[RE-wrenches] Micro vs (Modern) string inverter efficiency comparison

[Dave Tedeyan]

Hi All,

Does anyone have any real world data comparing the efficiency of
microinverters vs. string inverters in a partial shading scenario? We all
know the old selling point of micros with partial shading, saying that if
one panel in a string is shaded,  you lose production from the whole
string. But that is not the case anymore with at least SMA inverters with
their global MPPT sweeps. If one panel is shaded, you lose the voltage from
that one panel, and that is it, the rest of the string operates normally.
In this case, it seems like micros don't actually add much value in a
partially shaded system.

I am thinking specifically of something like a fixed tilt ground mount that
will be getting somewhere near 70% TSRF. So there are no issues about
modules facing different directions. I am curious if there are actually any
significant differences in power production with a microinverter vs a
string inverter system in this case. Unfortunately, any article written
about this subject assumes using an older string inverter where one panel
being shaded will knock out the whole string, in which case the answer is
pretty clear.

Cheers,
Dave

-- 

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Dave Tedeyan, P.E.
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