What is a solar inverter? How does a solar inverter work?
What is a solar inverter? How does a solar inverter work?
Solar panels arenât the only component that you should be thinking about when you evaluate your solar system equipment. Solar power inverters play an equally important role in a solar system: they convert the electricity your solar panels create into a form that can be used by the appliances, lighting, and other electronics that are in your home.
Inverters play a crucial role in any solar energy system and are often considered to be the brains of a project, whether itâs a 2-kW residential system or a 5-MW utility power plant. An inverterâs basic function is to âinvertâ the direct current (DC) output into alternating current (AC). AC is the standard used by all commercial appliances, which is why many view inverters as the âgatewayâ between the photovoltaic (PV) system and the energy off-taker.
Inverter technologies have advanced significantly, such that in addition to converting DC to AC, they provide a number of other capabilities and services to ensure that the inverter can operate at an optimal performance level, such as data monitoring, advanced utility controls, applications and system design engineering. Inverter manufacturers also provide post-installation services that are integral to maintaining energy production and a high level of performance for the project, including preventative maintenance, O&M services and a quick mean time to repair (MTTR).
As the price of modules fall, inverters and additional system components have become a focus in price reduction for EPCs looking for a new competitive edge. As a result, inverter manufacturers are continually trying to drive down the cost curve of products.