Solar Panel Inverters – GreenBuildingAdvisor – GWC Mag

Inverters are essential equipment for any solar panel system. By converting direct current (DC) energy generated by solar panels to alternating current (AC) energy, inverters make energy usable at the house. Selecting the right type of solar inverter will be an important decision when installing a new system. The choice between microinverters and string inverters with optimizers depends on factors such as shading, budget, monitoring preferences, and system complexities. This article will explain each system’s setup, their advantages, and considerations when determining what your house needs.

First, a bit about me, which will serve as a disclaimer. I started out in the solar industry as an installer just under a decade ago. I have since helped hundreds of homeowners and business owners achieve their clean-energy vision with the installation of solar energy systems and other complementary clean-energy technologies to heat, deliver hot water, and store energy for emergencies in batteries.

I live and work in Maine. Keep in mind that every solar energy market is different, and the relatively young industry is a landscape of constantly changing market prices, technologies, permitting and utility requirements, etc. We call it the “solar coaster.” Read: There is no quick answer to which inverter technology is better, cheaper, more reliable, more cost-effective, etc. Ultimately, the answers are determined by site conditions, market factors, and other variables I cannot predict. Talk to your local solar professionals—with emphasis on the plural, as you should get input from more than one.

With that, let’s dig in.

Readily available inverters

All grid-tied solar energy systems designed, built, permitted, sold, and inspected in the U.S. these days are, essentially, clean-energy funnels—meaning they catch sun exposure and convert it into AC power in real time for clean energy use. The conversion from DC to AC energy via…