As an essential component in the solar power process, a solar inverter is incredibly important. And choosing the right type of solar inverter is more important than you might initially think. While solar panels often take centre stage, without an inverter your system simply would not work in a practical, usable way. But what is a solar inverter and what do solar inverters do?
Well, here at the Eco Renewables Group, we are solar power experts, working across the North West, from Penrith to Blackburn. With years of experience designing and installing solar PV systems for homes and businesses, we understand just how crucial it is to choose the right equipment. As a result, we have produced this simple guide to solar power inverters.
What is a solar inverter?
A solar inverter has one basic function. Essentially, it converts the DC (direct current) electricity produced by solar PV panels into AC (alternating current) electricity. AC electricity is the type of power used by household appliances and supplied through the national grid.
Solar panels naturally generate DC electricity when exposed to sunlight. However, this type of electricity cannot be used directly within your home, as modern electrical systems and appliances are designed to operate on AC power. The inverter acts as the bridge between your solar panels and your usable electricity supply.
As a result, without a solar inverter there would be no usable power output generated from your solar panels. Even on the sunniest day, your system would be unable to power your lights, appliances or heating without one. That’s because direct current simply isn’t compatible with our existing circuitry systems.
In addition to converting electricity, modern solar inverters often play a monitoring role. Many models allow homeowners to track energy generation, usage and export, helping you understand how efficiently your system is performing.
What are the different types of solar inverter?
So if a solar inverter only has one job, why are there different types of inverter? Well, the only difference between solar inverters is their connection to the national grid. Take a look:
The stand alone inverter:
A stand alone inverter, also known as an off-grid inverter, is directly connected to solar panel batteries. The inverter withdraws the DC current stored in these batteries and converts it into AC electricity for use around your home.
Because it operates independently, this type of inverter is not connected to the national grid. This makes stand alone inverters ideal for remote locations, rural properties or buildings where a grid connection is unavailable or impractical. However, as it is not grid-connected, you cannot sell any excess electricity back to the national grid. Your system is entirely self-sufficient and relies on battery storage to provide power when sunlight is low.
The grid tie inverter:
A grid tie inverter is directly connected to the solar panels, drawing the DC current they generate and converting it into AC electricity. It is also connected to the national grid, allowing electricity to flow both ways.
This means that any excess electricity your system produces can be exported back to the grid, potentially earning you money through export tariffs. When your solar panels are not generating enough power, such as at night, you can draw electricity from the grid as normal. This is the most common type of inverter used in domestic solar PV systems across the UK.
In many cases, grid tie inverters can also be combined with battery storage, offering greater flexibility and improved energy independence.
Choosing the right inverter
Selecting the correct inverter depends on your energy needs, property type and long-term goals. Factors such as system size, budget and whether you want battery storage all play a role. That’s why professional advice is so important.
For more information or advice, get in touch with the experts today, here at the Eco Renewables Group.
