Enphase Inverter for Grid Tie Solar Systems |
The
Traditional Approach|
Productive •
Every module gets the benefit of |
Reliable •
No single point of failure. |
Smart •
Quick and simple installation. |
How Enphase Energy Differs from a Standard Solar Energy System
Traditional solar energy installations deploy a single centralized inverter to convert the DC output from multiple solar modules into AC power. The Enphase Energy Micro-inverter system is a fully integrated device that converts the DC output of a single solar module into grid-compliant AC power. This provides significant benefits over traditional solar energy systems:
| Traditional System | Enphase System | Benefits |
| Single centralized inverter | One Micro-inverter per module | •
Eliminates concern about where to place a large inverter. • Reduced wiring time. • Eliminates need for DC switching points. |
| Single MPPT for array | Individual MPPT per module | •
Maximizes harvest per module. • Increased resilience to obstruction, shading, inter-row shading, and obstacles such as dust or debris. |
| Uniform, co-planar module installation | Mis-matched, non-coplanar orientation possible | •
Roof area can be maximized. • Configuration flexibility for varying module brands and ratings. • Modules need not be collocated. |
| String design | Branch circuit design | •
No string design required. • No single point of failure. • Degradation of one module does not affect other modules. |
| Third party per-inverter monitoring | Integrated Enlighten™ per-module monitoring | •
Continuous per-module performance monitoring for optimized harvest. • Performance variance detection, analysis, and diagnostics. |
The
Enphase Micro-inverter system is the first commercially-available
Micro-inverter system for residential and commercial solar PV applications.
The Enphase System includes the following two additional components:
Communications
Gateway
The module performance information generated by each Micro-inverter is collected by the Enphase communications gateway called the Energy Management Unit (EMU). The EMU then transmits this data over a broadband internet connection to the Enphase Enlighten™ website.
Enlighten
The Enphase Enlighten website analyzes the per-module data collected by each Micro-inverter. Enlighten automatically detects any shortfall in energy production, identifies possible causes, and suggests solutions to correct the problem. The Enphase Enlighten website is constantly monitoring and managing every module on every installation.
About Enphase
Why did Enphase
Energy get started?
Enphase Energy was started to address the challenges associated
with the traditional solar energy model:
• Maximizing
the energy harvest of an array of modules.
• Having a single inverter for an entire array creates a single
point of failure.
• Complex design decisions must be made in sizing DC series
and parallel strings.
• Limited monitoring and analysis and no per-panel visibility.
General Features FAQ
What is a
Micro-inverter?
An inverter is a power converter that converts direct current (DC)
into alternating current (AC). Traditionally, this has meant one,
centrally-located inverter converting all of the DC current from
the entire PV array. A micro-inverter is a much smaller version
of the central inverter where there is one per PV module. The DC
gets converted to AC at the point of the PV module. AC power then
travels upstream through an ordinary branch circuit, and to the
service panel.
What is a
Micro-inverter system?
A Micro-inverter
system is a federation of multiple micro-inverters all along a branch
circuit, and/or within multiple branch circuits, which are all converting
DC to AC, all injecting their current upstream, and reporting back
to Enphase regarding their individual power-production statistics.
What is an
EMU?
The Energy Management Unit is the communications gateway device
which relays power-production statistics from the Micro-inverters
to the Enlighten™ website.
What is the
difference between an Enphase deployment and a traditional solar
deployment?
The Enphase system provides improvements in the following areas:
Productive
• Per-module
tracking maximizes energy production.
• Increases resilience to shade, dust and debris.
• High conversion efficiency.
• Increased system up-time.
• Greater production in low-light conditions.
Reliable
• No single
point of failure.
• Design reduces component stress.
• Very low internal temperature rise.
• Designed to NEMA 6P rating.
Smart
• 24/7
monitoring on a per-module basis.
• Eliminates concern about where to place a large inverter.
• Dramatically reduced installation design.
• Modules can be mis-matched and added as your requirements
grow.
• Panels do not need to be collocated.
How do Enphase
Micro-inverters differ from PVAC units?
With PVAC, the inverter and module are a single unit and are sold
and installed as such. In contrast, the Enphase Micro-inverter is
architected as a standalone inverter. This modular design means
the Enphase Micro-inverter offers the flexibility to work with most
off-the-shelf solar modules.
Can Enphase
Micro-inverters work in off-grid environments?
Enphase Micro-inverters have only been tested to work in grid-tied
installations.
Is the Enphase
micro-inverter on the list of inverters authorized by the State
of California, eligible for rebate calculations?
Yes. Please visit the following URL for more information:
http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/equipment/inverter.php
Can Enphase
be used in both Residential and Commercial solar deployments?
Yes. Enphase micro-inverters are designed for 240VAC residential,
as well as 208VAC three-phase service.
What solar
modules is the Enphase Micro-inverter compatible with?
The Enphase Micro-inverters (Model M175 240V and Model M175 208V)
work with any 72 cell module (24V nominal) up to 210-215Wstc.
Call toll-free (877)
297-0014 for more information or to order.
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