India has ambitious plans for solar power production and is working towards reducing its reliance on traditional sources of energy. In addition, India’s solar power generation capacity has grown over 11 times from 2.6 GW in 2014 to 30 GW in 2019, making it one of the most proactive countries working towards reducing its carbon footprint.
But as responsible citizens, it’s also our responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and build a more sustainable future. Plus, because of increasing awareness, many people are shifting towards solar energy each day. So, if you too would like to embrace it, a solar inverter is a great way to start.
So, what is a solar inverter, and how does it work?
Simply put, a solar inverter looks just like an ordinary inverter. But it works by taking in the DC current generated by the solar panels and converting that into AC or alternating current that’s fed to your appliances to keep them running. It’s a highly efficient system as it works without relying on the main grid, thus saving you a lot of money on electricity bills in the long term.
Types of Solar Inverters
Now that you are familiar with the solar inverter, let’s dive in deeper and look at the types of solar inverters:
- String Inverters: A string inverter consists of multiple strings that originate from the solar panels. While inverters of this type are cheaper, the major drawback is that if one of the solar panels gets obstructed and doesn’t receive much sunlight, the entire system’s efficiency goes down. If you are looking for a low-cost PV system solar solution and have a roof with an uncomplicated design with enough sunlight, you should go for a string inverter.
- Micro-Inverters: Micro solar inverters are optimized for each panel and work at a module level, making them very effective in converting DC to AC output. This way, if one panel gets obstructed by shading, it won’t impact the other panels. They are best suited for residential and commercial establishments with panels facing multiple directions to counter the effects of shading, so if you have some panels receiving more sunlight than others, it’s the best solution to go for.
- Hybrid Solar Inverters: These are multi-mode inverters that consist of a combination of battery and inverter installation. The system is capable of providing DC power to the battery as well as AC power to the grid and your home appliances. These inverters have inbuilt MPPT, which allows them to track the charging required by the battery and draw charge from the main grid for a low cost.
- Central Solar Inverter: The central inverter is like the string inverter; however, unlike a string inverter, all the strings connected to the panels are inserted into a combiner box rather than being connected individually to the inverter. The current is drawn directly from this combiner box by the inverter. These are best for large industrial & commercial establishments and solar farms requiring consistent power production.
- Battery-Based Inverter/Charger: It’s a bidirectional inverter, giving it the ability to function both as a battery charger and an inverter, and are available as mostly off-grid, grid-tied, or grid-interactive type of inverters in the market. Plus, it is perfect for people who don’t have access to the main grid or those who live in regions with highly unstable grid lines.
Advantages Of a Solar Inverter
- Helps in reducing carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Helps save money on electricity bills, which can result in huge savings in the long term.
- Easy to set up and more economical in comparison to generators.
- Low cost of ownership and maintenance.
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So, a solar inverter is a great choice for people wanting to save on energy bills, reduce their carbon footprint, and become energy independent. It also has something to offer for everyone and is a great choice compared to a traditional inverter due to its low cost of ownership and higher returns over time, which pays for itself.
Luminous is a market leader in building some of the best solar inverters in the market and has been a formidable name in the solar product market due to its constant innovation and development initiatives towards engineering next-gen solar inverters. So, if you want a product that’s high on value and offers exceptional service life, don’t miss out on Luminous’ catalog of solar inverters.
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