In the simplest terms, you should look for an energy system that will meet your energy—and energy management—needs now and well into the future. And if you want a system that will produce and pay off for years, or even decades, then quality is priority one. Not coincidentally, quality is also priority one for Enphase.

Most solar panels are warrantied for 25 years, with lifespans of solar production that usually continue for years after that. The inverter technology needs to match that lifespan and enable the promised production. The Enphase IQ8 Microinverters that mount on the backs of many current solar panel models have a 25-year limited warranty to match the panels. String inverters are generally warrantied for 10 years and are expected to last just 10–15 years due to the heavy wear and tear that comes with inverting high amounts of DC power. Microinverters are designed with no moving parts, which means fewer parts that can fail. They’re tested extensively before they’re ever installed, so we know going in that they’re less likely to break or need repairs, and they’ll keep producing as expected for the life of the panels to which they’re mounted.

And because each panel in an Enphase system has its own microinverter, in the unlikely event one fails, it only affects that panel. Every other panel in your system will continue to produce the energy it’s supposed to. Identifying the affected microinverter is also easy, and so is replacement, which can be done by a technician fairly quickly.

Systems that rely on string inverters completely shut down if the inverter fails, and replacing them is more complicated, taking days or weeks. During that time, your entire system is down. With microinverters, it’s just one panel. So, if you have 20 panels, the other 19 are still producing power to your home, battery, or the grid.

Numerous factors can affect the performance of your solar system, from the panel’s output capacity and efficiency (say, 360 W vs 400 W vs 420 W), the direction your panels are facing and their overall sun exposure, to whether they get shading periodically over the course of a day and how many cloudy days you have. 

But perhaps the biggest factor, and we just touched on this above, is the type of inverter your panels use. New Enphase Energy Systems employ solar panels with our IQ8 Series Microinverters, which have a clear performance advantage over string inverters and optimizers, and even over other microinverters.

With string inverters, if one panel gets dirty or shaded, it can diminish the output of all the panels. With Enphase IQ8 Microinverters, each panel operates separately. So if one panel gets shaded, the others continue to produce fully. This is especially beneficial if you have a complex roof with sections shaded periodically during the day.

But Enphase systems go an extra step in boosting performance with Power Control technology. Power Control allows you to expand the capacity of your Enphase Energy System without actually upgrading your electrical main. It uses smart, real-time current sensing software to monitor and limit the current fed back to the electrical main and the grid. This means you can install a larger system while ensuring your main panel stays NEC code-compliant. So, for instance, if you have a smaller 100 A electrical main panel, you can keep it while getting the amount of solar and storage you need. Other systems may require the costly installation of a higher-capacity electrical main panel (120-200 A).

With our monitoring capabilities, you can be notified if there’s an issue with an Enphase microinverter, making it faster and easier to fix the issue. A technician can come out, lift the affected panel, and swap out the microinverter. Most of the certified installers in the Enphase network carry spares with them on their vans. But since Enphase warranties our microinverters for 25 years and we design them to last even longer, you can rely on them for decades of peak performance.

We understand that safety is top-of-mind when selecting an energy system. And to be honest, earlier solar systems—and even some current ones—that include string inverters with high-voltage direct current (DC) power can be problematic. If any connections in string inverter systems erode or become loose over time, it can lead to an arc-fault fire.

Safety was one of the primary drivers behind the design of the Enphase microinverter. With Enphase microinverters, low-voltage DC power is converted to alternating current (AC), like you use in your home, behind every panel. Plus, if there’s an issue with the panel or microinverter, microinverters have the safety and convenience of built-in rapid shutdown that allows for the system to be de-energized quickly, keeping first responders safe in the event of an emergency.

Even with an inherently safer design, Enphase products undergo thousands of hours of testing to find potential issues before they ever make it to the field. In addition to our own testing, Enphase system products undergo extensive third-party testing, like Underwriters Laboratories, in order to attain the highest levels of safety certifications.

Plus, Enphase IQ Batteries use Lithium Iron Phosphate technology, which is safer than lithium-ion batteries using nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC).

There are a number of factors to consider when looking for the right solar panel—and the right number of them—for your system. These factors should be part of a discussion with your installer, who will help select the right panels for your needs.

For most residential systems, Enphase-certified partners are installing panels rated between 350-450 watts per panel. The panel rating will depend in part on how much roof space you have. A larger roof can support a larger quantity of less expansive, lower-power panels. If space is limited, then a smaller quantity of higher-power panels will be better.

You’ll also need to consider any shading from trees or clouds, your regional weather (cold and heat can affect panels differently), and panel durability, especially if you live in an area with extreme weather or hail.  

We talked a bit about this earlier, but of the common types of inverters available, microinverters have clear advantages over string inverters. Not only do Enphase microinverters improve panel efficiency and output by allowing them to produce independently of one another, but they also convert DC electricity to AC right at the panel, which makes your system safer.  

Enphase IQ8 Series Microinverters also have an exclusive feature called Sunlight Backup. Most solar systems without battery backup will shut down if the grid goes down. But when paired with an Enphase IQ System Controller, IQ8 Microinverters can keep your system online to power critical loads in your home during daylight outages. 

Enphase microinverters are also extensively tested, including for extreme weather. They’ve earned a NEMA 6 all-weather rating. In fact, FEMA recommends microinverter technology for better performance and reliability during severe weather like hurricanes. And they’re warrantied for 25 years, with a lifespan expected to go beyond that. 

Including batteries in your energy system offers a host of benefits, from protecting against power outages to storing excess solar energy and using it after the sun sets so you avoid paying for grid energy. Some of that excess energy can even be sold back to your utility during peak rate times to speed up your ROI.

The amount of battery storage you need will be based on your energy needs and the size of your system. Enphase IQ Batteries are easy to connect to your system and allow you to add even more batteries if your needs grow.  

Battery safety is another critical consideration. Batteries like the Enphase IQ Battery 5P with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry are known for their safety and stability. And unlike many other batteries, IQ Batteries don't need active cooling systems with fans or pumps. No moving parts means fewer components that are likely to break. This is reflected in the Enphase IQ Battery warranty, which covers 15 years or 6,000 charge/discharge cycles.  

Teams rely on communication for success, and so do energy systems. At the heart of Enphase Energy System communication is the IQ Combiner, which consolidates interconnection equipment into a single enclosure and streamlines installation by providing a pre-wired solution for residential systems. 

The Enphase IQ Gateway is the hub of communication for an Enphase Energy System. It talks to the Enphase IQ Microinverters on your roof via standard AC power lines and uses your internet connection to send system status and performance data to the Enphase Cloud where it can be accessed by the Enphase App. 

A solar system lets you harness energy from the sun to power your home. Pairing it with a robust app lets you monitor and manage how that power is used. With an Enphase system, data is gathered from every component and displayed in the Enphase App. This can tell you how much energy you’re generating, how much energy your home is using, how much energy is being used to charge your battery, and the battery charge level. It can also show you how much energy is being used to charge your EV. 

The Enphase App also lets you set a system profile that meets your energy goals. For instance, you can set it for AI optimization that adjusts your system automatically based on conditions. Self-consumption mode uses your battery to power your home after sunset to reduce your need for grid energy. Full backup mode keeps your battery at 100%, so you’re prepared for a grid outage.

You can also get a running tally of how much money you’re saving every day, week, month, or year. You just need to program in your utility rate plan to see how much each kilowatt hour of energy your system produces is saving you. 

Lastly, if you live in an area prone to severe weather, Enphase Storm Guard technology is critical. If the National Weather Service issues a severe weather alert, your Enphase IQ Battery configured for backup can automatically charge from the grid to ensure you’re fully prepared for a weather-related outage. 

Backup power integration  

Generators can also be integrated into an Enphase backup system. This is the ideal solution for multi-day outages where there isn't enough solar power to recharge your batteries, or your energy demand exceeds your solar production. When additional power is needed, the generator is automatically started by the Enphase system so that you don't have to worry about a thing. You can also use the Enphase App to program your generator for quiet time, for instance between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when your family is sleeping.

Sunlight Jump Start  

In the energy industry, the term “black start” refers to the ability to start an AC electrical grid during a blackout. Normally, a backup system would rely on the battery to power your home during a grid outage. But if the battery is depleted due to a prolonged outage, it can’t provide backup, even when the sun returns. 

Enphase solved this with our Sunlight Jump Start, only available with our IQ8 Microinverters. It enables the solar panels to jump-start power to the home and begin recharging your batteries once the sun comes up, even if your batteries are depleted. With other systems, a technician must manually restart the system if the grid is down and your battery is depleted. 

One of the benefits of having products from a company that puts quality as its most important, well, quality, is that the products are highly reliable and durable. As a result, Enphase backs them with among the best warranties in the industry.

While Enphase doesn’t manufacture solar panels, panels typically come with a 25-year production guarantee and a 25-year limited warranty. So, Enphase designs its microinverters to match, and even exceed, that quality and longevity. We offer a 25-year limited warranty against manufacturer defects on our microinverters.

Our newest generation of backup batteries—the Enphase IQ Battery 5P—includes an industry-leading 15-year, 6,000 discharge limited warranty. Everything we’ve learned through eight generations of microinverters and two prior generations of batteries has gone into our IQ Batteries. This knowledge allows us to confidently offer our industry-leading warranty.

We also put the same attention to detail and innovation into our other system components, including IQ Gateways and IQ Combiners, which we back with 5-year limited warranties, and the IQ System Controller which we back with a 10-year limited warranty. Other components like the IQ Load Controller, Mobile Connect, and Communications Kit all come with 5-year warranties.  

Plus, all these warranties transfer if you sell your home.