Solar Inverter Buyer’s Guide 2021

The Sunny Boy Storage battery inverter has been precisely engineered to serve as the intelligent interface between PV, the electrical grid and industry-leading high-voltage batteries. Its AC coupled architecture enables installation at any point in time, providing greater flexibility and giving installers the opportunity to generate new business with existing customers. Along with its ability to address the large retrofit market of existing PV systems, it also delivers the most cost effective, versatile and innovative residential storage solution available. Whole home backup is also available with the SMA Automatic Backup Unit.

• AC coupled for new PV systems or retrofitting existing systems
• Multiple configuration options with the ability to expand
• High level of system integration provides unmatched monitoring and control
• Three separate DC inputs allow for maximum power and energy capacity
• Solutions for energy management, zero export, and demand charge avoidance

The Sunny Tripower CORE1 is the world’s first free-standing PV inverter for commercial rooftops, carports, ground mount and repowering legacy solar projects. From distribution to construction to operation, the Sunny Tripower CORE1 enables logistical, material, labor and service cost reductions, and is the most versatile, cost-effective commercial solution available. Integrated SunSpec PLC for rapid shutdown and enhanced DC AFCI arc-fault protection ensure compliance to the latest safety codes and standards. With Sunny Tripower CORE1 and SMA’s ennexOS cross sector energy management platform, system integrators can deliver comprehensive commercial energy solutions for increased ROI.

• Innovative design requires no additional racking for rooftop installation
• Integrated DC and AC disconnects and overvoltage protection
• 12 direct string inputs for reduced labor and material costs
• Integrated SunSpec PLC signal for module-level rapid shutdown compliance to 2017 NEC
• Increased ROI with SMA ennexOS cross sector energy management platform

The SMA Medium Voltage Power Station offers the highest power density in a plug & play design, which is suitable for global use. Integrators can rely on the most robust, technically advanced, and internationally certified hardware for power conversion in any climate. As one of the first truly global systems, it is the ideal choice for next generation PV power plants operating at 1500 VDC. The SMA Medium Voltage Power Station combines the highest plant safety with maximum energy production and minimized logistical and operating risk for large scale PV power plant projects.

• The MVPS is encased in a CSC compliant container (meeting international safety standards), which provides the lowest logistical and transportation costs.
• This is a great solution for large utility plants as it optimizes cost of energy
• With a greater power density and smaller footprint than competitors, large-scale projects with SMA require fewer inverters, reducing integration and balance-of-systems costs.
• Fully integrated solution including switchgear and transformer further reduce logistical costs as well as installation labor costs.
• Simple integration of turnkey AC and DC coupled storage solutions from SMA allows system owners the opportunity to capitalize on new revenue streams.

With Sunny Highpower PEAK 3, System owners can achieve superior economics in ground-mount projects with 480 VAC interconnections using 1,500 VDC modular inverter solutions. Opportunities abound for integrators to improve their bottom line with the Sunny Highpower PEAK3, the only 1,500 VDC inverter with the ability to connect to the grid at 480 VAC. For large ground mount projects, SMA’s PEAK3 delivers the most cost-effective solution and highest energy production.

• The PEAK3 125-US offers the lowest installed cost for ground-mount, distributed generation projects with a 480V AC interconnection.
• Other 1,500 V DC inverters would require a step-down transformer, while SMA’s PEAK3 solution does not. This reduces balance of systems costs as well as transportation, logistical and installation labor costs.
• Alternative solutions with 1,000 V DC technology would require more inverters and are not as economical due to their higher cost per watt.
• SMA’s centralized/modular system architecture reduces balance of system costs by centrally locating a group of inverters. Installers benefit from minimal AC collection and communications wiring as well as a shared inverter structure. This plant architecture also simplifies commissioning, communication, and control.
• The PEAK3 offers maximum energy production throughout system lifetime.

The APsystems YC1000 has evolved since it first hit the market. Now at 1130W with a single MPPT, it can be paired with 4 PV modules up to 350W+ or 3 high capacity PV modules up to 470W+. The “+” here means that higher W modules will not negatively affect the inverter, you would just experience increased clipping. This shared MPPT allow installers to use the 1130W as they choose, while still providing all the same YC1000 benefits: true, 3-Phase out of the box, 5-wire cable for plug and play, phase-balanced and phase-monitored. With its simple plug-and-play installation, and no need for phase balancing, additional equipment or an inverter closet, the YC1000 can turn residential installers into commercial installers overnight.

• True 3-Phase, 5 wire inverter
• 1,130W, single MPPT
• Serves 4 PV modules up to 350W+ or 4 PV modules up to 470W+
• Phase-balanced and phase-monitored.
• Inherently Rapid Shutdown compliant (NEC 690.12)

The CPS 25kW-208V three phase string inverters are designed and optimized for rooftop and carport applications with 208Vac service voltages. The CPS 25kW product ships with the Rapid Shutdown wire-box, fully integrated and separable with touch safe fusing, monitoring, and AC and DC disconnect switches. The integrated PLC transmitter in the Rapid Shutdown wire-box enables PVRSS certified module-level rapid shutdown when used with the TIGO, APS, and NEP products. The CPS Flex Gateway enables monitoring, controls and remote product upgrades.

• 208V AC output
• 3 MPPTs with 2 inputs each for maximum flexibility
• Integrated RSD wire-box options with TIGO, APS, and NEP
• NEC 2017/2020 compliant and UL listed Arc-Fault protection
• Separable wire-box design for fast service

Enphase Microinverters offer the most advanced inverter technology on the market, which means higher production, greater reliability, and unmatched intelligence. Our microinverters operate independently, so each panel performs to its fullest. One shaded or dirty panel won’t affect the rest of the system. Enphase microinverters undergo the most rigorous product testing in the industry and are backed by a 25-year warranty. With Enphase, our streamlined components make for quicker and less costly installations and high-quality materials and remote problem-solving mean fewer truck rolls for installers.

• Built-in rapid-shutdown technology
• Enphase IQ 6 or IQ 7 microinverters or those based on M-Series microinverters can be retrofitted with Enphase Storage for energy resilience
• Per-module design flexibility
• Burst technology produces more at dawn, dusk, and in low-light conditions, for a longer solar day.

The PVS-10/33-TL-US inverter family will be introduced in 2021 to compliment the currently available PVS-60 commercial 60 kVA 480 Vac inverter. With capacity ranges of 10 – 15 kVA (208 Vac), and 20 – 33 kVA (480 Vac), this inverter is designed to cover the full range of commercial 1000 Vdc applications, with accommodations for bifacial PV modules and increasing DC:AC ratios. The FIMER commercial inverters are fully compatible with industry leading rapid shutdown solutions, and may be AC coupled with energy storage.

• UL1699B Ed 1 DC arc fault certified
• Integrated rapid shutdown options
• 10 – 15 kVA (208/120 Vac)
• 20 – 33 kVA at (480/277 Vac)
• 4-Step wireless commissioning

The award winning 1500 Vdc PVS-175-TL-US inverter, updated to today’s standards and new features for 2021, provides an optimized solution for small- to mid-size utility scale applications. The integrated fuse-less DC combiner and DC AFCI reduces both upfront balance of system equipment costs and operational costs. With 12 independent MPPTs and 24 DC inputs, the PVS-175-TL-US is proven to be a choice for community solar and utility scale projects.

• UL1699B Ed 1 DC arc fault certified
• Max power output of 185 kVA
• 12 independent MPPTs/24 DC inputs
• Integrated fuse-less DC combiner
• 4-Step wireless commissioning

The Fronius Symo Advanced is the ideal compact three-phase inverter for commercial and industrial applications. This inverter combines the benefits of a modern string inverter, such as the Dynamic Peak Manager for shade mitigation and an integrated Power Line Communications (PLC) transmitter for SunSpec Rapid Shutdown, with light weight, field serviceability, and zero-tilt mount. True field-serviceability reduces cost for operations & maintenance, delivering superior returns. Multiple 208V three-phase versions are perfect for agriculture, carports, or office buildings.

• Integrated SunSpec Rapid Shutdown transmitter
• Shade mitigation with Dynamic Peak Manager
• Wide voltage windows for flexible system design
• 2 MPP trackers
• Multiple 208V three-phase versions available

The PWRcell inverter was designed with the installer in mind. The PWRcell inverter DC couples to solar and storage devices via built-in combiner, which makes installing nearly any combination of solar and storage devices a plug and play operation. Because it is DC coupled, no other inverter is required to build a powerful backup power system for your client, especially when paired with Generac load management technology for whole home power.

• Single hybrid inverter for grid-tied solar and whole home power
• Easy to install, DC-coupled architecture
• Transformerless islanding, up to 9kW continuous throughput
• Seamless integration with Generac Load Management
• Backed by a 10-year limited warranty

Schneider Electric’s hybrid inverter range, led by the XW Pro, provides installers with greater flexibility while designing and installing a solar and storage system. The XW Pro offers an attractive package with its high overload power rating of 1.75x and ability to integrate with lithium-ion batteries. The ability to stack the inverters to increase overall power output allows installers to setup larger systems. Schneider Electric’s solar hybrid inverters come with a complete ecosystem of accessories to enable quick, easy and efficient installation. They can be used for solar and storage, or backup power systems without solar.

• Reliable performance with a 6.8 kW output with up to 12 kW peak overload
• Flexibility in installations and operations with Stacking capability of up to 4 units in single-phase or 6 units in 3-phase
• Compatibility with a wide range of battery technologies, including Lithium-ion battery integration
• PV integration with DC coupling or AC coupling
• Compatible for use across a wide range of applications such as grid-tie, off-grid, self-consumption, backup power

Sungrow’s new SG36CX-US features a fuseless, direct DC input design, utilizing Staubli MC4 Evo2 series connectors for ease of install and peace of mind. Additionally, with safety and reliability at the vanguard of its introduction, our new CX line includes an all-new external AC wiring box.

The Utility-scale turnkey product is the SG3600UD-MV.

• All in one, MV system, Block communication and AUX. power supply
• Reduces transportation cost, standard 20-foot sea-shipping container
• Plug & Play, Reduced installation cost and commissioning time
• 3-level Inverter technology, Inverter peak efficiency 98.9%, CEC eff. 98.5%
• Complies with UL 1741-SA and IEEE Std 1547^TM -2018
• Complies with latest NERC & FERC grid support requirements
• Reserved space for 3^RD party equipment, communication and tracker controller enclosures