Solar, Generator or Both? Beirut Backup Power

The short answer: generator, solar or both

Most homes and buildings in Beirut end up with one of four setups: a subscription to a building or neighbourhood generator, their own generator, solar panels with batteries, or a hybrid that combines solar, batteries and a generator. There is no single right answer for every property. The right choice depends on what you need to keep running, for how many hours, how much roof you can use, how the building is organised, and how much you want to spend now versus over the life of the equipment.

A generator gives you power on demand and handles heavy loads, but it burns fuel every hour it runs, needs regular servicing and produces noise and exhaust. Solar with batteries produces power silently from sunlight, has very low running costs once installed, and depends on roof area, sunshine and battery size. A hybrid uses solar and batteries for daily needs and keeps a generator for heavy loads, long cloudy periods or the hours batteries cannot cover.

For many apartments and villas, the strongest long-term setup is a hybrid that is sized from real loads rather than guesswork: solar for daytime use and battery charging, batteries for the evening and night, and a generator or subscription as the safety net. For buildings, the same logic applies at a larger scale, with shared roofs, shared generators and clear rules on who pays for and maintains what.

This guide walks through how to size your needs, how to reduce them before you buy anything, what Lebanon's Distributed Renewable Energy Law 318/2023 means, how to choose an installer, how to keep generators, inverters and batteries running, and how to keep the whole system safe. It relies on official sources from the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation and the Ministry of Energy and Water, and it marks clearly where an example is illustrative rather than a measured figure.

How backup power usually works in Lebanese buildings

In many Beirut buildings, power reaches a home from more than one source. There is the public supply when it is available, and there is backup power, often from a private generator serving the building or the neighbourhood through a subscription. The Ministry of Energy and Water has published private generator tariffs, which shows how established these subscriptions are as part of the country's electricity picture.

A subscription is simple: you pay for a set capacity and the generator operator keeps the machine running. The limits are capacity, which may not allow heavy appliances such as water heaters or several air conditioners at once, and dependence on someone else's schedule, maintenance and fuel supply. A private generator gives you control but brings fuel, servicing, noise and space responsibilities with it.

Solar changes the picture because it produces power on your own roof or balcony. With an inverter and batteries, it can supply essential loads during the day and store energy for the evening. In apartment buildings, the main constraint is usually roof space, because the roof is shared, and every household that wants panels needs a fair share and the agreement of the building's owners or committee.

Many households combine sources. A common arrangement is solar and batteries for lighting, internet, fridge, fans and a few appliances, with the generator subscription or a private generator covering heavier loads and long periods without sun. A changeover arrangement decides which source feeds the home at any moment, and this is where good electrical design matters most, because two sources must never feed the same circuit at the same time.

Understanding which sources you have today, what each one costs you, and which loads each one can carry is the first step. Write it down: the public supply hours you typically get, your subscription capacity, and any equipment you already own. That baseline makes every later decision clearer and helps any engineer you invite to give you useful advice.

Start with your loads, not with the equipment

Every good backup design starts with a list of what you actually need to run. Walk through your home or building and list each appliance or circuit you want backed up: fridge and freezer, lights, internet router, laptops and phone charging, TV, fans, water pump, washing machine, water heater, air conditioners, and any medical or business equipment. For each item, note its power rating in watts from the label and how many hours a day you expect to run it during outages.

Separate essential loads from comfort loads. Essential loads are what you cannot be without: refrigeration, lighting, communications, the water pump and any critical equipment. Comfort loads include air conditioning, electric water heating, ovens and tumble dryers. Backup systems become expensive mainly because of comfort loads, so being honest about this split is the single biggest lever on cost.

Then estimate daily energy. Multiply each load's power by its hours of use and add them up. As an illustrative example only, a household whose essential loads draw an average of 600 watts for 10 hours of outage needs about 6 kilowatt-hours of energy for those hours, while the peak power the inverter must handle is the highest total of loads running at the same moment. These two numbers, daily energy and peak power, are what an engineer uses to size batteries, inverters, panels and generators.

Pay special attention to loads that start with a surge. Water pumps, fridges, air conditioners and some tools draw much more power for a moment when they start than when they run. An inverter or generator that is sized only on running power may trip every time the pump starts. A good installer asks about these loads and sizes the equipment to start them reliably.

Finally, record how your needs change across the year. Lebanon's summers raise cooling loads, and winters bring shorter days and more cloud, which reduce solar production. A design that only works in summer leaves you short in winter. Thinking in seasons from the start avoids buying a system that looks good on paper but falls short in the months you need it most.

Reduce the load first: the cheapest kilowatt is the one you do not use

Before buying more capacity, reduce what you need. The Ministry of Energy and Water's public guidance on air conditioning gives practical steps: close windows and doors to keep hot air out, seal gaps around door and window frames and where pipes and cables pass through walls, draw insulating curtains, keep filters clean because dirty filters make the unit consume more energy, wash units at service centres before summer, switch them off when leaving the room or office, and set the thermostat to 25 degrees Celsius, which the Ministry describes as the most suitable temperature for comfortable cooling.

The same guidance advises against installing window-type units in light wells or narrow spaces, because poor ventilation around the unit increases consumption, and recommends reflective double glazing to reduce heat entering the room. Each of these steps lowers the cooling load, and every watt saved is a watt your solar system, batteries or generator do not need to supply.

Water heating is the other big household load. The Ministry's guidance on water heaters recommends periodic cleaning of the heater tank to remove internal deposits so the heater keeps working efficiently. In a backup-power context, it also makes sense to schedule water heating for the hours when power is cheapest or most plentiful, such as midday solar production, rather than running an electric heater from batteries at night.

Lighting and small appliances add up too. Efficient lighting, switching off standby devices, and running washing machines and dishwashers during sunny hours all shift or reduce demand. None of these steps require large investment, and together they can change the size of system you need. Ask any installer to review your load list with you and suggest reductions before they quote equipment.

Load reduction also protects your equipment. A generator that runs close to its limit wears faster, batteries that are deeply discharged every night age sooner, and an inverter that trips under surge loads causes frustration and damage. A home that uses power efficiently gets more years out of the same equipment, which is a saving that never appears on the first quotation but shows up every year after.

Solar panels, inverters and batteries: how the pieces fit

A solar backup system has three main parts. Panels convert sunlight into direct current. The inverter converts it into the alternating current your home uses and manages how power flows between panels, batteries, the home and any other source. Batteries store energy for use when the sun is down or when demand is higher than production. The quality of each part, and how well they are matched to each other and to your loads, decides how well the system performs.

Panels need space and sun. On a shared roof, every square metre matters, and shading from water tanks, neighbouring buildings, antennas or other panels reduces output. An installer should assess orientation, tilt and shading before proposing a layout, and should explain how much energy the proposed panels are expected to produce in summer and in winter, not just their nameplate capacity.

The inverter is the brain of the system. It should handle your peak load and the starting surge of your motors, accept the panel array that will be installed, work with the battery type you choose, and manage a second source such as a generator or the grid safely. Ask for the datasheet, the warranty terms, and how the inverter will be protected, ventilated and accessed for maintenance.

Batteries decide how long you can run after sunset. Their usable capacity, not just their rated capacity, matters, because most batteries should not be fully discharged every night. Battery chemistry, the battery management system, the operating temperature and ventilation all affect life and safety. A good design states the usable energy per night and the expected number of cycles, and places the batteries in a location that is ventilated, protected and easy to inspect.

Wiring and protection connect everything. Correctly sized cables, DC and AC isolators, fuses or breakers, surge protection and earthing are not optional extras; they are what makes a system safe and maintainable. A clear single-line diagram that shows every component and protection device should be part of every professional installation, and it becomes the reference for every future service visit.

Choosing a solar installer in Lebanon

The Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation publishes a list of recommended solar PV companies in Lebanon and updates it periodically; the most recent edition on its website is dated July 2026. Checking whether a company appears on this list is a useful first filter, and the list itself is a good starting point for gathering several quotations for the same scope.

Compare quotations on the same basis. Ask each installer for the panel make and model and their total capacity, the inverter make, model and rating, the battery make, model and usable capacity, the expected daily production in summer and winter, the cable sizes and protection devices, the earthing arrangement, the mounting structure and how it is fixed to the roof, and the warranty on each component and on the workmanship. Quotations that only state a total kilowatt figure and a price cannot be compared fairly.

Ask how the system will be maintained. Who cleans the panels and how often, who checks the inverter settings and firmware, how battery health is monitored, and what happens if a component fails under warranty. A system that nobody maintains loses output quietly over time, and the first time most owners notice is when the batteries no longer last through the evening.

For apartment buildings, agree the roof plan first. Decide how roof space will be shared between households, where common equipment will go, how cables will run through shared risers, and who maintains shared structures. Doing this once, with a plan approved by the building's owners or committee, avoids conflicts and a tangle of cables that makes the roof unsafe and hard to service.

Finally, ask for documentation at handover: the single-line diagram, datasheets, warranty certificates, inverter settings, and a simple operating guide for the household. These documents are what any future technician needs, and they protect your warranty because they show the system was installed and configured as specified.

Law 318/2023: Lebanon's Distributed Renewable Energy Law

Lebanon's Distributed Renewable Energy Law was ratified by the Lebanese Parliament on 14 December 2023 as Law No. 318/2023, according to the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation. The LCEC explains that the law sets a basis for stimulating distributed renewable energy production by establishing the main principles for projects using net metering in all its forms, and for peer-to-peer renewable energy trading through direct power purchase agreements and renewable energy equipment leasing.

The LCEC also records how the law was prepared. In 2019 the Ministry of Energy and Water decided to develop the legal framework and administrative protocols for net metering, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development supported the ministry with a team of experts, and a steering committee with representatives from the Ministry, Électricité du Liban and the LCEC was established in May 2019 to guide that work.

For a household or building, the practical meaning is that the law creates the framework for systems that interact with the public grid, such as net metering, and for arrangements where renewable energy is bought from a producer or equipment is leased rather than purchased outright. How and when each arrangement can be used in practice depends on the implementing procedures of the competent authorities, so check the current position with the LCEC or Électricité du Liban before designing a system around grid export or energy trading.

Until a grid-connected arrangement is confirmed for your property, design your system to work safely on its own. That means a system that serves your loads directly and stores energy in batteries, with protection that prevents any backfeed into the public network or into a generator. If grid interaction becomes available for your connection, a well-documented system with a capable inverter is far easier to adapt.

Leasing and power purchase arrangements under the law may also change how buildings approach solar. Instead of every household buying its own equipment, a building or an investor could install a shared system and sell its output or lease the equipment, within the framework the law establishes. For building committees, this is a reason to plan roof space carefully now, so that a shared system remains possible later.

When a generator still makes sense, and how to keep it reliable

Generators remain important in Lebanon because they deliver large amounts of power on demand, regardless of weather or time of day. They suit heavy loads such as several air conditioners, commercial kitchens, workshops and whole buildings, and they cover long cloudy periods when batteries cannot be recharged by solar. In a hybrid system, a generator can also recharge batteries when solar production is low.

Reliability comes from maintenance. Follow the manufacturer's service schedule, which is usually based on running hours, for oil and filter changes, air and fuel filters, coolant, belts and the starting battery. Keep a running-hours log so services are not missed during busy periods when the generator runs most. A generator that is serviced on time starts when needed; one that is serviced late tends to fail exactly when demand is highest.

Fuel quality matters as much as servicing. Contaminated or degraded fuel blocks filters and injectors, causes rough running and can stop the engine under load. Store fuel in clean, closed containers or tanks, drain water from fuel systems where the design allows it, and change fuel filters on schedule. For generators that run rarely, run them regularly under load so problems are found before an outage.

Load management protects the machine. Running a generator far above or far below its rated load for long periods shortens its life. A correctly sized generator for your peak and starting loads, combined with sensible load management such as not starting every air conditioner and the water heater at once, keeps the engine in its comfortable range and reduces fuel use per kilowatt-hour.

Safety is non-negotiable. Generators must be installed where exhaust gases cannot enter homes, stairwells or neighbouring windows, with adequate ventilation, fire safety measures and secure fuel storage. Connection to the building's electrical system must go through a proper changeover or transfer arrangement so the generator can never feed power back into another source. These points protect lives as well as equipment.

Hybrid systems: getting solar, batteries and generator to work together

A hybrid system combines the strengths of each source. Solar supplies daytime loads and charges batteries; batteries carry the evening and night; the generator or subscription covers heavy loads and long periods without sun. The result is less fuel burned, fewer generator running hours, quieter evenings and a system that keeps working when one source is unavailable.

The heart of a hybrid is control. The inverter or a dedicated controller decides which source feeds the home at each moment and when the generator should start to support the load or recharge batteries. These settings should be agreed with you and documented, because they decide how much fuel you burn and how deeply your batteries are used every day.

Changeover design deserves special care. Whether switching is automatic or manual, the arrangement must make it impossible for two sources to feed the same circuits at the same time, and impossible for a generator or inverter to backfeed the public supply. A qualified electrician should design and install the changeover, label it clearly and show the household how to operate it safely.

Integrating an existing generator subscription is common. In that case, the subscription supply can act as a second source that charges batteries or supports loads when solar is low. The capacity limit of the subscription matters, because charging batteries draws power on top of household loads, so the inverter's charging current should be set to stay within what the subscription allows.

Review the hybrid's performance after the first season. Compare fuel use, generator hours and battery behaviour with the design expectations, and adjust settings if needed. Many systems improve significantly with small changes to charging times, generator start conditions or load priorities, once real operating data is available.

Batteries: capacity, safety and replacement planning

Batteries are usually the most expensive part of a backup system to replace, so treat them as a planned asset rather than a surprise. Ask your installer for the battery's usable capacity, recommended depth of discharge, expected cycle life and warranty conditions, and how the system will monitor state of charge and health over time.

Temperature and ventilation affect battery life and safety. Batteries should sit in a ventilated, shaded, protected place, away from direct sun, water and heat sources, and with enough space around them for inspection. A battery management system that protects against overcharging, deep discharge and overheating is essential, and its alarms should be visible to the household or the maintenance team.

Use the system in a way that protects the batteries. Avoid draining them completely every night, recharge them when solar or another source is available, and do not add heavy loads that the design did not include. If the household's needs grow, review the design rather than simply pushing the existing batteries harder.

Plan for replacement from the start. Keep the battery datasheet and installation date, track how long the batteries last through a typical evening, and note when performance starts to fall. When replacement approaches, compare like for like, because mixing old and new batteries or different types can shorten the life of the whole bank.

Disposal matters too. Used batteries contain materials that should not end up in general waste. Ask your installer how old batteries are collected and handled when they are replaced, and keep the record with your system documents.

Apartment buildings: shared roofs, shared generators and clear rules

In apartment buildings, backup power is as much about organisation as equipment. Shared roofs, shared generator rooms, shared risers and shared electrical rooms all need rules that every household understands. Without them, roofs fill with uncoordinated panels and cables, generator rooms become unsafe and nobody is clearly responsible for maintenance.

A building energy plan answers a few questions in writing. How roof space is allocated and how future demand will be handled. Where inverters, batteries and common equipment may be placed. How cables run through shared spaces and how they are labelled. Who maintains the shared generator and how its costs are shared. And who to call when something goes wrong in a common area.

Electrical safety in shared spaces needs a professional eye. Risers carrying cables from many households, distribution boards serving several sources and generator connections serving the whole building must be designed so that faults are isolated and sources cannot backfeed each other. A periodic inspection of common electrical installations protects every household in the building.

Building committees can also use the framework of Law 318/2023 to think beyond individual systems. A shared solar installation, with output sold or equipment leased within the arrangements the law establishes, may make better use of a small roof than a patchwork of household systems. Planning roof space and cable routes with this possibility in mind keeps options open.

Clear rules also reduce disputes between neighbours. When everyone knows where they may install equipment, how shared costs are calculated and who maintains what, backup power becomes a shared improvement to the building rather than a constant source of friction.

A maintenance calendar for generators, solar and batteries

Solar panels need periodic cleaning because dust, sand and pollution reduce output. How often depends on location and season, so check production regularly and clean when output falls or when panels are visibly dirty, using safe access and methods recommended by the panel manufacturer. At the same time, inspect mounting structures, fixings and cables for damage or corrosion.

Inverters and controllers need periodic checks of settings, alarms, ventilation and connections. Loose or overheated connections are a common cause of faults and fire risk, so a technician should inspect and tighten terminals according to the manufacturer's guidance, check cooling fans and vents, and confirm that firmware and settings match the documented design.

Batteries need monitoring rather than guesswork. Review state-of-health data from the battery management system where available, check for swelling, leaks or abnormal heat, and keep the battery area clean and ventilated. Record how long the batteries last through a typical evening so that gradual decline is noticed early.

Generators follow their running-hours schedule for oil, filters, coolant and belts, plus regular checks of the starting battery, fuel system, exhaust and changeover. Run a generator that is used rarely under load at regular intervals so that it is ready when needed, and keep every service in a log.

Put all of this into one calendar and one folder. A single maintenance calendar for the whole backup system, with service records, diagrams and warranties in one place, turns a collection of equipment into a managed system. It also makes it far easier for any technician to diagnose a problem quickly and correctly.

Safety checklist for backup power

Every backup system should be designed and installed by qualified people, with correctly sized cables, protection devices on both the DC and AC sides, surge protection and proper earthing. Ask to see the single-line diagram and confirm that each protection device shown on it is installed and labelled.

Make backfeed impossible. Whether you combine a generator, solar, batteries, a subscription or the public supply, the changeover arrangement must ensure that only one source feeds a circuit at a time and that no source can push power into another network. This protects technicians working elsewhere on the network as well as your own equipment.

Respect exhaust and fuel risks. Generators produce exhaust gases that must be directed safely away from people, with ventilation that prevents gases from collecting indoors, in stairwells or near windows. Fuel must be stored securely and away from heat sources, and fire safety equipment should be available near generator installations.

Treat batteries as energy stores, not boxes. Install them in ventilated, protected spaces, keep flammable materials away, and respond quickly to any battery alarm, swelling, smell or heat. Do not open battery enclosures or modify battery wiring without the manufacturer's guidance and a qualified technician.

Keep the household informed. Everyone who lives in the home should know where the main isolators are, how to switch sources safely, which loads can run on batteries and who to call in an emergency. A one-page guide next to the main board is often the most useful safety device in the house.

How to compare costs without guessing

Comparing generators, subscriptions and solar only on the purchase price leads to poor decisions. A better comparison looks at the total cost of each option over the life of the equipment: purchase and installation, fuel or subscription fees, servicing, battery replacement, and the value of reliability and silence. Ask each supplier to state their assumptions so you can compare like with like.

Use your own load list and hours. The daily energy and peak power you calculated earlier are the basis for every quotation. If two installers quote very different systems for the same needs, ask each to explain their sizing; the explanation often reveals whether one has undersized to look cheaper or oversized to sell more equipment.

Itemised quotations make this possible. A quotation that lists every component with make, model, quantity and warranty, plus labour, protection devices, cables and mounting, lets you see exactly what you are paying for and compare it line by line. A single total price hides the differences that matter.

Think in stages if the budget is tight. Many households start with an inverter and batteries sized for essential loads, add panels as budget allows, and keep the generator subscription for heavy loads. A design that plans for expansion from the start, with an inverter and wiring that can accept more panels or batteries later, avoids paying twice.

Revisit the decision every year. Fuel prices, subscription terms, equipment prices and the implementation of Law 318/2023 can all change the balance between options. A short annual review of your costs and performance keeps the system matched to your needs.

Water pumps, tanks and backup power

In many Beirut buildings, water reaches the taps through a pump that fills rooftop tanks or pressurises the supply, so a building without power can quickly become a building without water. When you list your loads, treat the water pump as an essential load and note its rating and how long it runs to fill the tanks, because it is often the single load that decides whether a backup system feels adequate or frustrating.

Pumps draw a starting surge that can be several times their running power for a brief moment. An inverter or generator that handles the running power comfortably may still trip when the pump starts, especially if other appliances are already running. Ask your installer to confirm that the inverter or generator can start the pump with the rest of the essential loads running, and to show where this is accounted for in the sizing.

Tanks can act as a form of energy storage. If the pump runs during sunny hours, when solar production is highest, the tanks fill using solar power and supply water through the evening without drawing on batteries. Float switches and timers make this practical, and they also protect the pump from running dry or overflowing tanks. A short conversation with your installer about pump timing can noticeably reduce the battery capacity you need.

Pressure pumps that run every time a tap opens behave differently from transfer pumps that fill tanks. Frequent short starts add wear and repeated surges, so a pressure system with a correctly sized pressure vessel and correctly set switches places less strain on both the pump and the backup system. If a pressure pump cycles rapidly, have it checked, because the fault wastes energy and shortens the life of the pump.

In shared buildings, the water pump is usually a common installation, so its power source and maintenance should be agreed between households or by the building committee. Whether the pump runs on the building generator, a shared solar system or the public supply, someone should be clearly responsible for checking it, cleaning the tanks and keeping the controls working.

Shops, clinics, offices and restaurants: backup for businesses

Businesses face higher stakes when power fails. A shop loses sales when its payment terminals and lights go off, a clinic cannot pause equipment in the middle of a session, an office loses work when computers shut down, and a restaurant can lose its refrigerated stock in hours. The planning steps are the same as for homes, but the list of essential loads deserves even more care.

Start by separating loads that must never stop from those that can wait a few minutes. Computers, servers, network equipment, payment systems and sensitive medical or laboratory equipment often need an uninterruptible power supply that bridges the gap while another source takes over. Refrigeration, lighting and ventilation can usually tolerate a short changeover, while heavy cooking equipment and large air conditioning loads are often better served by a generator.

Restaurants and food businesses need particular attention to refrigeration and extraction. Cold rooms and fridges must keep running to protect stock, and kitchen extraction must keep working whenever cooking equipment is in use. A backup design for a kitchen should state clearly which equipment is supported, for how long and from which source, and the kitchen team should know what to switch off when running on backup.

For businesses, maintenance contracts matter as much as equipment. A generator that is serviced on schedule, a solar system whose output is monitored, and batteries whose health is checked regularly reduce the risk of failure at the worst moment. Documented service visits also support insurance claims and give management a clear record of what was done and when.

Finally, test the plan. Simulate an outage outside business hours, confirm that each critical load stays on or restarts as designed, and note anything that did not behave as expected. A short test once or twice a year turns a backup system on paper into one the business can rely on.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is sizing from equipment rather than loads. Buying an inverter or generator because a neighbour has the same model, or choosing batteries by price alone, often produces a system that trips when the pump starts or runs out of energy in the evening. A written load list and a sizing explanation from the installer avoid this from the start.

Ignoring winter is the second. A solar system sized on summer production can fall short in winter, when days are shorter and cloud reduces output, exactly when lighting and water heating loads may rise. Ask for summer and winter production estimates and decide in advance how winter shortfalls will be covered, whether by a generator, the public supply or reduced loads.

Poor installation details cause most safety problems. Cables left exposed to sun and weather on roofs, missing earthing, connections without proper protection, batteries placed in hot closed spaces and changeovers that allow backfeed are all avoidable. Each of these should be checked on the single-line diagram and on site before the installer is paid in full.

Mixing equipment carelessly shortens its life. Combining old and new batteries, different battery types, or panels of different specifications on the same string can reduce performance and cause faults. When expanding a system, ask the installer to confirm compatibility in writing.

The last common mistake is having no documents. Without a diagram, datasheets, settings and warranty certificates, every future repair starts from guesswork and warranty claims become difficult. Keep one folder for the whole system and add every service report to it.

Monitoring: knowing your system is really working

A backup system that nobody watches tends to fail quietly. Most modern inverters and battery systems record production, consumption, battery state and alarms, often with an app or a display. Ask your installer to set this up at handover, show you the few numbers that matter, and explain what a normal day looks like in summer and in winter.

Watch three things each week. How much energy the panels produced compared with the same season last year, how far the batteries discharge overnight, and whether any alarms appeared. A gradual fall in production can mean dirty panels or a failing string; batteries that empty earlier each evening can mean ageing cells or new loads; repeated alarms point to a fault that should be checked before it becomes a failure.

For generators, the running-hours meter is the key number. Record it at every service and at the start of each month, and compare fuel bought with hours run. A sudden rise in fuel used per hour, black smoke, unusual noise or difficulty starting are early warnings that the engine needs attention.

Share the data with whoever maintains the system. A technician who can see production history, battery behaviour and alarm logs before a visit arrives with the right parts and a clear idea of the cause, which shortens the visit and avoids guesswork. Keeping a few screenshots or a short monthly note in the system folder is enough.

How Power Zone helps in Lebanon

Power Zone provides building maintenance and technical services in Lebanon from its office in Verdun, Beirut, including electrical work, generators and solar, plumbing and water systems, air conditioning, waterproofing, cleaning and pest control. Every job starts with a site survey and an itemised quotation before any work, so you see exactly what will be installed or serviced and why.

For backup power, a site survey covers your loads, existing sources, roof or installation space, distribution boards and changeover arrangements, and identifies safety issues before any equipment is proposed. The itemised quotation that follows lists every component and task, so it can be compared fairly and approved line by line.

For existing systems, Power Zone services generators, inspects electrical installations and changeovers, and checks solar and battery setups so that performance problems and safety risks are found early. Records from each visit build the system's maintenance history, which helps plan battery replacement and future upgrades.

Every job follows the same path: request, site survey, itemised quotation, the work, and handover with a warranty certificate. For buildings, the same approach applies to shared generators, shared roofs and common electrical installations, with documentation that building committees can keep and share.

Frequently asked questions

Is solar or a generator better for a home in Beirut?

It depends on your loads, roof space and budget. Solar with batteries suits daily essential loads with low running costs; a generator suits heavy loads and long periods without sun. Many homes use a hybrid of both, sized from a real list of loads.

What is Lebanon's Law 318/2023?

It is Lebanon's Distributed Renewable Energy Law, ratified by Parliament on 14 December 2023. According to the LCEC, it sets the main principles for net metering and for peer-to-peer renewable energy trading through direct power purchase agreements and equipment leasing.

How do I choose a solar company in Lebanon?

Check whether the company appears on the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation's list of recommended solar PV companies, then compare itemised quotations that name the panels, inverter, batteries, protection devices, expected production and warranties for each component.

How do I size a backup system for my apartment?

List each load you want backed up with its wattage and hours of use, separate essential from comfort loads, and calculate daily energy and peak power. These two figures, plus starting surges from pumps and motors, are what an engineer uses to size the system.

Can I connect solar to my building generator subscription?

Often yes, through an inverter that accepts a second source, but the changeover must prevent any backfeed and battery charging must stay within the subscription's capacity. A qualified electrician should design and label the connection.

How can I reduce my air conditioning load on backup power?

The Ministry of Energy and Water advises setting the thermostat to 25 degrees Celsius, keeping filters clean, servicing units before summer, closing windows and doors, sealing gaps and drawing insulating curtains to keep heat out.

How often should a generator be serviced?

Follow the manufacturer's schedule, which is usually based on running hours, for oil, filters, coolant, belts and the starting battery. Keep a running-hours log so services are not missed during busy periods, and run rarely used generators under load regularly.

Does Power Zone install and maintain backup power in Lebanon?

Power Zone provides electrical, generator and solar services in Lebanon from its Beirut office, starting every job with a site survey and an itemised quotation, and services generators, changeovers and solar and battery systems.

Reference sources

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Solar, Generator or Both? Backup Power for Beirut Homes and Buildings