The 3 Topologies of Solar Inverters
- February 2, 2022
- 12:26 am
- No Comments
Inverter is the Brain of the Solar Energy System!
There are 3 Topologies or Types of Solar Inverters used in the solar industry.
“If solar panels are the brawn of your solar energy system, the inverter is its brain, and they work together to ensure you get the maximum amount of electricity.” – Palmetto.com
Photovoltaics (PV) or solar panels gets Direct Current (DC) electricity from the sun; however, your home and office run off of Alternating Current (AC) electricity. So you need some device to use the energy from the sun, and that’s where solar inverter steps in.
An inverter is one of the most important equipment in a photovoltaic system. It is a device which converts direct current into alternating current. There are different types of solar inverters as of today: The traditional string inverter, microinverter, and the new SolarEdge Power Optimizer. Each has their own unique mechanism and benefits which you can read below.
- SolarEdge Power Optimizer – It is the newest topology of solar inverter. It is DC/DC converter which connects to each solar module in a PV system, turning them into smart modules. By constantly tracking the Maximum Power Point (MPP) of each solar module, Power Optimizers can increase system energy production, potentially growing revenues and shortening system ROI. Each Power Optimizer is equipped with industry-leading safety mechanisms such as the unique SafeDC™ feature, designed to automatically reduce modules’ high DC voltage to a safe level whenever the inverter or grid power is shut down, for maximum protection of people and property. The second type is
Introducing SolarEdge
Power Optimizer
- Microinverter – It is a small type of inverter that takes your solar electricity and makes it useful for your home by changing the DC to AC without needing to create strings of panels. Microinverters are designed to have an inverter per solar panel. Unlike in string inverters that are wired in series and add up voltage as you add more panels, the microinverters are wired in parallel and work by changing the voltage to 240VAC at each panel, so the voltage doesn’t add up like it does when in series. Microinverters work independently. Each panel performs like a separate entity. It is different with string inverters in which your solar panel performance will vary depending on how the rest of the connected panels in that string are performing. And, last but not the least is the
- Traditional String Inverter – It is the oldest, traditional, and most commonly used topology of solar inverter. The strings are wired into the inverter. String inverters depend on the size of your solar array. You may have 2,3,4 or more strings that make up the whole solar panel system. There are more electrical component, power devices and signal circuits used in this type of inverter, which makes it difficult to design and manufacture. It is also not suitable for high altitude area.