What are the different types of solar inverters?

Inverters are an important part of any solar installation; they are the brains of the system. Although the inverter’s main job is to convert DC power produced by the solar array into usable AC power, its role is only expanding. Inverters enable monitoring so installers and owners can see how a system is performing. Inverters can also provide diagnostic information to help O&M crews identify and fix system issues. These important components are increasingly taking on decision-making and control functions to help improve grid stability and efficiency. With the growth of solar+storage, inverters are also taking on responsibility for battery management. Here is a look at some different types of solar inverters.

String inverters
Solar panels are installed in rows, each on a “string.” For example if you have 25 panels you may have 5 rows of 5 panels. Multiple strings are connected to one string inverter. Each string carries the DC power the solar panels produce to the string inverter where it’s converted into usable AC power consumed as electricity. Depending on the size of the installation, you may have several string inverters each receiving DC power from a few strings.

String inverters have been around for a long time and are good for installations without shading issues and in which panels are positioned on a single plane so do not face different directions. If an installation uses string inverters and even one panel is shaded for a portion of the day reducing its performance, the output of every panel on the string is reduced to the struggling panels’ level. Though string inverters aren’t able to deal with shading issues, the technology is trusted and proven and they are less expensive than systems with microinverters. String inverters are commonly used in residential and commercial applications. Also, as technology improves allowing string inverters to have greater power density in smaller sizes, string inverters are becoming a popular alternative over central inverters in small utility installations smaller than 1 MW.

String inverters can also be paired with power optimizers, an option that is gaining popularity. Power optimizers are module-level power electronics meaning they are installed at the module level, so each solar panel has one. Some panel manufacturers integrate their products with power optimizers and sell them as one solution known as a Smart Module. This can make installation easier. Power optimizers are able to mitigate effects of shading that string inverters alone cannot. They condition the DC electricity before sending it to the inverter, which results in a higher overall efficiency than using a string inverter alone. Power optimizers offer similar benefits as microinverters, but tend to be less expensive and so can be a good option between using strictly string inverters or microinverters.

Central inverters
Central inverters are similar to string inverters but they are much larger and can support more strings of panels. Instead of strings running directly to the inverter, as with string models, the strings are connected together in a common combiner box that runs the DC power to the central inverter where it is converted to AC power. Central inverters require fewer component connections, but require a pad and combiner box. They are best suited for large installations with consistent production across the array.

Microinverters
Microinverters are also becoming a popular choice for residential and commercial installations. Like power optimizers, microinverters are module-level electronics so one is installed on each panel. However, unlike power optimizers which do no conversion, microinverters convert DC power to AC right at the panel and so don’t require a string inverter. Also, because of the panel-level conversion, if one or more panels are shaded or are performing on a lower level than the others, the performance of the remaining panels won’t be jeopardized.  Microinverters also monitor the performance of each individual panel, while string inverters show the performance of each string.  This makes microinverters good for installations with shading issues or with panels on multiple planes facing various directions. Systems with microinverters can be more efficient, but these often cost more than string inverters.

Microinverters can also be sold through panel manufacturers already integrated into the panel, similar to Smart Modules but instead known as an AC Module. This makes installation easier and cheaper.

Battery based inverter/chargers
With the growth of solar+storage, battery-based inverter/chargers are becoming increasingly important. Battery based inverter/chargers are bi-directional in nature, including both a battery charger  and an inverter.  They require a battery to operate.   Battery-based inverter/chargers may be grid-interactive, standalone grid-tied or off-grid, depending on their UL rating and design.  The primary benefit of inverter/chargers is that they provide for continuous operation of critical loads irrespective of the presence or condition of the grid.  UL1741 requires the grid-tied generation source to stop generating power in the event of a grid outage.  This de-powering is known as anti-islanding, as opposed to ‘islanding’ which is defined as generating power to power a location in the event of a grid outage.  Therefore, UL1741 grid-tie inverters will not generate power in the event of a grid outage, so a user will experience an outage irrespective of the availability solar harvest.  Battery-based inverter/chargers will power the critical loads in the event of a grid outage, but will do so in a manner to not create the islanding condition.  Further, UL1741 inverter/chargers may be rated as either interactive or standalone.  The former export excess power to the grid, while the latter do not–by rating and by definition.  In all instances, the battery based inverter/charger manages energy between the array and the grid while keeping the batteries charged. They monitor battery status and regulate how the batteries are charged.