Centralized string and micro inverters

What is a microinverter & a string inverter?

Microinverters and other module-level power electronics can be found on residential rooftops as well as commercial systems. Central inverters are installed in large commercial and utility-scale systems. String inverters are designed for all system sizes. Central inverters are large — in the 1-5 MW range per unit.

Are micro-inverters better than string/central inverters?

A French research group has compared the performance ratio of 100 PV systems relying on micro-inverters with that of 100 installations relying on string/central inverters. It found the performance ratio is around 79% for both system typologies and that arrays with micro-inverters are more sensitive to environmental factors.

How does a centralized inverter work?

A centralized inverter, also known as a string inverter, works by transforming DC electricity produced by multiple strings of solar panels into usable AC electricity for your home or business. This is done by connecting multiple strings of panels to a single inverter.

What is a string inverter system?

In a string inverter system, multiple PV modules are connected in series to form a string. Each string is then connected to a dedicated string inverter. These inverters are typically smaller in size and capacity compared to centralized inverters. For example, a common residential - scale string inverter might have a capacity ranging from 1 - 10 kW.