Inverter
A solar inverter is an electronic device that converts the direct current (DC) electricity produced by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity compatible with the electrical grid, home appliances, and commercial equipment. The inverter is a critical component of any grid-connected solar PV system.
Solar panels produce DC power that varies with irradiance and temperature. Grid-tied buildings and the utility grid operate on AC power at specific voltage and frequency (120/240V, 60 Hz in the US; 230V, 50 Hz in Europe). The inverter handles this conversion continuously, also tracking the maximum power point (MPPT) of the solar array to extract the most available energy.
Types of Solar Inverters
String Inverter: One or more central inverters connected to a "string" of series-connected panels. Cost-effective for unshaded, uniform arrays. Performance of the entire string is limited by the weakest panel. See: String Inverter.
Microinverter: Small inverter mounted on each individual panel. Each panel operates independently, so shading or failure of one panel doesn't affect others. Higher cost per watt but better performance in shaded or complex-orientation systems. See: Microinverter.
Power Optimizer + String Inverter (DC Optimizer): DC-DC converters on each panel optimize individually, then feed into a central string inverter. Combines panel-level optimization with string inverter cost efficiency.
Battery Hybrid Inverter: Combines solar inverter with battery charge/discharge management for storage-integrated systems.
Inverter Efficiency
Modern string inverters achieve 97–99% efficiency; microinverters achieve 95–97%. These losses are accounted for in the performance ratio used in SolarScope's production calculations.