What Happens to Surplus Energy When your solar system generates more energy than your household needs, rest assured that nothing goes to waste. If you’re connected to the electrical grid, the excess energy is redirected there for your city to utilize—and they’ll gladly compensate you for it. On the flip side, if your system doesn’t produce enough energy at any point, you can “borrow” energy from the grid using the credits earned from your surplus. For those who opt to live off-grid, solar batteries provide the perfect solution to store extra energy for later use, even during less sunny days.