What is a Solar Inverter? A Guide for Irish Homeowners
Solar panels are becoming an increasingly popular choice for people who want to save money on their electricity bills and reduce their carbon footprint.
There are multiple components which make up any solar PV system, and among the most important are solar inverters. Solar inverters are power inverters which transform direct current (DC) from the panel into an accelerating current (AC) which can be used in the home.
Choosing the right solar inverter for your home is crucial as it serves as the central point of any system, connecting your solar panels without your electrical grid and other smart home elements.
What Are Solar Inverters?
Solar inverters are the central nexus of any photovoltaic systems, sitting between the solar panels and the home power grid, as well as connecting with any other peripherals.
While the solar panels are responsible for the electricity produced, the job of solar inverters is to convert the renewable energy they create into something which can be used in your home.
How Solar Inverters Work
The electricity which is generated by solar PV panels as they work comes in the form of Direct Current (DC). However, the power which is used in our electrical grids takes the form of Alternating Current (AC).
The transformer in a solar inverter first lowers the voltage of the electricity made in the PV array, and then converts it to AC before sending on to your home grid.
Solar inverters also serve as a hub, allowing homeowners to connect battery storage systems to a PV array.
Types of solar panel Inverters
There are multiple types of power inverters available for solar PV systems which will come with different advantages and disadvantages based on the setup of the system.
Choosing the right inverter for you will depend on your specific needs. Will shading be an issue? Do you intend to install batteries now or at a later date? What is the budget for the project? Is this an grid-tied or off-grid system? All of these questions will inform any choice of solar power inverter.
String Inverter
String Inverters are the simplest type of solar power inverter. All of the panels are connected together onto a single ‘string’ which is then fed into the inverter connected to the grid.
Pros
Most Affordable Option: A string inverter is the most affordable option for power inverters on a solar PV system due to its simplicity.
Simple Installation and Maintenance: The simplicity of string inverters compared with other options makes them easy to install and maintain as needed.
Cons
Not Battery Compatible: String inverters cannot connect a battery to your solar PV system. If you want to install a battery, it will have to be replaced with a hybrid inverter.
Single Point of Failure: Having one single power inverter means that if it does break the entire solar PV system stops working.
Requires Grid Connection: A string inverter must be connected to the electricity grid and cannot be used in off-grid systems.
Hybrid Inverters
Hybrid inverters are becoming the more common choice for domestic solar PV systems as they can also connect with a battery system to be charged by the solar panels.
Pros
Connect Battery Storage: A hybrid inverter allows you to connect a battery storage system to your solar panels. This can be done at the time of installation, or a solar PV system can be retrofitted with batteries later.
Smart Monitoring & Control Systems: Hybrid inverters come with more smart operating systems for monitoring energy generation and usage, and to control the battery’s operations.
Energy Independence: A hybrid inverter with a battery system allows for backup operations with a battery in the event of a power outage, or completely off-grid operations.
Cons
More Expensive Than Standard Inverter: A Hybrid Inverter will be more expensive than a standard inverter due to its added complexity.
Microinverters
Microinverters involve installing a small inverter to each solar panel rather than running all the panels through a single inverter.
Pros
No Single Point of Failure: If one microinverter fails it will only affect that panel rather than the entire string.
Reduced Power Loss From Shading: With microinverters, only those panels which are directly affected by shading will experience a loss in power. When all the solar panels are on a single inverter, having shade on one panel could reduce the output from all of them.
Individual Panel Monitoring: Microinverters can monitor the output from each solar panel instead of the entire PV system.
Cons
More Expensive Option: Installing microinverters on each solar panel will end up being more expensive than having a single inverter. The more panels in the system, the greater the cost will be.
Reduced Choices There are few choices on the market for microinverters compared with standard grid-tied and hybrid power inverters.
How much do solar inverters cost?
There are many factors which affect the price of the solar inverter installed with your panels. It can vary greatly between large and small systems, whether you intend to install a battery, and whether it is a single-phase or three-phase inverter.
The inverter is only part of the overall cost of a solar PV system, which averages between €4,800 and €8,700 (after the SEAI grant).
Standard string, Hybrid, and Microinverters will all have different price points. There is also a great deal of variation within those ranges based on brand.
The more power that an inverter is designed to be able to accept from solar panels and output to your home, the more expensive it will likely be.
Inverters designed for three-phase power in commercial/industrial settings with higher loads will be more expensive than single-phase power inverters meant primarily for residential use.
FAQs
A solar inverter should come with a standard product warranty of 5 to 10 years, depending on the brand. If it has a shorter warranty you may be able to extend it by another 5 years or more as an optional extra.
You want a solar inverter to be installed somewhere it will not be directly exposed to rain, or excessive direct sunlight. Most indoor and sheltered outdoor locations are suitable. Good airflow is also something which should be considered when choosing a location for your inverter.
Solar inverters are typically expected to have a lifespan fo around 15 years, though some new brands may advertise considerably longer. You will likely have to replace the inverter at least once over the course of your solar panels’ lifespan.
Solar inverters do not need much in the way of maintenance. Make sure that it is kept in a dry location and that it is not getting overwhelmed with dust or blocked from airflow. Clean the outside of the inverter regularly. That said, there is no harm in organising a checkup if you are conducting maintenance on the solar PV system as a whole.
Solar inverters these days are built with multiple layers of electrical protection. Smart Arc-Fault-Circuit-Interrupter (AFCI) protection can cut power in milliseconds if it detects electricity arcing. That said, make sure your inverter is not being overloaded by more power than it can handle to prevent it from overheating.
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