Solar Inverters

Solar Inverter

A Solar Inverter is a device that converts the direct current (DC) from the solar panels into alternating current (AC) which is used by domestic and commercial appliances. It is one of the most critical components of the solar power system as it converts power from the sun into more useful energy and is often referred to as the brain of a solar system. 

Types of Solar Inverters

Inverters can be broadly classified into three major types:

i) Off-grid/ Standalone inverters – works independently of the grid and requires battery storage

ii) On-grid/ Grid-tied inverters – are dependent upon the grid

iii) Hybrid inverters – incorporate both battery and grid connection and have an inbuilt solar charge controller

Grid tied solar inverters are further categorized into micro, string and central inverters.

History of Solar Inverters

The history of solar inverters in India can be tied up with the advent of solar panels in India. Though solar panels were used in small quantities earlier, it was actually after the Modi government at the Centre that solar technology became more popular in India. The success of solar can be measured by the eightfold jump in number of solar installations from 2.63 GW in 2014 to 22 GW currently.

Solar inverters are a crucial part of a solar system since power from sun cannot be directly used to run electrical appliances. Starting out as just boxes converting DC into AC, today, solar inverters have evolved to become much more smart and intelligent units, performing other functions such as data monitoring, advanced utility controls etc.

Solar Inverters in India are mostly imported through a few domestic and international manufacturers have set up manufacturing operations in India. 

String inverters can be used for both rooftop and utility solar, while central inverter is used exclusively for utility-scale applications. Micro inverters are the best option for residential solar but they are not yet very popular in India. 

Solar Inverter Price List | 2020  

A solar inverter accounts for approximately 25-30% of total solar system cost. Given below are the price list of best solar inverters in India. The price of solar inverter varies from ₹ 6 - ₹ 20 per watt based upon technology such as whether it is off grid, grid tied or Micro inverter.

There are multiple factors that affects solar inverter price such as inverter technology, efficiency, warranty period and the quality of brand. Below is the prevailing prices of solar inverter brands in India.

Solar Inverter efficiency & warranty

Grid Connected inverters have efficiency higher than 97% while Off Grid inverters, have efficiencies ranging between 80%-87%. In India, there is up to 5 years warranty on a Grid Tied inverter, whereas off grid inverters have for 1-2 year warranty. 

Latest Trends in Solar Inverters 

The solar inverter manufacturers in India are looking at gaining market share with new and innovative products like hybrid solar inverters. A hybrid inverter can work as both off-grid and on-grid inverter. It uses the Internet of Things (IoT) enabling easy monitoring of the inverters from any remote location. Su-Kam‘s Brainy Eco is one of India’s best hybrid solar inverter for your home. These smart inverter solutions can be connected with the mobile phones for regular updates. 

Best Solar Inverter Brands in India

In off-grid Luminous, Microtek and Tata Power Solar are some of the top solar inverter companies in India. 

Luminous sells both grid-tied inverters as well as inverters for off grid solar applications. Luminous is a Gurgaon based maker of inverters and industrial batteries with seven manufacturing units, more than 28 sales offices in India and presence in over 36 countries. It manufactures a wide range of home inverter UPS systems and batteries conveniently divided into smart range, essential range and power range.

Microtek is another manufacturer of power products and solutions in India. Some of the company’s bestselling products are line interactive UPS, online UPS, digital & intelli pure sinewave UPS and hybrid UPS.

Tata Power Solar is a leading solar manufacturing and EPC services company in India. Backed by the Tata Group in India, the company is trying to increase solar awareness in the remote parts of India and has commissioned large solar projects till date. Tata Solar has a holistic presence in industrial, commercial, both on-grid and off-grid solar projects and residential segments.

In on grid, Enphase, Solar Edge, and Fronius, are the leading solar inverter manufacturers (brands) supplying in India, commanding double-digit market share.

Enphase is an US based manufacturer of Micro Inverters,. It has now become the No.1 microinverter company in the world and commands No. 2 market share position in the residential market of the U.S. The company is listed is New York Stock Exchange and it is valued at 4 bn $ in 2020.

SolarEdge is an Israeli based company & the global leading solar inverter with power optimizer technology. The company designs inverters that maximize power generation at the individual PV module level, while lowering the cost of energy. The company has a presence in residential, commercial and utility markets across the globe.

Fronius inverters are efficient and reliable and form the indispensable heart of every photovoltaic system. Power categories ranging from 1.5 to 27.0 kW guarantee suitability for virtually any system size – from a family home to a large-scale system. It is an Austria based manufacturer of premium quality solar inverters.

Solar Inverter - FAQ

Q. How to calculate solar panel, battery and inverter?

To calculate the size of your solar system, first, you need to figure out, your daily peak power consumption, In the process of selecting solar system, Inverter is selected first, buy solar inverter which needs your daily peak power consumption. After that, Battery is selected, in off grid solar system, Number of batteries that will be connected is fixed. Lastly, Solar panel up to the capacity of inverter should be connected.  

Q. What is the price of solar panel with inverter and battery?

An off grid solar system consists of solar panel, solar inverter and solar battery. At Loom solar, the price of solar system starts from INR 19,000 and it depends on capacity of solar inverter, higher the capacity of inverter, higher will be the price.

Q. How to connect solar panel to battery and inverter?

You may need the help of a professional installer to install solar panels on your rooftop. Once the panels are installed on mounting structure, connect it with solar inverter (positive to positive). Next connect the batteries to inverter taking care of the terminals. Once all connections are established, power on your inverter to check the load. It is advisable do installations in front of an electrician to avoid unnecessary accidents

Q. How to charge inverter battery without electricity?

Power from solar panels cannot be directly used to charge the batteries as the current is variable. Hence a solar charge controller is used to control the current we receive from solar panels and eventually charge the batteries. Batteries can be charged from the power of the sun and keep supplying charge to the inverters, simultaneously.

Q. How does a solar power inverter work?

A solar power inverter is a hybrid inverter that charges lead acid battery from Grid and Solar both. There are two types of charge controllers inbuilt in solar power inverter having grid charger and solar charger. It is like a conventional inverter but uses energy from the sun. Solar energy is converted into electrical energy and is stored in batteries. The inverter then inverts this direct current from the batteries into alternating current.

Q. How and where to buy solar inverter for home?

It is easy to buy solar inverter for home online if you know what you are looking for. There are few websites offering online shopping options for inverters. You can avail significant discounts and easy returns when buying online from reliable sellers. Otherwise, you can visit physical stores and take advice of sales expert and buy the product.

Q. How to make solar inverter from normal inverter?

Any normal inverter can also be converted into solar inverter with the help of solar conversion kits. The main difference between a solar inverter and a normal inverter is the presence of solar charge controller and some switching circuits in a solar inverter. SuKam Solarcon conversion device, Tata Solar Sunjeevni and Luminous Solar Retrofit Solution are leading conversion kits available in the Indian market.

Q. How to install solar inverter?

After you have bought a solar system and installed solar panels, batteries and a charge controller, you will need to connect your solar inverter with your batteries. To do that you need to connect the positive and negative terminals of battery and inverter together i.e. positive to positive of battery and inverter and vice versa.

Q. Can I connect inverter directly to solar panel?

Since the power from the sun is always fluctuating and not constant, it is not advisable to connect the inverter directly to the panels. Instead, we can use a device called solar charge controller to control the flow of current into the inverter/ battery. Now a days, inverters with inbuilt solar charge controller are also available in the market, but they are expensive.