Inverters
The box that turns solar panels into usable power, and quietly manages the whole system.
What an inverter does
Solar panels produce direct current (DC), but homes, businesses and the grid run on alternating current (AC). The inverter converts one into the other and synchronises its output with the grid. It also tracks the maximum power point, constantly adjusting so the panels deliver as much energy as possible.
Types of inverter
String inverters connect a row of panels to a single box and are the most common choice. Microinverters sit behind each panel, so one shaded panel does not drag down the others. Hybrid inverters can also manage a battery. Utility-scale plants use large central inverters, often in container-sized stations.
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Enables panels to power ordinary appliances and feed the grid
- Provides monitoring and safety shutdown
- Microinverters reduce shading losses
Limitations
- Usually the first component to need replacing
- Some energy is lost in conversion
- Must be sized correctly for the panel array
Current development
Inverters are becoming "grid-forming": able to help stabilise the grid as more power comes from solar and batteries instead of large spinning generators.
Further reading
- Solar inverter (Wikipedia)Types and functions of PV inverters