We write the reviews we wished existed before we bought our first solar generator.

Clean Power Backup is an independent publication covering portable solar generators and emergency backup power gear. We focus on the products real households actually consider for real outages — not the cheapest item in a category, not the most expensive, but the ones worth thinking carefully about.

Our editorial approach is straightforward. Every review begins with a scenario, not a spec sheet — a hurricane, a winter storm, a multi-day grid event — and works backward from what a household would actually need to do. We share the math. We name the limits out loud. We don't use fear-based language, because people preparing for emergencies don't need more anxiety; they need usable information.

We're reader-supported. Some links on the site are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. This funds the work, and it never changes the verdict — products that fall short get called out as falling short, full stop. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the manufacturers we cover, including 4Patriots.

If you've spotted something we got wrong, or you've put one of these units through a real outage and want to share what you learned, we'd genuinely like to hear from you.