Can I deal with power cuts using a generator or a battery?

It’s only natural to want to protect your family against the unexpected. While our grids are extremely reliable these days, the desire for extra security is perfectly understandable.

The choice of technology depends above all on what you consider ‘essential’ to keep running in your home. The following are the main solutions for securing your power supply.

Portable generators (temporary backup)

This is the classic solution you take out of the garage when needed. It runs on petrol or diesel, and must be kept outside at all times due to toxic exhaust fumes.

What can you use it for? To power a fridge, a few lamps and a small space heater.

• Autonomy: Depends on the fuel tank (often 5–12 hours); unlimited as long as you have a fuel supply.
• Average cost: Between €400 and €1,200 depending on the power output.
• Bear in mind: They are very noisy. You will need extension leads from the garden to run your appliances indoors.
• Typical power output: 2,000 to 5,000 watts.

Stationary generators (maximum protection)

These are highly specialised units intended primarily for professional or industrial use. Installed outdoors, they often appear as a large, imposing unit. They are connected directly to your electrical panel and to a permanent fuel source such as mains gas or a propane tank.

• What can you use it for? You don’t even notice there’s a power cut. It supplies all or part of a building autonomously
• Autonomy: Virtually unlimited when connected to the natural gas mains, or several days depending on the size of your tank.
• Average cost: Between €8,000 and €15,000 for a household (including full installation and conformity work).
• Bear in mind: Expensive to buy and requires professional installation by a qualified electrician.
• Typical power output: 7,000 to 20,000 watts.

Portable batteries (indoor convenience)

A portable battery is a large, independent power bank to which you can directly connect your devices. It is a high-capacity battery housed in a portable case (such as EcoFlow, Bluetti, etc.). You have probably already come across them in motorhomes or campervans.

• What can you use it for? To keep working from home (internet router + PC), charge smartphones or power a TV and a coffee machine.
• Autonomy: Depends on the battery capacity (often 2 to 10 hours depending on the devices connected).
• Average budget: Between €500 and €2,500 depending on storage capacity.
• The hybrid aspect: You can recharge it from a wall socket when there is no problem with the mains, and via portable solar panels during a power cut.
• Typical power output: 500 to 2,000 watts.

There are various preparations to be made before you use a generator or battery. Here are the golden rules to protect your family and your equipment:

• The invisible danger: Never run a combustion engine generator (petrol/gas) indoors, even in a garage with the door open. Carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless and can kill within minutes.
• The source transfer switch: If you want to connect a generator to your fuse box, you must install an isolation switch. This physically disconnects your home from the mains supply before the generator starts up, thereby preventing any risk of electrocution to technicians working on the external cables.
• Maintenance: An internal combustion engine will jam up if it is not run. It is advisable to start it for 15 minutes every three months to ensure it will work when you need it.

To be honest, for the majority of urban households, a backup system is a costly insurance policy rather than a profitable investment. The cost of the equipment, maintenance and fuel far exceeds the value of the few hours of electricity lost every year.

It is only a viable solution if you live in an area with an unstable grid, if you have medical equipment at home, or if your business would be seriously impacted by a power cut.

In summary