Switching to solar energy is a significant investment, and choosing the right solar PV technology provider can make or break your experience. Inverters and optimisers play a crucial role in ensuring maximum efficiency and performance of your solar panels. But with multiple brands in the market, including SolarEdge, Solis, and others like Fronius, Enphase, and Growatt, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is the best fit for your needs.
What Are Solar PV Inverters? #
A solar inverter is an essential component of a solar PV (photovoltaic) system. It converts the direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is compatible with home appliances and the electrical grid. Without an inverter, the electricity produced by solar panels would be unusable in most businesses.
Types of Solar PV Inverters #
A string inverter connects a series (or “string”) of solar panels together, converting the DC power from all the panels into AC electricity at a single point.
Advantages:
- Lower cost compared to other inverter types.
- Simple and easy to install.
- Reliable, with fewer components.
Disadvantages:
- If one panel in the string is shaded or underperforms, it affects the output of all connected panels.
- Less flexibility in system design.
Unlike string inverters, micro-inverters are installed on each individual solar panel, converting DC to AC directly at the panel level.
This means each panel operates independently, allowing for better efficiency and performance.
Advantages:
- No single point of failure, if one panel has issues, others continue operating normally.
- Maximises energy production, especially in shaded areas.
- Allows for easier system expansion (adding more panels later).
Disadvantages:
- Higher cost compared to string inverters.
- More components increase installation complexity.
Can manage both solar panel energy and battery storage, great for homes with energy storage systems.
This means each panel operates independently, allowing for better efficiency and performance.
Advantages:
- No single point of failure, if one panel has issues, others continue operating normally.
- Maximises energy production, especially in shaded areas.
- Allows for easier system expansion (adding more panels later).
Disadvantages:
- Higher cost compared to string inverters.
- More components increase installation complexity.
What Are Solar PV Optimisers? #
Solar optimisers are devices installed at the panel level to maximize energy output by mitigating shading and panel mismatches. They work with string inverters to increase efficiency and improve monitoring capabilities.
Benefits of Using Solar Optimisers
- Improves Energy Harvesting – Adjusts voltage for each panel individually.
- Better Monitoring – Allows for real-time tracking of panel performance.
- Longer System Lifespan – Reduces stress on the inverter, leading to longevity.
How They Improve Energy Efficiency
Unlike traditional string inverters where a single underperforming panel affects the entire system, optimisers ensure that each panel operates at its peak potential, even under shading or dirt accumulation.
Our Chosen Technology Providers #
Solis focuses on producing a wide range of string inverters for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. While not primarily focused on panel-level optimisation like SolarEdge, Solis inverters are known for their reliability, efficiency, and competitive pricing.
Solis’s product lineup is centered around string inverters, which connect a series of solar panels together in a “string”. These inverters are designed to convert the DC output of the solar string to usable AC power. Solis offers both single-phase and three-phase inverters to accommodate different types of installations.
The strengths of Solis inverters lie in their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. They are a popular choice for installations where panel-level optimisation is not necessary, or the additional cost of optimisers cannot be justified.
Our Chosen Technology Providers #
SolarEdge is renowned for its power optimiser technology, which is integrated into a system that includes inverters specifically designed to work with these optimisers. Their solution allows for panel-level optimisation, meaning each solar panel’s performance can be maximised independently of the others. This is particularly advantageous in scenarios where panels are partially shaded or oriented in different directions.
SolarEdge offers a wide range of inverters and power optimisers that cater to residential, commercial, and large-scale solar installations. Their inverters are generally part of a system that includes power optimisers, enabling advanced monitoring and management capabilities for each solar panel.
The main advantages of SolarEdge systems are enhanced energy yield due to panel-level optimisation, improved system uptime, and detailed monitoring of each panel’s performance. This can lead to more efficient use of solar arrays in varied conditions.
Which Technology is Right For Your Business? #
The choice of an inverter plays a crucial role in the performance and efficiency of a solar PV system. String inverters are cost-effective for unshaded installations, microinverters maximize individual panel performance, and hybrid inverters enable battery storage integration. Power optimisers offer a middle-ground solution for improving energy yield while keeping costs reasonable.
Selecting the right inverter depends on factors such as budget, shading conditions, energy needs, and future expansion plans.
