Spain and Portugal have suffered one of the most significant power outages in their modern history. The power outage for several hours last Monday, April 28, highlighted the need—among many other issues—for energy storage. For this reason, in the event of further massive power system failures, we at Topes de Gama are going to recommend energy sources you can purchase online that will solve the power outage problem.
Although there are many ways to generate electricity on a large scale, the truth is that when it comes to domestic power, there are two main solutions. The first is energy storage using solar generators.
The second is fossil fuel generation, using gasoline or diesel generators. Although in the midst of climate change and the energy transition, the emergency, given current technologies, sometimes requires these types of solutions.
Bluetti AC180 solar station
The first solution we recommend for maintaining electricity in the event of a power outage comes from renewable sources. In this sense, a solar generator, which also allows energy storage, is an ideal solution for small apartments or shared housing. If you want power during the day thanks to solar panels, and at night thanks to a battery system, this Bluetti AC180 power station is a clean and quiet solution.
In this case, we’re talking about a device that has two conventional AC outlets, five USB ports—four type A and one type C—and a 12V cigarette lighter socket . It supports a peak power of up to 2700 W , while the sustained power it is capable of delivering is 1800 W. Its battery can be recharged either by plugging it in or with mobile solar panels, and its battery charges from 0 to 80% in just 45 minutes . Its usual price is around 899 euros.
Bluetti 100 W solar panels
To complement the Bluetti AC180 energy storage station, we can turn to mobile solar panels from the same manufacturer. In this case, we recommend the 100W model, as it’s the one recommended for the model we introduced you to in the previous section.
They provide 100 W of power, and thanks to their construction, they can be placed anywhere that faces the sun directly. It’s worth noting that this model’s energy efficiency ratio is 23.4% of solar energy converted into usable energy. This also makes them suitable for use in harsh climates. The price is €249.
AIVOLT Gasoline Generator
Although the author of these lines is a journalist specializing in climate change, when it comes to an emergency like a massive blackout, fossil fuels have proven to be a mere stopgap for infrastructure like hospitals and pharmacies. In this sense, it is also possible to use electricity generated from gasoline or diesel.
However, in this case, we recommend purchasing a device of this type if you have more land, such as a very large (and somewhat isolated) terrace or a field, as the noise and smoke generated by these generators can be significant. In this regard, we recommend this AIVOLT gasoline generator, which delivers 1400 W of power.
In this case, we have a 2.5-liter tank that can run for up to six hours with a 100% charge. It also emits only 68 dB of sound, at peak operating power, and costs €249.99.
