Photovoltaic Inverter also called Solar Inverter is a fundamental component of Photovoltaic System. Without this Element, it would not be possible to use the electricity produced by the panels, as it would be incompatible with Electricity grid for on-site exchange and the various appliances to be powered through self-consumption.
Photovoltaic Inverter, therefore, is always present within the system, so it is important to know the characteristics of this device, how it works, and what type of performance it provides in terms of performance and efficiency. Let’s see what the photovoltaic inverter is and why it is essential in the production of electricity from Solar Energy.
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What is Photovoltaic Inverter Used For?
It is important to understand what the inverter is for in Photovoltaic System. Its main function is to transform Direct Current into Alternating Current so that it can be used by the various users of the house or be fed into the public network to be transferred to the area manager. Electricity produced by Photovoltaic Panels, in fact, is Direct Current (DC or in English DC, Direct Current), incompatible with direct use in the home or transfer to Electricity Grid. To be able to use energy generated by the modules, you need an inverter for photovoltaic solar panels, a device that converts DC into alternating current (AC or in English AC, Alternating Current).
Inverter of Photovoltaic System also ensures that the panels always work at their maximum potential, optimizing their performance for greater efficiency in Production of Electricity. Furthermore, its usefulness is also linked to the safety of the system and compliance with national regulations, the compatibility of a series of components such as Storage, and the monitoring of the operation and yield of Photovoltaic System.
The Characteristics of Photovoltaic Inverter
An Inverter for Photovoltaic Panels is in some ways similar to an electrical panel, in fact, it is a fairly complex Electrical Circuit located inside a metal casing. It can be installed both near Photovoltaic Panels and in the attic of the home, with internal or external mounting. An important aspect concerns the size of the inverter of Photovoltaic System since it must be adequate for maximum power of the system and the type of electrical supply (Single-Phase or Three-Phase).
The ZCS Photovoltaic Inverter is Integrated into Solar Plants: an Italian Company, European leader in the production of inverters and storage systems, with distribution in over 15 European countries. Photovoltaic leader chooses a system characterized by WiFi integration for stable, effective, and intelligent connectivity and consumption monitoring via App. It is a product that combines innovation and efficiency to guarantee maximum performance at all times. The Main Characteristics of Photovoltaic Inverters are Indicated:
Sizing:
Normally, Photovoltaic Inverter is sized based on the peak power of Photovoltaic System, so for example for 3 kW Photovoltaics 3 kW inverter is generally used. In general, 3 and 6-kW inverters are usually used in residential photovoltaic systems with a single-phase meter, while those with a higher power cut for systems up to 20 kW are used in a commercial or business environment with a three-phase meter;
Lifespan:
Lifespan of the inverter of a photovoltaic system is more than 10 years, however, it depends on many factors such as the quality of the component, the type of devices installed, and the maintenance carried out over the years. If some low-end economical inverters can start to cause problems after 5 years, the best-performing ones can last up to 15 years. In any case, the replacement of the inverter must also be evaluated from the perspective of technological updating and energy efficiency. ZCS inverters have a 10-year warranty but guarantee maximum assistance;
Monitoring:
Most innovative models are equipped with efficient monitoring and control systems via app, to always have access to energy flows.
How Photovoltaic Inverter Works
To Understand How Photovoltaic Inverter Works, it is important to remember that the home network uses a type of Electric Current characterized by two energy flows, namely alternating current, and a constant frequency of 50 Hz. The function of the photovoltaic inverter is precisely that of converting the direct current that is generated by Panels, transforming it into alternating current with specific Parameters: 230 volts and 50 Hz.
The operation of the inverter is similar to that of an Alternator and Transformer. The first uses electromagnetic induction to convert mechanical energy into alternating current electrical energy; while the transformer generates energy starting from a primary coil in which Electrical Energy flows in the form of alternating current. So, to understand how the photovoltaic inverter works, just combine the alternator and the transformer, adding transistor, Mosfet, or Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) Circuit.
To ensure maximum compatibility of the output alternating current with the national electricity grid and the domestic electrical system, the inverter has special components such as a microcontroller, an oscillator, and an amplifier. All these elements contribute to making the transformation from direct current to alternating current more efficient and safe, to maximize the system’s performance and avoid inconveniences such as overvoltages and short circuits.
Photovoltaic Inverter Efficiency
Within the Scientific Community, Concept of Photovoltaic Inverters refers to the measurement of the amount of photovoltaic energy that can be introduced into the grid or used in homes and buildings. We talk about direct current converted into electrical energy and alternating current. It is also a good idea to understand how the efficiency of the inverter is measured when analyzing the data reported on the data sheets. In this regard, two distinctive features are worth mentioning:
Peak Efficiency:
Equivalent to Efficiency value of an Inverter Operating at its maximum capacity.
Weighted Efficiency:
Corresponds to the efficiency measured at the different values at which the inverter could operate during the day. This is a relevant and particularly accurate metric for measuring the efficiency of a photovoltaic inverter, in fact, these devices cannot guarantee their peak efficiency during the entire duration of their life cycle.
Another fundamental aspect is performance of Photovoltaic Inverter. This is a factor that indicates what percentage of the input direct current electrical energy is transformed into alternating current electrical energy. All devices available on the market today offer an efficiency of more than 90%, while a high-quality inverter has an efficiency of more than 98%.
Cost or Investment?
The Costs of Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters can be quite high, However they represent a smart investment to increase cost savings on bills, safety, and the environmental benefits achievable through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Indicatively, the cost of an inverter for a 3 kW system is around 6-800 Euros, while the price of a 6 kW inverter is around 1,000-1,200 Euros.
In These Circumstances it is important to invest in the purchase of Quality Inverter, capable of providing high efficiency and long life, considering that the additional price compared to a cheaper product is quickly recovered thanks to the better performance of the system. Furthermore, high-end inverters are equipped with rich and intuitive interfaces, plus they can be controlled remotely via smartphone apps without the need to read information on the inverter display.
Photovoltaic Inverter with Storage
Photovoltaic Inverter is also used to manage Storage System, Lithium Batteries are used to store the electricity produced by the system and not consumed at that moment. Objective is to make this energy reserve available when the system is not able to cover the energy needs of the home, such as at night and on cloudy or bad weather days.
Photovoltaic Inverter with Storage is called Hybrid Inverter, as it manages the charging and discharging of the batteries depending on the circumstances. Another type of inverter for Photovoltaic Storage is the smart inverter, a device that is not only capable of charging and discharging Storage System but is capable of recharging the batteries both through the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system and through electricity drawn from the electricity grid when the plant is not producing enough.
With Photovoltaics and Inverters with Storage, it is possible to maximize self-consumption and energy savings, reducing the electricity taken from the external network to take advantage of the maximum advantage in terms of cost optimization and reduction of the carbon footprint. Obviously, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the investment to be made, carefully analyzing the cost of a photovoltaic system and the expense to be incurred for all the components such as the inverter based on the economic and environmental advantages they can provide.