Powering Change
Installing since 2010 · 0118 951 4490 · info@spiritenergy.co.uk
SolarEdge inverters generate more power from a solar PV array than standard string inverters. The additional power generated will depend on the specifics of the installation, but the uplift can be as much as 25%.
The SolarEdge system achieves this by optimising the power output of each individual panel.
In a PV system, each panel has an individual maximum power point. Output will be reduced by factors including:
With a traditional string inverter, all panels in a string perform at the level of the weakest panel. With SolarEdge, each panel has its own power optimiser, enabling it to output its maximum power regardless of the behaviour of other panels in the array.
Over time, the differences add up. A commercial case study comparing SolarEdge against a standard string inverter over 20 years demonstrated a 4.8% difference in total output, a meaningful figure over the life of a system.
SolarEdge is one of the most widely installed inverter systems in the world, with deployments across more than 130 countries. They are, in our view, one of the best inverter systems on the market for the right installation.
With a standard string inverter, panels are connected in series. The inverter optimises the array as a whole, which means the system is always limited by the lowest performing panel.
SolarEdge counteracts this by fitting a power optimiser to the back of each panel at roof level. Each optimiser independently tracks and maximises its panel's output, then passes conditioned DC power down to the SolarEdge inverter for conversion to AC.
With commercial systems over 15kW, one optimiser can be shared between two panels, offering a more cost-effective solution at scale.
As well as the increased power output described above, SolarEdge offers a range of additional benefits:
Panel-level monitoring
SolarEdge provides full visibility of system performance at the individual panel level, via the SolarEdge ONE app and online portal, with remote access and real-time alerts. With a standard string inverter, a single underperforming panel or fault can go undetected for weeks or months before it becomes apparent in overall output figures. With SolarEdge, issues are identified immediately and can often be diagnosed and resolved remotely.
Higher single-phase capacity
SolarEdge allows larger arrays on a single-phase supply than most competing inverters, useful for maximising output on properties where a three-phase supply is not available.
Flexible export limitation
SolarEdge's export limitation functionality is more sophisticated than most competitors, and can allow a larger array to be installed than the local grid would otherwise permit by intelligently managing what is exported.
Safe-DC
SolarEdge's Safe-DC function automatically reduces the voltage at each panel to touch-safe levels when the inverter shuts down. This reduces fire risk and improves safety for emergency services, a meaningful benefit that standard inverters do not offer.
Battery compatibility
SolarEdge has a developed home energy storage ecosystem, with DC-coupled battery options available through the SolarEdge Home Battery range. This makes it straightforward to add storage to a SolarEdge system at the time of installation or in the future.
Superior warranty
The SolarEdge inverter carries a 12-year warranty as standard, longer than most competing brands, with a low-cost extension to 25 years available. The power optimisers carry a 25-year warranty as standard.
Proven track record
SolarEdge have been operating for many years and the current generation of their equipment has a very low fault rate. Early versions of the technology had some issues, but these have been comprehensively addressed and the reliability of the latest generation is excellent.
UK-based support
SolarEdge has an established UK support operation, with responsive post-sales service for both installers and system owners.
SolarEdge offers panel-level monitoring for both residential and commercial systems via the SolarEdge ONE app and online portal. The portal shows real-time and historical performance data at the individual panel level, making it straightforward to identify exactly where any losses are occurring.
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The SolarEdge ONE app also allows you to monitor, control, and resolve routine issues with your system from your phone.
With all these benefits, you might wonder why anyone would not install SolarEdge. The main reason is cost, it adds approximately 10–15% to the overall project cost, primarily due to the price of the power optimisers, which are required on every panel.
There is one additional cost consideration worth being aware of. If a power optimiser develops a fault after our five-year workmanship warranty has expired, the replacement optimiser itself will be covered by SolarEdge's 25-year warranty. However, the labour and access costs of fitting the replacement are not covered by the manufacturer warranty, and if scaffolding is required for roof access, those costs can be significant. In practice the fault rate on current SolarEdge equipment is very low, but it is worth factoring into your thinking.
Spirit Energy provides a five-year workmanship warranty on domestic installations, within which we would cover all associated costs. After that period, access and installation costs for any component replacement would fall to the system owner.
SolarEdge makes the most financial sense where shading is a factor — from a chimney, a tree, dormer windows, or panels split across different roof faces or orientations. In those situations the additional output it delivers over a standard string inverter will often justify the cost premium many times over across the life of the system.
Even without shading, SolarEdge can be justified through the combination of enhanced output from panel mismatch correction, panel-level monitoring, the Safe-DC safety feature, and the superior warranty terms.
In summary: if you want the best possible system and are happy to invest in top quality, SolarEdge is an excellent choice. If you have a simple, unshaded roof and your priority is a reliable system at the keenest price, a standard string inverter will do the job well and the SolarEdge premium is harder to justify.
Get in touch to discuss whether SolarEdge is the right choice for your system.
Micro-inverters and power optimisers, address the shortcomings of traditional PV systems by managing the system at the panel level and not at the string level.
Both micro-inverters and power optimisers achieve higher energy harvest than traditional string or central inverters, through panel-level Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). Additionally, panel-level electronics offer enhanced maintenance and greater system performance visibility via panel-level monitoring, enhanced safety through automatic voltage shutdown and design flexibility.
However, SolarEdge have themselves produced this comparison between power optimisers and micro-inverters, entitled '8 Ways Power Optimizers Are Better by Design'.
Find out more on the SolarEdge website.
