Performance
The Enphase Microinverter System has revolutionized the solar industry's approach to commercial installations. By distributing power conversion technology into the array(s), photovoltaic systems powered by Enphase deliver higher energy harvest, enable flexible designs, and contain no single point of system failure.
When you use Enphase Microinverters in commercial systems, you can rely on:
- Increased energy harvest
- Unprecedented design flexibility
- Fully-integrated precision monitoring
Increased energy harvest
Systems that use the Enphase Microinverter System typically harvest more energy than central and string inverter-based systems. A recent Enphase study of NREL's PVWatts data from 650 solar installations comparing energy harvest predictions with actual results indicated that the Enphase Microinverter System delivers as much as a 16 percent energy harvest advantage over central inverter-based systems.
By enabling module independence through maximum power point tracking (MPPT) at the module level, Enphase systems adapt to changing insolation conditions and non-linear module degradation in stride. Additionally, Enphase Microinverters enable low-light and low-voltage operation, thereby lengthening the “solar day” for commercial systems.
Unprecedented design flexibility
Enphase is ideal for meeting the challenges that commercial solar installations can present. The modular architecture of the Enphase Microinverter System brings unprecedented adaptability and flexibility to photovoltaic (PV) system design.
The Enphase Microinverter System can:
- Adapt to any site
- Optimize systems for complex or variegated layouts
- Deliver maximum performance with no DC stringing requirements
The overall flexibility of Enphase’s technology delivers:
- Accelerated system installation time
- Easy in-field reconfiguration when required
The Enphase Microinverter System eliminates the need to plan systems and strings according to the capacity limitations of string and central inverters. This key architectural benefit helps to streamline the system design process, where a commercial site virtually becomes a blank canvas for the implementation of a limitlessly scalable and flexible installation. High-voltage DC (HVDC), conversely, brings unnecessary complexities to PV systems, including:
- Serious safety and insurance considerations
- Procurement of specialized HVDC component parts
- Required, expensive expertise for handling high-voltage DC for the life of the system
Both the physical placement and design requirements of a high-voltage DC central inverter force constraints on PV systems of all sizes. For larger-scale systems, for example, accommodating the “central inverter factor” can mean pouring concrete for mounting slabs and employing heavy machinery, leading to thousands of extra dollars spent. Furthermore, many commercial sites such as schools and other high-traffic areas will not allow HVDC on site, which means Enphase is the only viable solution.
Fully integrated precision monitoring
With central or string inverter-based systems, it can be very difficult and costly to identify issues that may be impacting performance. If an array is delivering weak performance, for example, on-site diagnostics are required – this means truck rolls and time spent on location by high-cost specialized labor.
Remote precision monitoring and system management capabilities are integral parts of the Enphase Microinverter System. Enlighten, our web-based monitoring and management platform, continuously monitors the health and performance of every microinverter in the system, delivering actionable, module-level intelligence. With Enlighten, installers and system owners can:
- Conduct detailed performance analyses
- Detect issues automatically
- Take advantage of remote diagnostic tools
- Proactively plan for maintenance instead of reacting to central inverter emergencies
The ability to diagnose module issues remotely, precisely, quickly, and easily over the life of the PV system results in a more intelligent system and enhanced fleet management capabilities, as well as the ability to claim module warranties easily where appropriate. Even more important, it helps installers and owners to ensure optimal performance and maximum uptime over the lifetime of their commercial solar systems.
