SolarEdge vs Enphase: Independent Advice for Homeowners
More and more people in the UK are embracing solar power, and it’s easy to see why. Choosing the right solar inverter is crucial for an efficient and reliable home solar power system but with so many options available, choosing the right solar system can feel a bit overwhelming. With many options available, UK homeowners need clear, independent advice to make informed decisions. This guide compares SolarEdge and Enphase, two leading inverter brands, to help you choose the best system for your needs.
Understanding Solar Inverters
While selecting the best solar panels is crucial, the inverter is the most important component; it’s what turns the sun’s energy into usable electricity for your home. Essentially, it’s the bit that does all the hard work, the rest of the system is passive.
Before we dive into the specifics of SolarEdge and Enphase, let’s briefly touch on what an inverter actually does as well as the more traditional approach: string inverters.
Inverters convert the direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used in your home. Without one, you wouldn’t be able to use the electricity generated from the solar panels in your home.
String inverters connect multiple solar panels in a series, sending the direct current (DC) electricity to a central inverter, typically located near your consumer unit. This effectively joins all the panels together so they act as one, meaning if one panel is underpowered for any reason whatsoever, all the other panels connected to it will have this same limitation. The weakest panel dictates what the string is capable of generating. So if one panel is shaded by 50%, all the other panels connected to it will also have their performance reduced by 50% regardless of the sunshine available to it.
These inverters are a cost-effective option, and there are some excellent manufacturers out there like Fronius making them an excellent choice in certain circumstances.
However, the key limitation of the string inverter is that if even one panel is shaded or faulty, it can affect the performance of the entire string. This can be a problem, particularly in the UK, where our weather can be unpredictable. So, while string inverters are still a great choice for some installations, they are not always the best fit for more complex setups or where shading is a significant issue.
Prioritising Safety: Why SolarEdge and Enphase Stand Out
One of the main reasons to consider SolarEdge or Enphase is their superior safety features compared to traditional string inverters. Even if you have a simple south-facing roof with no shade, the enhanced safety of these systems is a compelling advantage.
Enphase microinverters convert DC to AC at each panel, eliminating high-voltage DC wiring on your roof.
SolarEdge systems also offer excellent safety. Although they use DC, they have a SafeDC feature which automatically shuts down the system if a fault is detected, reducing the voltage to a safe 1 volt per panel. This makes them a very safe option. This is a significant advantage, offering superior safety compared to standard string inverters.
Look for systems that include:
- Arc Fault Protection: To prevent fires.
- Temperature Monitoring: To reduce the the risk of arcing.
- Rapid Shutdown: This reduces the system voltage quickly in an emergency.
- Overcurrent Protection: To protect against damage to the system.
SolarEdge and Enphase: Optimising Solar Performance
Both SolarEdge and Enphase systems offer a more advanced approach to solar energy conversion over a traditional string inverter but both do it differently.
SolarEdge uses a device known as a power optimiser. This small box of electronics is installed under each individual panel. This still requires the inverter to be located near the consumer unit.
Enphase, on the other hand, uses microinverters, where each panel has its own inverter, converting the DC power to alternating current (AC) right at the panel itself. So you will not need an inverter by your consumer unit as it is all done right at the panel itself.
Both these approaches helps to overcome the limitations of traditional string inverters allowing each panel to generate electricity independently of the other panels in the string. The upshot is that in shady conditions, or where multiple roofs with different orientations and pitches are needed, the system will generate more energy.
So, what are the key differences between these two approaches, and why might one be better for you than the other? Let’s take a closer look.
Optimising Solar Performance
- Power optimisers send DC power to a central inverter.
- Overall system efficiency of 98.75%.
- Some design limitations, such as a minimum number of panels per string (6) and a maximum number of panels per string, may mean that not every roof is suitable.
- Monitoring system is considered excellent, providing panel-level monitoring capabilities, easy access to complete system status from any computer or mobile device.
- Furthermore, SolarEdge’s monitoring can optionally provide data on your import and export of electricity, allowing you to track your consumption. Highly recommended.
- The main inverter unit is highly reliable with 12-year warranties.
- Power optimisers have 25-year warranties but can occasionally fail, so it’s important to choose an installer who is experienced with this type of system.
- Offers excellent safety features; Some commercial contracts insist on using SolarEdge.
- Battery solution is a DC-coupled system which is generally more efficient for battery storage, as it reduces the number of DC to AC conversions. 10 kWh units stackable to 30 kWh.
- Generally seen as the best option for future-proofing, for those who may want to add EV charging, batteries, or other smart technology in the future.
- Microinverters convert DC to AC at each panel.
- Enphase has an efficiency of 97%.
- Systems are known for offering more flexibility in design and scalability for most domestic systems. However, larger systems incur very high costs so may not be viable for commercial or possibly some larger domestic systems.
- Can track the output of each microinverter, providing detailed data on the performance of individual panels.
- Consumption monitoring is an optional feature of the Enphase system that measures the energy usage in your home. You may hear consumption monitoring referred to as energy usage monitoring or consumption metering. Highly recommended.
- Compelling 25-year warranty on all microinverters and anecdotal evidence that failure rates are low. However, in the event of failure access is likely going to be an issue.
- Offers excellent safety and reduces DC cabling.
- AC-coupled battery means there are extra DC to AC conversions, reducing efficiency. 5 kWh units stackable to 20 kWh.
- Easy to expand solar system at later date if required.
- Power optimisers send DC power to a central inverter.
- Overall system efficiency of 98.75%.
- Some design limitations, such as a minimum number of panels per string (6) and a maximum number of panels per string, may mean that not every roof is suitable.
- Monitoring system is considered excellent, providing panel-level monitoring capabilities, easy access to complete system status from any computer or mobile device.
- Furthermore, SolarEdge’s monitoring can optionally provide data on your import and export of electricity, allowing you to track your consumption. Highly recommended.
- The main inverter unit is highly reliable with 12-year warranties.
- Power optimisers have 25-year warranties but can occasionally fail, so it’s important to choose an installer who is experienced with this type of system.
- Offers excellent safety features; Some commercial contracts insist on using SolarEdge.
- Battery solution is a DC-coupled system which is generally more efficient for battery storage, as it reduces the number of DC to AC conversions. 10 kWh units stackable to 30 kWh.
- Generally seen as the best option for future-proofing, for those who may want to add EV charging, batteries, or other smart technology in the future.
- Microinverters convert DC to AC at each panel.
- Enphase has an efficiency of 97%.
- Systems are known for offering more flexibility in design and scalability for most domestic systems. However, larger systems incur very high costs so may not be viable for commercial or possibly some larger domestic systems.
- Can track the output of each microinverter, providing detailed data on the performance of individual panels.
- Consumption monitoring is an optional feature of the Enphase system that measures the energy usage in your home. You may hear consumption monitoring referred to as energy usage monitoring or consumption metering. Highly recommended.
- Compelling 25-year warranty on all microinverters and anecdotal evidence that failure rates are low. However, in the event of failure access is likely going to be an issue.
- Offers excellent safety and reduces DC cabling.
- AC-coupled battery means there are extra DC to AC conversions, reducing efficiency. 5 kWh units stackable to 20 kWh.
- Easy to expand solar system at later date if required.
Conclusion
Both SolarEdge and Enphase are fantastic systems.
Of course, nothing is perfect. One potential drawback of SolarEdge is that if the central inverter fails, your whole system will be down. However, a good installer can swap out a faulty SolarEdge inverter quickly, meaning your system should not be down for long. With Enphase, if one microinverter fails, only one panel will be affected, but reaching the microinverter can be more of a challenge so you might need to put up with a less powerful system until it’s fixed, if at all. Both systems have excellent warranties and are generally considered to be very reliable.
While Enphase is excellent for complex roof designs and difficult installations so too is SolarEdge. ChargeWorks believes SolarEdge is a better all-round solution for the UK market.
Ultimately, each home is different, so it’s always a good idea to seek personalised advice from a qualified expert.
If you’re considering solar, speak to ChargeWorks first.
We provide 1-2-1 energy consultations for impartial, bespoke, and expert advice to help you make the right choice for your needs. Contact us today to learn more.
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