Inverter long term reliability is one of the keys to a successful efficient solar power system.  The solar inverter is an electrical box that turns direct current (DC) electricity produced by your solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity. A grid-tied solar inverter allows this AC electricity to be sent back to the grid when you produce more energy than you use.

Your solar power array is only as good as it’s inverter.  It’s the heart and brains of a PV system because it is responsible for transforming the module-generated electricity into usable AC power. Inverter selection directly affects major levelized cost of energy (LCOE) drivers such as energy production, system cost and operation-and-maintenance costs.

Some newer model inverters have features allowing remote monitoring and communication options.  Be sure to consider….product failure rates, the DC-AC peak efficiency %, warranty terms (normally 5 or 10 years) longer warranty terms may be available for purchase, indoor or outdoor installation, and written contract info highlighting cost to replace, and down time.  In general, inverter downtime accounts to about 2 to 3 days in each year (about 1% annually) because of problems with inverter electronics or PV-array related problems.

To receive NY State NYSERDA tax credit benefits, your inverter MUST meet all applicable IEEE & UL standards & certifications.  Other States tax credit incentives may be tied to a calculated “design factor” greater than or equal to 87% which will receive the full tax credit incentive amount.

The Top 5 Inverter Manufacturers as rated by market share are….

1.  SMA…is the # 1 selling residential inverter in the world, with unmatched quality.  Each Sunny boy unit is built in Denver, and engineered in Germany.

2.  Power-One…built in Phoenix has a design which allows solar arrays facing in different directions to now feed into a single Aurora-Uno inverter. In the past, two inverters were needed to accommodate separate solar panels facing in different directions.

Sungevity primarily uses Power-One PVI 3.8 or the PVI 5000 products from Power-One.

3.  Kaco

4.  Advanced Energy

5.  Fronius