Table of contents

The Grid Alone May Not Be Enough: Why Canadians Are Turning to Home Backup Power Systems

EcoFlow

Table of contents

Across Canada, power reliability is a growing concern as outages become increasingly common. This is prompting Canadians to think differently about how they prepare, looking for reliable ways to keep the lights on. Fortunately, advances in backup power systems are making it easier and more affordable than ever to build power resilience at home. Before choosing a solution, it helps to understand the options and how they work together.

What Powers a Home Backup System: Batteries, Solar, and Virtual Power Plants

Canada’s aging infrastructure, rising energy demand, and increasingly severe weather are making it more important than ever to have a home backup system.

Battery-powered generators offer a clean, reliable solution that’s safe to use indoors, without the noise, smell, or toxic fumes of traditional generators. When paired with solar panels, you can recharge your batteries and stay powered during extended outages.

Virtual power plants, or VPPs, are an innovative system designed to make our grid more resilient. They use a network of residential solar systems, home batteries, smart thermostats, EVs, and more. The utility company remotely manages these individual resources, enabling them to act as a single, larger power plant, adding resilience to the grid and our homes.

The EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra can easily be connected to a VPP because it supports remote control, live performance data, and grid coordination features. Additionally, it offers 7.2kW of standard output and can be expanded to run an entire home.

Understanding Virtual Power Plants: Stabilizing the Grid and Reducing Costs

VPPs stabilize the grid because during peak demand, like a summer heatwave, they can remotely adjust your thermostat, reducing grid demand. Alternatively, they may draw from your home solar generator and send it to the grid. This stabilizes the grid, reducing the risk of an outage.

Since they rely heavily on residential renewable energy, they also reduce the need for new power plants and more expensive fuel sources like fossil fuels. This reduces electricity costs for everyone connected to the grid.

The Economics of Solar and Battery: Savings, Credits, and Rebates

The average cost of a whole-home solar generator, including solar panels and batteries, ranges from $16,000 to $35,000 or more. However, after the savings from your electrical bills cover the cost, they provide free energy for many years.

Furthermore, tax credits and rebates for solar panels and home batteries can significantly lower costs. The federal government offers a 30% tax credit for clean energy storage systems. They also offer the Canada Greener Homes Grant of $5,000 and interest-free loans of up to $40,000.

Provinces and municipalities also offer their own incentives. For instance, BC Hydro offers a subsidy program for solar and home batteries of up to $10,000.

DELTA Pro Ultra X Whole-Home Backup Power

Power your entire home with the DELTA Pro Ultra X — a 100% whole-home power station delivering 12–36kW output and 12–180kWh capacity. With Plug & Play installation in just 7 days, you’ll save up to 80% on time and cost. Enjoy 20ms auto switchover, top-tier safety, and up to $6,000 in yearly savings with a 3-year ROI.

Buy Now

How to Get Started with Your Home Backup Power System

Here’s what you need to know to design your home backup generator system.

Determine Power Needs

The first step is to determine your power needs. Decide if you just want to run a few essential appliances or your entire home. Also consider the frequency and duration of outages in your area.

Calculate Wattage

Next, determine what size generator you need. For whole-home solutions, calculate your maximum daily kWh usage from your electrical bill, then add at least 20% to that.

If you’re looking to power essential appliances, make a list of them and their running wattage. Multiply their watts by the number of hours they need to run each day to get watt-hours (Wh). Then, total your Wh to get your minimum capacity, and add 20%.

Choose Your Equipment

Those running essential appliances may find a portable power station with solar panels to be the perfect choice. Those wanting whole-home systems will want permanent roof-mounted solar panels and a power station like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro ULTRA X, which delivers 12kW of output and can be expanded to run even the largest homes.

Hire an Installer

While portable systems don’t require installation, whole-home systems tied to your household electrical system often do, since most homeowners lack the expertise to DIY them.

Installation

Next, your solar generator will be installed. Solar panels are typically installed on your roof, and a charge controller is used to control the flow of electricity into the battery to prevent overcharging. From the battery, an inverter is installed to convert stored DC to the AC electricity that homes and most appliances need. Finally, your system is connected to your electrical panel, so it automatically switches to backup power during an outage.

Test and Maintenance

Finally, your system will be tested by the installer and the utility company to ensure it’s working correctly and can be connected safely to the grid.

After that, the system requires minimal maintenance. Once or twice a year, check your electrical connections to ensure they’re secure and clean the solar panels with soft, clean water to remove dust and debris.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Illegal To Go Off-Grid in Canada?

No, it’s not illegal to go off-grid in Canada. Many rural families live off-grid, using renewable energy like solar power to stay powered. However, some provinces and municipalities still require compliance with building codes, land-use regulations, waste management, and household safety features.

What Do I Need for a Home Backup Power System?

For a home backup power system, you’ll need battery storage and an inverter to convert the DC electricity stored in the batteries into AC electricity that homes and most appliances need to run. Optional components include solar panels and a charge controller to recharge batteries using solar power.

Discover Reliable Home Backup Power With EcoFlow

Home backup systems offer Canadians a dependable way to stay connected through storms, outages, and peak-demand events. By combining solar, batteries, and virtual power plants, you can improve your home’s resilience while reducing long-term energy costs. For a reliable backup solution tailored to your needs, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X provides the power, flexibility, and smart-grid compatibility to keep your home running through any outage.