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 categorised 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 though 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 Inverters Price list | 2018  

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 per unit starts from INR 3,500 and goes up to INR 1,40,000, in terms of per watt price, Solar inverter per watt price varies from INR 6 - INR 10 per watt. There are multiple factors that affects price of solar inverters such as inverter technology, efficiency, warranty period and the quality of brand. below in the table, average price of solar inverter in India is listed:

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. 

Solar Inverter Comparison

The major difference between a micro and a string inverter is that in case of an obstruction, only the individual panel is affected in case of micro inverter while the whole system is affected in case of string inverters. Also, micro inverters work at lower voltage when compared to string inverters. 

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. 

Top Solar Inverter Brands in India

In off-grid Luminous, Su-Kam, 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.

SuKam remains the largest domestic manufacturer of solar inverters in India. It manufactures PV grid connected inverters and solar Sine wave inverters. It has now become one of India's largest power solutions company and has an international presence in over 90 countries worldwide. The company has an impressive product portfolio consisting of more than 200 products including various solar products, UPS, batteries and customized solar solutions. Su-Kam’s Brainy Eco Inverter is a hybrid solar inverter that is perfect for every home, as it can charge both through grid and solar.

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, ABB, Huawei, Sungrow, and TMEIC are the leading solar inverter companies supplying in India, commanding double-digit market share.

ABB is a large scale producer of solar inverters in the industry, manufacturing micro, three-phase string and central inverters. It serves all residential, commercial and industrial segments. The string inverters are most suited for residential purposes and ABB offers both single phase and three phase solar inverters in this regard. The company also has a manufacturing base in India.

TMEIC or Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation was formed as a result of the integration of Toshiba and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation’s industrial systems divisions in 2003. The company supplies Solar Ware inverters in 1000V and 1500V capacities for a wide range of industrial applications in India.

Sungrow manufactures both central and string solar inverters rated at 1500 Vdc and has a presence across utility-scale, commercial, and residential sectors. The company has a more than 15% global market share and is known for its 99% efficient solar inverters. Sungrow has deployed more than 60 GW worth of solar inverters worldwide. Founded in 1997, today the company has become a global R&D leader in solar inverters with a hug patent portfolio.

Huawei shipped over 2GW of inverters in 2017. The company is known for its string inverters with smart management technology.  It manufactures smart PV string inverters in 1000V, 1100V and 1500V capacities for commercial and utility-scale solar. The inverters come with a minimum efficiency of 98.5%.

Solar Inverter - Video

This video is made who is looking for power backup 4-6 hrs in their home and office but not sure which inverter to buy and which brand.

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