What Is a Microinverter?

As solar energy adoption sees massive growth, innovations in inverter technology are driving gains in efficiency, reliability, and flexibility. One such innovation is the microinverter, which will be detailed in the following sections.

Microinverter

A microinverter is a small inverter that converts the direct current (DC) electricity generated by a single solar panel into usable alternating current (AC) electricity that can power home appliances and devices and be fed back into the electrical grid. Unlike old solar technology that used one central or string inverter to collect energy from multiple panels, microinverters allow each panel to have its own individual inverter. This enables maximum energy harvest from each panel regardless of variances in sun exposure or panel performance.

Benefits of Microinverters

There are considerable advantages to using microinverters over traditional string inverters:

Increased Energy Harvest

By enabling each panel to operate at peak output, a microinverter system can generate up to 25% more energy from the same number of panels versus string inverters. This technology is especially advantageous where panels have varied sunlight exposure.

Improved Reliability & Safety

Microinverters have no single point of system failure, unlike string systems. If one panel or microinverter fails, the rest of the system continues unaffected. This minimizes downtime and lost energy production. Microinverters also shut down automatically when they are overloaded or overheated, preventing damage.

Simplified Design & Installation

Microinverter systems require far less design work as each panel operates independently, so there is more flexibility in panel placement. No arc fault or ground fault equipment is needed, nor is there cumbersome wiring between panels. This reduces rooftop installation work.

Superior Shade Tolerance

With individual MPPT tracking, microinverters minimize power loss from the shade on a solar panel, only directly impacting the shaded one. A shaded panel in a string system can cut power output from all panels drastically. This advantage enables energy generation from more shade-prone installations.

Real-time Monitoring

Microinverter monitoring offers detailed system-level and panel-level performance data, aiding in quick issue identification and long-term tracking. Take PVB. PVB’s Energy Management Unit (EMU) and intelligent gateways allow easy solar energy management. Users can access real-time and historical data anytime via the BYM Cloud platform or mobile app, simplifying operational monitoring of PV systems.

Lower Ongoing Fees

As microinverter systems have no centralized equipment needing replacement, the recurring operations and maintenance costs over a system’s life are lower.

Who Should Buy Microinverters?

Both residential and commercial solar customers can benefit from upgrading to microinverter technology. Here is an overview of ideal customers for these systems:

Residential Homeowners

Homeowners with complicated roof designs, older housing stock, or intermittent shading issues stand to gain the most from microinverters. By mitigating complex site factors, energy harvest and monitoring insight improves considerably. Microinverters also enhance safety and simplify expandability for future solar capacity needs as electric vehicles and other loads are added. Basically, almost every residential solar installation can utilize microinverter advantages over old string inverter technology.

Commercial Solar Owners

Businesses with larger commercial-scale systems also gain advantages from microinverters. Monitoring production at the panel level enables better insight into asset management and ROI performance. Maintenance costs drop thanks to the removal of single points of system failure. Safety improves as well for rooftop commercial arrays connected to micro inverters rather than high-voltage string inverter setups. Operations teams also like the flexibility for incremental expansion using this modern solar equipment.

Off-Grid Installations

Those disconnecting from the grid or needing backup power also benefit greatly from microinverters. This technology integrates seamlessly with battery storage systems and best enables the optimization of solar energy consumption directly rather than exporting excess power. Any entity looking for maximum resiliency will appreciate panel-level rapid shutdown capacities as well as running critical loads right off a standalone solar and storage microinverter array.

In short, as solar technology improves, a switch to microinverters is advisable for most residential and commercial installations seeking to upgrade performance, monitoring, reliability, safety, and simplicity.

Do You Need a Microinverter for Each Solar Panel?

Microinverter manufacturers recommend one microinverter paired with each solar panel to enable independent operation and maximum energy harvest from each panel. However, some microinverter models allow up to four panels to connect to one microinverter. Ultimately, having a dedicated microinverter for each panel is advised to generate the highest system efficiency, even if at a higher upfront equipment cost.

Are Microinverters Compatible With Batteries?

Microinverter solar systems are completely compatible with home energy storage batteries. High-performing lithium iron phosphate and AC-coupled battery systems are commonly added to microinverter installations to enable solar power benefits at night. Any excess solar electricity produced during the day can be stored in the batteries and used whenever needed. Many options even allow off-grid home power through solar and batteries. Adding battery storage does require additional equipment and wiring considerations are best left to the system designers.

Conclusion

Microinverter technology offers a multitude of advantages over traditional inverters that justify its surging popularity in the solar sector. With solar energy expected to quadruple globally within a decade, the innovations in efficiency, reliability, safety, and data offered by microinverters will drive a considerable share of this monumental growth. As more homes and businesses opt for solar power, microinverter systems will likely be the technology of choice to maximize results for generations to come.

Q&As

Q: How much maintenance do microinverters require?

One of the advantages of microinverters is they require very little ongoing maintenance compared to string inverters. Most include a 10+ year warranty. Beyond occasionally checking cabling connections, no regular service is needed. Most issues can be promptly identified through the monitoring software as well.

Q: Can I expand my solar system if I have microinverters installed?

Absolutely. A key advantage of microinverters is that additional panels can be added incrementally since each panel has its own inverter. This avoids the cost of installing a whole new larger string inverter if expanding an existing solar array. Simply mount the new panels, connect the microinverters, and attach them to the existing cabling infrastructure.

Q: Is panel-level monitoring possible with string inverters?

While some string inverters provide panel-level monitoring, the data is more limited compared to microinverter systems. And if a panel underperforms with a string system, the only solution is replacing the entire inverter. With microinverters, panel-level visibility allows quick identification and replacement of just one microinverter if needed.

Read More

• Microinverters: A Smart Choice for On-Grid Solar Systems – Beny Micro Inverter
• Microinverters: A Cost-Effective Solution for Residential Solar Energy Systems – Beny Micro Inverter
• Microinverter vs Power Optimizer: Enhancing Your Solar Experience – Beny Micro Inverter
• Join Booth D7.151B, K.EY – Beny Micro Inverter
• PVB Showcases Smart Home Energy Management Solutions at WEBUILD Energiesparmesse 2024 – Beny Micro Inverter