SolarEdge Vs Enphase: Which Is Better For You?
Today we are going to compare two of Aussie favourite solar inverters, SolarEdge Vs Enpahse. We are not here to tell you which one you should buy over the other; we are simply going to compare so you can get a better idea of which will suit your home best.
Did you know that combined, they dominate around 50% of the solar inverter market? They are so popular because they are such sound solar systems with technology different from a standard string inverter solar system.
There are pros and cons to both of the solar inverters that will get into throughout this blog. So Let’s not waste any more time and jump into the comparison between SolarEdge Vs Enphase.
Please contact our team if you are interested in either of the solar inverters we mention in today’s blog. We would be more than happy to give you a quote on which inverter will be best for you.
Speak to our specialist through our enphase page here, or speak to our specialists through our SolarEdge page here. I look forward to hearing from you.
If you are wanting to know more, I’ve written a comprehensive review on SolarEdge here and a review on Enphase microinverters here.
Table Of Contents
SolarEdge And Enphase Both Provide High-End Systems
SolarEdge Vs Enphase is a difficult comparison. Both systems are very high-end as they are in the top range in the industry. With high-end systems comes a large investment. But the price you pay is 100% worth it for the reliability and efficiency you will benefit from.
SolarEdge and Enphase have dominated the solar inverter industry. This is because they offer something entirely different to string inverters; they offer power optimiser systems and microinverters.
These are also referred to as Module-Level Power Electronics (MLPEs). The technology these two types of inverters provide compared to a standard string inverter is why they have reached the top.
String inverters tend to be less flexible and do not come with monitoring capabilities. On the other hand, MLPEs are more advanced and, in our eyes, are a justified investment.
However, SolarEdge does still offer string inverters but they have created the best solar inverter in the industry. Compared to others, Solaredge offers the highest warranty and efficiency for a string inverter.
Enphase Can Offer You Micro-Inverters
We should probably start by explaining what a micro-inverter does. They are basically tiny inverters that fit onto the back of each solar panel in the system. They manage the AC conversion on each panel, improving your efficiency and performance.
Unlike a conventional string inverter, the whole power output is brought down if one panel is not in direct sunlight or fails. Micro-inverters make the solar panel a lot safer by reducing the distance the voltage has to travel.
A benefit of the micro-inverters is that you can easily add AC solar panels to your existing system, this means you can adapt with increasing energy usage in the future. In addition, they are independent of each other as you can quickly work out any faults or issues quicker than if they were connected in a string inverter.
Enphase inverters are very reliable, productive and smart. By smart, we mean they can work out each system’s optimal voltage, meaning you get the max power voltage.
SolarEdge Offers Panel Optimisers
I will briefly just go over what a panel optimiser inverter does. Again, like micro-inverters, they are attached to the back of each panel and can control their output. Panel optimisers can be added to a string inverter to improve efficiency. They perform individually, so when one panel is underperforming, it helps increase performance.
It controls the DC voltage going to the inverter from the panel. So unlike micro-inverters, it optimises DC power, converting it to AC power to be used in the home.
Like the micro-inverter, the panel optimisers are more efficient and reliable as each panel works independently. Meaning if one panel fails, then the others will keep on working. You can easily find faults as it will be obvious which panel is not working.
The benefit of panel optimisers is that you get data from each panel. This can allow you to know whether your solar panel system is in the correct space as it is not impacted by shade. They are also very safe as they stabilise the DC current, ensuring it doesn’t get to dangerous heights.
Specifications of SolarEdge Vs Enphase
We thought it might be helpful to have a breakdown of a few of the key specs of both the inverters to help you see it a bit clearer. As you can see, both are pretty similar.
What I Like About It...
Solaredge offers a flexible design for homeowners to overcome shading or roof issues. Usually, homeowners will have to get a smaller system if parts of their home get covered by shade. Therefore, the flexible design of SolarEdge helps overcome this common issue.
SolarEdge power optimisers actually save you some money! Not only is it an excellent investment, but the efficiency of the solar inverter compared to your average string inverters means you can optimise your energy.
When comparing the monitoring platforms that come with the Enphase and SolarEdge inverters, we think SolarEdge has the edge (pardon the pun!). You can scan the barcode on each inverter’s back and assess the panel’s performance.
Also, did we mention that it comes with a fantastic 12-year standard warranty plus an extendable 25-year one available for homeowners?
Specifications:
Efficiency: 99.25%
Warranty: 25 years
Max input DC voltage: 60 V
Peak Power Output: 60V
Ambient Temperature Range: -40C to 85C
What I Like About It...
Enphase uses micro-inverters which are incredible bits of technology. They are super advanced and actually the only one of their kind on the market.
They are super sade and come with extremely high performance and efficiency. This is predominantly because they use safe chemicals such as LFP. LFP is much safer than cobalt which is used in other inverters on the market. Similarly, DC is converted to AC at the panel eliminating any DC cabling running through the roof.
Enphase is also super easy to scale, which is essential because every homeowner consumes more energy every year. Think about it, you might get a new TV, better phones or even new appliances. You will need more energy to be able to power your home, so being able to scale your inverters is a huge plus.
Enphase also comes with a 10-year product warranty for microinverters. However, if you pair the Enphase microinverter with a Sunpower solar panel, you get a 25 years warranty. That is a good deal if you ask us; SunPower has impressive solar panels.
Specifications:
Efficiency: 97%
Warranty: 10 years (25 when paired with SunPower solar panels)
Max input DC voltage: 48V
Peak Power Output: 250 VA
Ambient Temperature range: -40C to +65C
Both SolarEdge And Enphase Can Provide Fully Optimised Home Solar Solutions
Some of the similarities of SolarEdge Vs Enphase is that they can provide fully optimised home solar solutions. Some of the amazing benefits of these systems are :
- Flexible design
- Save more money and energy
- Overcome shading issues
- Less maintenance
- Complete visibility (monitoring at panel level)
- Future proof extensions if you want to add more panels later
- Warranty
The efficiency that comes as a result of these benefits is awesome. With higher efficiency comes more electricity. SolarEdge’s efficiency is 99.25%, whereas Enphase’s efficiency is 97%. There is a slight difference between the two, proving how well they work.
Micro Inverters May Perform Better Than Panel Optimisers
Personally, we think microinverters are better at performing because they are basically an inverter on the back of a solar panel. This means no energy is wasted through transporting and converting DC at the inverter.
SolarEdge’s panel optimisers still run DC energy to the inverter first, which means some can get wasted or lost on the journey. They are also less safe than micro-inverters as they convert DC at the panel, meaning there will be no DC running across your roof.
However, that being said, it depends on what you are looking for. In our opinion, micro inverters will be wasted on regular solar panels. This is because, on their own, they only come with a 10-year warranty and work best with AC panels. We will discuss this further later in the blog.
SolarEdge still performs exceptionally well and elevates a standard string inverter into an efficient and reliable system. It has taken advantage of the amazing designed systems and optimised them for energy usage.
With Both Systems, You Can Get a Flexible Design That's Built For Future Extensions
The problem with standard inverters is that they are not flexible and don’t cater for every household. However, when looking at SolarEdge Vs Enphase, this is one thing they both do well.
For SolarEdge Power Optimisers, they work individually on each panel. This means you have the freedom to place single panels all over your roof or home. This is limited with string inverters as they all need to be together, limiting the solar energy you could utilise.
This is super useful for households with tricky roofs or spots covered by the shade. SolarEdge helps to eliminate this issue by giving you more freedom. Design engineers can help you get the most from this, which is something to consider.
Enphase is not only flexible but more scalable. You can start with a small 6kW system to get you on the solar inverter ladder. Then you may want to invest in a larger system as you use more energy. Again, Enphase has the flexibility for you to scale your system.
When comparing SolarEdge Vs Enphase, there are some limitations surrounding scalability for SolarEdge. First, SolarEdge is limited by the size of the central inverter. Whereas Enphase can scale a lot easier and bigger.
Even though this is a fantastic benefit, it doesn’t necessarily yield the best return on investment. It slows down the return on investment, so it is something to consider if you want to take that route.
SolarEdge Comes With The Better Monitoring Platform Compared To Enphase
When comparing SolarEdge Vs Enphase, the monitoring system is better on SolarEdge. Although enphase has a great monitoring system, SolarEdge comes on top in our eyes.
This is because of the features and statistics that allow you to see when you download the pairing app on your device. I will list a few below:
- Complete visibility of the system’s financial and technical performance
- Track how much energy you are producing
- Where the most energy is being used in your home
- If there are any of the panels failing
- Automatic alerts on the system issues
- Control your utility usage
- The option to schedule automated reports
There are many more features of the monitoring system, but they are some of the most valuable factors. I personally love that you can remotely monitor where you are using the electricity the most and where you can save on usage.
Again, don’t get us wrong; the enphase monitoring system is great! But, it depends on what you are looking for in your solar inverter and whether the monitoring system is a big selling point for you.
Enphase Has Partnered With SunPower To Create An Unstoppable Module Of Panels
Unlucky for SolarEdge, but enphase for their first. Sunpower Maxeon series are coupled with enphase microinverters to make them probably the best solar panel in the industry! They are becoming even more popular over SolarEdge due to this epic partnership.
SolarEdge does have its own brand of pretty smart panels. However, the performance is nowhere near the performance of the enphase and Sunpower power combination. In our eyes, pretty unstoppable.
What makes this even more of a dynamic duo is the increased warranty of 10 to 25 years of the Enphase microinverter. It is a pretty hard deal to resist considering it would increase the efficiency of your solar system.
The main point of investing in the micro inverter is that it has a good return on your investment. With 25 years guaranteed warranty on top, it is more than justifiable. It is a long, even lifetime, solution for your home.
Again, we don’t want this to put you off power optimisers at all! It really depends on your home and your preference for solar panels. In our opinion, enphase collaboration with SunPower is just an amazing option.
So Which Is Better? SolarEdge Vs Enphase?
So, what is better in the comparison of SolarEdge Vs Enphase ? If we are honest, they are both excellent solar inverters that provide a fantastic solution that will last a lifetime and be extended into the future.
In summary, Enphase focuses more on micro-inverters meaning it is DC safe and allows complete independence. They also provide high flexibility and scalability, which is amazing for building in the future and overcoming roofing issues.
SolarEdge focuses on panel optimisers which feedback energy to central inverters. However, panels still have independence and are optimised individually. DC energy is restricted if voltage goes too high and automatically shuts off. This is much safer than DC but not quite as safe as microinverters by Enphase.
At the end of the day, each homeowner will be different. Therefore, we can’t advise an overall inverter that will suit every household as every household will have different requirements. Hopefully, this blog has helped you determine which is best for you.
Conclusion
I think it is clear that we are huge fans of both SolarEdge and Enphase, and so is Australia. With two market-leading inverters, it is hard to pick a top one.
They offer something completely different to the standard string inverter on the market. The microinverter and power optimiser are unique pieces of technology. We can confirm you won’t be disappointed by either.
Whether you choose SolarEdge Vs Enphase, it should be based on your own research. We hope this blog has given you some clarity on that decision, but if not, get in touch, and we would be happy to help.
Comment below for any questions 😁
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Written By:
Luke Cove
Managing Director
Lightning Solar & Electrical
1 thought on “SolarEdge vs Enphase”
I trust the Solar Edge and Enphase Inverters. I do not trust the Huawei inverters