When you think of solar, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Solar panels, right? Of course solar panels are very important, but they’re only one of a number of components required for rooftop solar. An equally important and often overlooked component is the inverter. Inverters are essentially the brains of a rooftop solar system – while solar panels produce electricity, it’s the inverter that makes it possible to use this power.
But does it matter which inverter you buy? Although your solar installer will have some tailored advice about the best inverter for your property, it’s always handy to have some basic knowledge yourself. In this article, Canstar Blue explains the importance of a quality inverter and discusses what to look for and how much you could be expected to pay for one.
On this page:
Advertisement
What is a solar inverter?
An inverter is responsible for, well, inverting electricity. Without an inverter, solar energy that has been collected in a solar panel or stored in a solar battery cannot be converted into the correct energy form for consumption within the home.
Not all inverters are the same however, and the inverter you pick can have a huge impact on the overall effectiveness of your rooftop solar system. Some inverters are more efficient in converting electricity while other inverters might integrate smart communication and monitoring technologies to give users crystal-clear insights into their energy usage.
How does a solar inverter work?
Essentially, for a solar inverter to work it needs to be connected to a solar energy system. Once connected to a system, the inverter is able to invert the electricity generated from the solar panels into its correct form to then be passed through the necessary powerlines for exports, or to be used within the home. For instance, home appliances need AC – alternating current – electricity, but the electrons collected within a solar panel are in DC – direct current – form. An inverter then, is able to covert this current from one form to the other, allowing households and businesses to effectively use their solar generated electricity.
Types of solar inverters
There are six types of solar power inverters: String inverters, micro inverters, battery inverters, hybrid inverters, grid-tie inverters and off-grid inverters.
- String inverters: A solar string inverter is probably the most common type of inverter. Essentially, electricity from solar panels is fed into a central inverter via multiple wires. While these are popular and affordable, string inverters are incompatible with solar batteries without an additional battery inverter.
- Micro-Inverters: These are much smaller in size and capacity compared to standard string inverters. Instead of having one central inverter however, there’s a micro inverter installed on the back of each panel. Micro-inverters generally perform better than string-inverters when panels are partly covered by cloud or shade. However, Micro-Inverters are considerably more expensive.
- Battery inverters: Unlike the previously mentioned inverters, battery inverters work specifically to convert stored DC electricity in a power storage unit, like a battery, to AC electricity to then be used within the home.
- Hybrid inverters: A hybrid inverter is essentially a battery and string inverter combined. Hybrid inverters are cheaper than purchasing the two inverters separately, however they tend to be slightly less efficient. Hybrid inverters can be installed even if you don’t have a solar battery so you can be ‘battery ready’.
- Grid-tie inverters: This is a sub-group of inverter capable of matching the electricity grid’s electricity wave to allow your solar system to export electricity to the grid. Most string, hybrid and micro inverters are also grid-tie inverters.
- Off-grid inverters: As the name suggests, these inverters are built for off-grid living and are compatible with diesel-generated electricity.
What is the best solar inverter in Australia?
While it is a bit difficult to quantify what some of the best solar inverters in Australia are, there is a number of different inverter brands available on the market. Fronius and SMA are arguably the two brands most associated with performance, safety and endurance. Fronius (pictured) in particular is best known for producing a variety of innovative inverters with intelligent communication and monitoring technologies. Other popular solar battery brands and retailers in Australia include:
- ABB: High quality and reasonably priced inverters with basic features
- Delta: Blocky, high-efficiency inverters at a moderate to high price tag
- Enphase: Micro-inverters. Expensive, but better performance than string inverters
- Sungrow: Affordable and relatively high efficiency inverters. Australian company
- Zeversolar: Cheap inverters with surprisingly high performance given the cost
- Growatt: Affordable, bare-basic solar inverters
There are plenty other solar power inverters on the market, but keep in mind that inverters aren’t compatible with every brand of solar panel. Your solar installer should have some recommendations, so be sure to take those on board. Whatever you choose, just make sure the inverter you purchase is up to the relevant Australian standards. You can see a list of Clean Energy Council approved inverters here.
What is a solar inverter charger?
A solar inverter charger is essentially the same thing as a normal solar inverter, just with the added benefit of being able to continuously charge any attached batteries. These inverters are extremely helpful in blackouts, or off-grid energy use as they automatically switch to battery power instead of panel power, helping to keep systems alight if there is no sunlight. It’s basically like a secondary inverter, which helps to keep AC electricity (the type most compatible with household appliances) on hand and at the ready at all times.
Solar Inverter Price
The cost of a solar inverter varies from about $1,000 to $2,000, depending on the size and quality of the inverter, as well as any additional features. Inverter installation will generally cost an additional $200 to $300. If you purchase the inverter as part of a solar system, you can have some of the cost rebated in the form of Small-scale Technology Certificates. You will have to bear the full cost if you’re just replacing the inverter however, so it’s important to find an inverter that will last.
You may also be interested in:
Are solar inverters covered by house insurance?
Solar power systems, including both the panels and inverter are typically covered by most home insurance companies and should be included as part of your home insurance. However, you may find, like with any other part of your home, there are certain instances where your solar system or inverter might not be covered by insurance if something goes wrong. If you’re ensure of the extent that your insurance will cover your solar panel inverter, or you would just like to check if you will be covered before installing a new system, it’s probably best to get in contact with your insurance company.
Solar Plans & Prices
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 3911kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on SA Power network in Adelaide but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
What to consider when buying an inverter
Once you find a reputable inverter brand and work out how much it might cost, then it’s time to start thinking seriously about what is right for your home.
What size inverter should I buy?
The obvious answer is that your inverter size should match the maximum output of your solar system. So if you have a 4 kilowatt (kW) solar system, you need a 4kW inverter – simple. That said, some installers advise an undersized inverter to account for solar degradation. If you’re planning on adding more solar panels in the future, then purchase a larger inverter.
Inverter efficiency
Efficiency measures how much electricity the inverter successfully converts from DC to AC. For example, a 92 per cent efficient inverter would waste eight per cent of a solar systems electricity production in the process of conversion. Most inverters have efficiencies of over 95 per cent. Some of the best units have efficiencies around 98 per cent.
Inverter warranty
Most inverters come with a warranty of at least five to 10 years, plus a 10 year warranty on the installation workmanship. Customers can generally also pay extra for an extended warranty.
Solar monitoring technology
You have probably heard about smart home technologies, but what you probably didn’t know is that it’s the inverter that makes it all possible. Solar monitoring lets you track how much electricity your solar system is producing, how charged your solar battery is and how much electricity is being fed on to the energy grid. Most reasonable-quality inverters have monitoring capabilities, but as you’d expect, leading brands like Fronius and SMA have a reputation for the most accurate and insightful monitoring systems.
How to install a solar panel inverter
In order to install a solar panel inverter, you’ll need to enlist the help of a licensed professional. As well as approving inverters, the Clean Energy Council also approves and licenses for solar installers in Australia. Here are some of the more well-known solar energy installers in Australia:
- Cherry Energy Solutions
- Enervest
- Epho
- Evergen
- Nationwide Solar Solutions
- Off-Grid Energy Australia
- Origin
- SAE Group
- Solahart
- Solargain
- SolarHub
What I can do to get the most from my solar system?
Solar panels and an inverter will set you back thousands of dollars and take years before the investment starts paying returns. But there’s a way to speed this up. Some electricity retailers have special solar deals designed to help solar customers save more from their solar. If you haven’t compared electricity retailers in some time, then there’s a chance you’re missing out. See what fellow Aussies have to say about their solar company in Canstar Blue’s satisfaction star ratings.
Image credit: Douglas Cliff/Shutterstock.com
Share this article