(Guide) Micro Inverters For Solar Panels

Micro inverters beat string inverters in almost every single way. Below, we’ll explain:

✔ What micro inverters do, and how they differ from string inverters
✔ Their main advantages including increased output, lifespan, system uptime and scalability
✔ Micro inverter installation costs
✔ The best micro inverter brands
✔ FAQs

If you want to get quotes on your solar panel system, use our clickable tool here.

That will couple your system with the most suitable inverters based on the details you provide, as well as giving you fixed prices on-screen.

What Are Solar Panel Micro Inverters?

The role of an inverter is to convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity. Without an inverter, the electricity generated by your solar panels wouldn't be usable in your home.

Low budget solar panel systems use string inverters. The problem with string inverters is that if any panel is operating inefficiently (for instance, it's damaged or shaded), all panels connected via the string will be affected; the efficiency of your whole system will drop.

Micro inverters are attached to individual panels. So, if a single panel is damaged or shaded, it won't affect the efficiency of your system.

Over the lifespan of your solar panel system, you'll generate more electricity using micro inverters in comparison to low-grade string inverters.

The Advantages of Using Micro Inverters

Micro inverters increase the price of a solar panel system in comparison to using a standard string inverter. So, what makes them worth the extra cost?

Increased Output

The failure of a single panel when using a string inverter could drastically reduce the efficiency of your solar panel system. That's not the case when using a micro inverter.

Whether your panels are shaded, dirty or broken, all units will operate independently. So, the drop in efficiency will be limited to the panels that have issues.

Improved System Uptime

One of the biggest disadvantages of string inverters? You’ve got a single point of potential failure.

If your string inverter stops working, you’ll be generating exactly 0kWh of electricity until it’s fixed.

On the flip-side, if a micro inverter (or single panel for that matter) fails, the others will continue working.

Put simply, your system will still be generating electricity, even if one micro inverter fails.

Longer Lifespan

String inverters tend to have a lifespan in the region of 10-14 years. This is well below the warranty offered by leading solar panel manufacturers.

With a lifespan of high quality solar panels in the region of 25-years, you’d expect to replace a string inverter during the lifespan of your system at least once.

Micro inverters have longevity on their side. Top brands producing micro inverters generally offer warranties in the region of 20-25 years.

Scalability

Solar panel installation comes at a huge cost. Expect even the most basic system to be in the region of £6,000.

Want a large system with a reasonably sized solar battery? You could be looking at £9,000 and upwards.

If you’re looking to start off with a small system and then scale it over time, string inverters aren’t the way to go. You’ll need to purchase a string inverter that’s suitably sized for your complete system on day one; there’s no room for scalability.

As micro inverters work on individual panels, you can simply add panels and a micro inverter one at a time.

How Much Do Micro Inverters Cost?

The cost of a string inverter from a leading solar inverter brand is likely to be in the region of £1,000-£1,500. By comparison (depending on the brand and model) expect to pay anywhere from £100-400 per micro inverter.

On the average system, expect to pay somewhere in the region of 25% extra for a micro inverter setup (in total) when directly compared to using a single string inverter.

Read our full guide to solar panel inverter costs here.

Alternatively, get a quote for your solar panel system including micro inverters using our clickable tool here.

The Leading Micro Inverter Brands

There are dozens of micro inverter brands on offer in the UK and it's easy to get overwhelmed.

Some of the most popular manufacturers in the UK are:

As each system varies (and so does the product range from each brand), to determine which one's the best for your system, simply use our clickable solar panel configuration tool here.

While Enphase lead the way from the popular brands that offer micro inverters, there are alternatives if you decide that you need micro inverters.

Solax offer a cheaper alternative to Enphase.

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Otherwise, there is an alternative by way of DC Optimisers.
DC optimisers attach to each panel and optimise its individual performance by managing DC power before it is sent to the inverter. In contrast, microinverters convert DC power into AC power directly at each panel. This means with microinverters, each panel operates independently, allowing better efficiency if shading or panel mismatch occurs. Microinverters are typically easier to expand and fault-find but are generally more expensive upfront, while DC optimisers offer a balance between cost and performance. A good brand of Optimiser would be Tigo Energy.

FAQ

Are micro inverters the same as power optimisers?

No, micro inverters and power optimisers are not the same thing. Micro inverters focus on converting DC electricity to AC, whereas power optimisers focus on improving efficiency.

You can incorporate both micro inverters and panel optimisers into your system.

Who makes micro inverters for solar panels?

Top brands manufacturing micro inverters include Alpha, Enphase and Sunsynk.

How many solar panels can a micro inverter handle?

The most common micro inverter will be designed to be used in conjunction with one panel.

However, there are specialist units designed for 2 panels (dual inverters) and 4 panels (quad inverters).

What are the disadvantages of micro inverters?

The biggest disadvantage of micro inverters is their cost. Expect a micro inverter setup to cost around 25–30% more than a system using a string inverter.

However, the bump in efficiency your system will see over its lifespan (25 years or more) tends to outweigh this increased upfront cost.

How long do micro inverters last?

Expect a leading brand (such as Enphase) to offer up to 25-years warranty on their products, which is the case with their IQ 8.

By comparison, a typical string inverter will usually come with a 10-year warranty.

Are micro inverters worth it?

Yes. Whilst the upfront cost might be 25–30% higher than using a string inverter, advantages of using micro inverters include improved: efficiency, lifespan, system reliability and scalability.

For further reading, check out our guide to solar panel inverters here.

Or, to get prices on your system using micro inverters and panel optimisers, jump over to our clickable solar panel quote form here.

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