”
The Result: A Low-Maintenance, Sustainable Solution
For this family, the experience reinforced their decision to invest in solar and battery backup: a low-maintenance, sustainable energy solution that required no external fuel, no noise, and provided energy security when it was needed most.
“All with a system that requires no service or fossil fuel. A combination that’s hard to beat.”
Doug McCartney reflects on the customer’s experience: “This is exactly why we recommend solar and battery backup solutions for customers in any area that is subject to power outages. It’s about reliability, sustainability, and providing peace of mind no matter what nature throws your way.”
At New England Clean Energy, we’re committed to providing our customers with innovative, reliable, and clean energy solutions that work—whether it’s the dead of winter, the heat of summer, or a random power outage. If you’re interested in learning more about how solar and battery backup can transform your home’s energy system, contact us today for a free consultation.
