Got On-Demand Power?
We put Upstart Power’s UpgenNXG fuel cell to the test in a 5-day grid outage simulation. With the existing solar and battery storage system designed to supply 2-3 days of backup power with favorable conditions for solar energy production, the additional two days and a day with reduced solar production would be the perfect test to see how this on-demend fuel cell power source would perform.
The 5-Day Off-Grid Simulation
Can your home ride out a multi-day power outage without relying on gas generators or installing an army of batteries? We wanted to find out. So, we flipped the main breaker OFF and put our hybrid solar + storage + fuel cell system through a real-world stress test.
Here’s what happened:
Day 1–2: Smooth Sailing on Sunshine
On the morning of Monday, July 8, 2025, we shut off the main breaker to simulate a total grid failure. That meant no utility power just our home energy management system (HEMS) setup:
- 15kW solar energy system
- Two Tesla Powerwalls
- One UpgenNXG fuel cell from Upstart Power
With sunny skies overhead and moderate energy use, our solar panels soaked up the rays while the Powerwalls stayed full, taking us comfortably through Monday and Tuesday.
The UpgenNXG fuel cell? It stayed quietly on standby, ready to jump in when needed. A silent safety net.
Day 3: Cloud Cover, Power Spike, and the Fuel Cell Delivers
Wednesday brought clouds and a spike in power use. By early morning, the Powerwalls dipped below 50% state of charge and that’s when the UpgenNXG kicked in.
On-demand backup, activated.
Here’s what it did:
- Turned on just before 6:00 AM
- Ran for about 8 hours
- Delivered ~9.6 kWh of clean, consistent energy
- Outputted a steady 1.25 kW to charge the batteries
Thanks to that backup boost, we didn’t lose power, didn’t scramble for a generator, and didn’t worry about running out of juice. The system quietly extended our battery runtime until the sun came back.
Day 4–5: Holding Strong, Finishing Clean
Thursday and Friday brought a bit more sun, allowing the Powerwalls to recharge without the fuel cell needing to step in again. We stayed completely off-grid for the full 5 days no interruptions, no drama, no need for manual control.
And when we flipped the main breaker back on Friday morning? The transition was seamless. No flickering lights, no rebooting, no surprises.
Why Batteries Alone, Sometimes, Aren’t Enough
Here’s the hard truth:
- Two days of backup often means two or more batteries, which can be costly.
- Solar alone won’t cut it during cloudy days, storms, or wildfire smoke.
- Even the biggest battery banks have limits if the outage stretches too long.
That’s why fuel cells are a game-changer. They quietly generate power when solar can’t and batteries are tapped out. No fumes. No noise. Just power when you need it most.
Nighttime Power, Logged as Solar
The UpgenNXG fuel cell shows up in your Tesla Powerhub as solar power. When it runs at night, you can still track its energy output directly in the portal.
In the graph above, that steady overnight generation isn’t from the sun. It’s the fuel cell keeping your batteries charged and your home powered.
Once you set the system’s activation threshold, there’s no need for extra apps or monitoring. It’s a seamless, automatic backup that gives you peace of mind.
Seamless Integration = Maximum Peace of Mind
The magic of this system isn’t just in the parts—it’s in how they work together:
The result? A fully automated system that gives you uninterrupted power, no matter the weather or season. And you don’t have to lift a finger.
Solar
Handles daily generation offsetting costs and supplying clean energy to your home.
Batteries
Store and discharge energy during grid-outages, protecting your lifestyle.
UpgenNXG
Steps in only when the state of charge threshold is met, automatically kicking on to providing critical energy supply to the batteries and home.
SPAN Smart Panel
To maximize your energy usage, storage, and generation with automated load shedding, energy insights, and circuit-level control!
Built to Last and Designed Right
Reliability isn’t just about performance. It’s also about staying within the limits of your equipment’s warranty.
The UpgenNXG is covered for
- 10 years
- 2,000 runtime hours
- 250 full operating cycles
Whichever comes first!
That’s up to 80 days of runtime over a decade when it matters most. Our team at NWES carefully sizes every system to make sure your home stays powered during extended outages without exceeding warranty limits, ensuring long-term protection and peace of mind.
Smart design. Reliable power. No guesswork. That’s our promise.
Designed for the Moments That Matter Most
The UpgenNXG fuel cell isn’t just another backup. It’s your on-demand energy lifeline. It’s built to activate only when your solar and batteries can’t keep up, delivering seamless support during extended outages. No noise. No delay. No manual intervention.
At Northwest Electric and Solar, we design systems with resilience in mind. That means matching your battery and fuel cell setup to your unique energy needs, especially during the toughest times like multi-day storms, wildfire smoke, or mid-winter grid failures.
