When people think about a solar energy system, solar panels are usually one of the first things that come to mind.
While solar panels are undeniably important, solar inverters are an equally crucial system component—especially when it comes to creating sustainable energy solutions in homes and buildings around the world.
What is a solar inverter and why do you need one?
A solar inverter is a critical aspect of most photovoltaic (PV) power systems, in which energy from direct sunlight is harnessed by solar panels and transformed into usable electricity. Specifically, the inverter is responsible for "inverting" the direct current (DC) produced by solar panels into alternating current (AC), which is the form of electricity used in homes.
This process can be broken down into three key stages:
- Power generation: When exposed to sunlight, PV solar panels generate electricity as direct current. Because DC electricity can only travel in one direction, in this case, that direction is towards the inverter.
- Inversion: Once it reaches the inverter, the solar electricity is then rapidly switched back and forth. This process modifies the energy into AC, which can move in various directions.
- Distribution: As alternating current, the solar power can then be safely used within a home’s electrical system, stored in a battery reserve, or shared with the utility energy grid.
In essence, the inverter acts as the heart of a solar energy system, pumping generated electricity wherever it needs to go. As the efficiency of your solar inverter will play a significant role in the overall performance of your panels, finding the right system is a crucial factor in designing the optimal PV installation for your property.
Types of solar inverters
For PV installations of all sizes, there are two main types of solar inverters used today: string inverters and microinverters. While discernably different, both technologies can be effectively used to generate usable home electricity, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
String inverters
String inverters are a common technology used in global PV installations today. Also known as “central inverters,” string inverters connect multiple solar panels together in “strings,” which combine the high voltage DC electricity produced before it’s transformed into AC power.
Pros
- String inverter systems can typically be installed with lower initial costs.
- Most string inverters operate in easy-to-reach locations, so required maintenance is usually straightforward.
Cons
- Underperforming panels-from shading, dust, damage, and more-can significantly lower the energy output of other solar panels along the same string. To reduce this effect, solar panels may be equipped with power optimizers, which can increase individual panel performance, overall system efficiency, as well as total project costs.
- Most string inverters last between , which means that a replacement is usually required within a solar panel array’s multi-decade operating lifetime. This part replacement may also increase your total project expenses when performed outside of an initial warranty period.
- With a single point of failure, a string inverter-based solar energy system will shut down entirely when a replacement is necessary.
Solar microinverters
Individual solar microinverters are installed underneath each solar panel in your system. By converting DC to AC as close to the source as possible, microinverters can of high-voltage electricity and allow your solar panels to operate independently of one another.
Pros
- Microinverters can maximize your overall solar energy system efficiency and allow precise, panel-by-panel performance monitoring.
- High-quality microinverters, like the ţţ㷨 IQ8 Series, come with a 25-year warranty, which is more than twice as long as the standard coverage for average string inverter systems.
- If you decide to install more solar energy later in life, microinverters make it easier to expand your system one panel at a time. Conversely, it’s likely that a central inverter would need to be upgraded to handle the additional power capacity.
- Microinverters provide built-in redundancy by eliminating the single point of failure in central inverter systems. If one microinverter malfunctions, it will not affect the energy production of other solar panels in the system.
Cons
- Microinverter-based solar installations are generally more expensive upfront than those with string inverters.
- Although rare, microinverter maintenance can be more complicated than string inverter replacement. While other system microinverters remain operational, the malfunctioning parts must be replaced beneath the solar panels, which are usually located on a roof, rather than the side of a building.
How to choose your solar inverter system
With the goal of maximizing electricity production and long-term savings, choosing the right inverter is a critical step in the solar energy system design process. To find the right solar inverter or inverters for your installation, you must consider several specific features of your property, including your energy demand, roof complexity, and whether shading will affect your system’s performance.
Learn more about solar and shade.
String inverters vs. microinverters
Although string inverters are generally cheaper upfront and at scale, microinverters can often deliver more long-term value for a residential or commercial solar energy system. Premium microinverters are designed to last as long as your solar panels and maximize energy production in systems affected by shading or variable panel performance.
At the end of the day, the choice between a central inverter system or a microinverter design should be made with the help of a professional solar installer. As ultimately this decision will be based on your individual circumstances, it’s typically worth examining all system design options before you move forward with an installation.
Learn more about why microinverters may be a better choice.
Choosing the right inverter capacity
In both string inverter and microinverter-based systems, installing the right equipment capacity is essential to optimize your solar production without overspending on project costs.
If you’re installing microinverters, finding the right capacity is easy because each unit is connected to a single solar panel. To harness the maximum usable solar energy from sunlight, your microinverter’s DC input and AC output capacities must be appropriately sized to optimize electricity generation.
Likewise, finding the right string inverter capacity follows the same logic, but at scale. Your central inverter system should be rated to handle all the electricity your panels are expected to generate in ordinary operating conditions. While it’s easier to add solar panels to your system later with microinverters, choosing the right string inverter before your installation is critical, as central inverter systems are typically built-to-suit without the capacity for expanded solar generation.
Use our to find the right sizes for your solar energy system components.
Batteries, grid-tied solar inverters, and hybrid systems
Whether or not you plan to include battery storage in your solar energy system will also influence your inverter selection. Today, most solar systems installed for homes and businesses are grid-tied, in that they contain an inverter that can send excess electricity production to the utility power grid.
Beyond your basic grid-tied inverter, a hybrid inverter can be used to send electricity back and forth between your home, solar battery, the utility grid, and occasionally other power sources like gas generators.
ţţ㷨 IQ Microinverters offer full energy independence with easy integration of solar storage, EV charging systems, and more.
Next steps: Talk to a professional
Ultimately, to guarantee the safety of your system and investment, finding and installing the optimal solar inverter should be done with the assistance of a certified professional. In fact, legally, most PV solar designs must be approved by a licensed electrician prior to approval from local utilities and building authorities.
By consulting multiple installers serving your area, you can narrow down the perfect solar energy solution for your property with components specifically selected to maximize efficiency, performance, and long-term value.
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Solar inverter FAQs
What maintenance is required for solar inverters, and how often should it be performed?
Solar inverters are generally low-maintenance devices when compared to other energy systems. However, it’s important to regularly monitor solar inverter performance to ensure ongoing operating efficiency. In addition to remote performance monitoring, annual or bi-annual physical system inspections are also recommended by most solar hardware manufacturers to ensure your system operates sustainably.
How do I monitor the performance of my solar inverter and PV system?
Most solar inverters come with a solar monitoring system that allows you to track the performance of your solar panels online or with a smartphone app. This can include real-time data on power output, overall energy production, and system health. While solar inverters are designed to be durable and reliable, interruptions in performance should be handled as soon as possible to get systems back online and operating at peak efficiency.
Can solar inverters be integrated with battery storage systems?
Yes, solar inverters can be integrated with battery storage systems. This combination allows you to store excess solar energy for use throughout the night or during utility power outages. As all solar hardware is not universally compatible, inverters and batteries must be carefully selected in conjunction with one another to ensure your energy system operates as efficiently as possible.
