Power Optimizers vs. Microinverters

A CompArison of miCroinverters
& power optimizers
FAC T
SHEET
Benets Microinverter
Soluons
SolarEdge
Soluon
Details
Cost per W
Scalability
Higher
Not Scalable
Lower
Scalable
• SolarEdgesystemcostis20%-50%lower,includinginverterandpoweropmizers,
(bothwith25yearwarranty)built-inethernetgateway,and25yearsofmodule
levelmonitoring
• Thecost/waofaSolarEdgesystemdecreasesastheinstallaonsizeincreases
Added Energy
Lower Higher • SolarEdgeinvertersare97.5%CEC.ThebestMicroinverteris96%
• SolarEdgePowerOpmizershaveawiderMPPTrangeandtrackvoltagefrom
5V.Microinvertershaveahigherminimumvoltagerequirementequalingalower
shadetolerance
• SolarEdgePowerOpmizerssupportupto400Wmoduleswithnoenergyloss
duetoclippinginanysolarcondions
Reliability
Lower Higher • SolarEdgePowerOpmizershaveabout1/3ofthepartscountofatypical
Microinverter.Fewerpartsequalslowerfailureratesandextendedproductlife
me
• SolarEdgePowerOpmizersuseceramiccapacitors.Somemicroinvertersuse
electrolyccapacitors.Thelifemeofanelectrolyccapacitorwillbegreatly
reducedifitisexposedtohightemperatures
• Microinvertersgeneratemoreheatduetotheirlowerecienciesleadingto
acceleratedmoduledegradaonandreducedreliability
Compability
Limited Broad • PowerOpmizersarecompablewithanyc-Simodules,upto400W/96cells.
MicroinvertersarelimitedbytheirDCinputrangeto60cellModules
Communicaon and
Monitoring
Vulnerable Robust • SolarEdgeinvertersusePowerLineCommunicaonsinacontrolledDC
enviornment.MicroInvertersuseACPowerLineCommunicaonswhichishighly
suscepbletointerferencecausedbyACdevices
• SolarEdgeinvertershaveanethernetgatewaybuiltin.Microinvertersrequirean
externalcommunicaongateway
Installaon
Flexibility and
Cabling
Limited Flexible • SolarEdgexedstringvoltageallowsforfewerstringswithupto25opmizersper
string.Microinvertersarelimitedto17modulesperbranchcircuit
• SolarEdgePowerOpmizersandInvertersarewiredwithstandardPVwire.
MicroinvertersrequireanexpensivetrunkcableanddedicatedACloadcenter
priortotheACdisconnect
Microinverters
GRID
MPPT
Shut down
Monitoring
DC/AC
PowerOptimizers
GRID
DC/AC
MPPT
Shut down
Monitoring
Module level electronics overcome the
shortcomings of tradional inverters and
enable maximum power, module level
monitoring, exible design and enhanced
safety.
However, there is no need to add an inverter
to every module if DC power opmizers can
achieve all these benets at lower cost, higher
eciency and higher reliability.