Your sleek solar system malaysia is sparkling on the roof. The sky is blue, the sun is bright, and then—poof—TNB throws a curveball. The electricity is out. The food is just half done. Stop chatting, fans. The important question is: does your solar power keep everything operating, or do you have to join the candlelight club with everyone else?

Let’s get this straight first: when the power goes off, solar systems that are connected to the grid in Malaysia don’t work. Are you shocked? You’re not the only one. Most solar panels for homes are made to turn off by themselves when the grid goes down. “Anti-islanding” is a regulation for safety. This stops power from your panels from getting back into lines where TNB workers might be working on repairs. Safety is the most important thing; linemen can’t be zapped.

But wait, isn’t the sun still up? Why can’t the panels power the house on their own? The inverter is the problem. For grid-tied inverters to work well and supply meaningful AC electricity to your home, the grid voltage has to be active. There is no power if there is no grid, even if the panels are in the sun.

Things are different now. When you add batteries to a hybrid or off-grid system, things change. Solar energy created during the day can either power your home directly or charge batteries that are in your home if you have a battery backup. When TNB’s power goes out, the inverter switches to “island mode,” which means it draws power from the batteries and/or the panels itself. You might be the only house in your area with lights, a working fridge, and the longest Netflix marathon that doesn’t get interrupted.

Of course, battery systems are more expensive. A conventional hybrid setup with enough backup for the basics costs more than a simple grid-tied system. But for folks who live in the country or have had too many power outages, it seems like a good use of money.

There are also inverters that let you use some solar power even when the power is out, so you don’t need a whole battery bank. It only powers specific circuits, and when it gets overcast, it doesn’t work as well. But it’s a smart method to get by in an emergency.

The technology that makes solar energy possible is always developing. If backup power is important to you, talk to your installer. Many homes in Malaysia can turn their solar ambition into full-fledged, all-weather independence by getting backup. And that, in the middle of a blackout, is worth every ringgit.