What is Solar Inverter Oversizing?
Lisha Ouyang • Aug 01, 2023
Normally the number of solar panels installed on the roof is matched to the solar inverter size. The total number of panels is calculated by dividing the inverter power rating by the chosen solar panel power. This was often the practice carried out by some solar designers in the past. If you have been in the solar industry, you probably heard of the idea of “inverter oversizing“.
Understanding Solar Panel Production Factors
Before discussing inverter oversizing, we should understand the fact that solar panel production is greatly influenced by various factors, like weather conditions, the sun’s position, panel orientation, aging, soiling, and shading losses. Therefore, the manufacturers conduct solar panel testing under Standard Test Conditions (STC) to rate their products. It’s important to note that real-world performance may differ from the STC due to the unique environmental conditions surrounding the solar panels.
The Overlooked Aspect: Inverter Oversizing
Inverter oversizing is often overlooked by experienced solar designers during system design. By inverter oversizing, the total capacity of the solar array will be higher than the inverter rating. This means that the system generates more Direct Current (DC) power than Alternating Current (AC) power. The idea behind inverter oversizing is to compensate for losses caused by external factors.
The graphs below show that using a 6.6kW solar system with a 5kW inverter (Inverter Oversized) will produce more energy than a 5kW solar system with a 5kW inverter (Inverter size).
The Advantages of Inverter Oversizing
- Increase energy harvesting – Solar panel arrays experience fluctuations in sunlight intensity due to weather conditions. By oversizing the inverter, the system can harvest more energy during periods of optimal sunlight.
- Improved Performance in low light Conditions – Solar panels operate less efficiently in low-light conditions, such as cloudy or overcast days. Oversizing the inverter helps compensate for this inefficiency by allowing the system to operate at a lower power level, enabling the system to operate under suboptimal lighting conditions.
- Maximize the daytime solar production – Oversizing the inverter allows it to produce peak energy for a longer duration at noon time, resulting in increased daily solar production. Refer to Figure 3, for a comparison between the daily inverter production of a regular-sized system and an oversized system (133% larger). The oversized system shows an approximate 10-15% increase in production under optimal conditions.
- Make the most of East-West PV arrays (North facing in the Southern hemisphere) – A PV array may be divided into some east-facing strings and some west-facing strings when there is more space available for east and west-facing orientations. It is feasible to significantly enlarge a PV array because an east and west PV array would peak in output power at separate times of the day. This way, the overall energy production could be increased and the solar production would be more evenly distributed throughout the day.
It’s worth noting that having larger solar panels than the inverter output rating may save some money. However, manufacturers set limits on the maximum array capacity the inverter can accommodate, and local grid operators may impose restrictions on system sizes. For example, in some regional areas with single-phase supply, consumers are limited to installing inverters up to 5 kilowatts (KW), or 5 to 10KW inverters with a 5KW grid export limit. Conversely, regions like ACT allow consumers to oversize the inverter up to 133% and still receive financial assistance in the form of solar rebates.
Conclusion
Inverter oversizing offers numerous benefits that can significantly enhance the performance and efficiency of a solar system. It allows for increased energy harvesting, improved performance in low-light conditions. As solar technology advances, considering and implementing inverter oversizing strategies can maximize the return on investment for solar system owners.
To get free and accurate in-home solar assessment, call us on 1300 911 110 or email us at info@mondiaux.com.au and we will make sure to provide our best service to our clients.
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1. Do solar panels work in the winter? Yes, solar panels do work in the winter. It doesn’t matter how hot or cold it is. In fact, they can be more efficient in colder temperatures as long as they receive adequate sunlight. 2. Will snow cover affect my solar panels’ performance? Snow can affect solar panel performance if it covers the panels completely, but most modern solar panels are designed to be self-cleaning and will shed snow and ice on their own. Even a small amount of sunlight can generate enough heat to warm up a solar panel and help it in melting the snow. This is because solar panels are designed to absorb sunlight and convert it into energy. As they absorb sunlight, they also absorb heat, which can help raise their temperature and melt any snow or ice that may have accumulated on them. Additionally, snow can reflect sunlight back onto the panels, which can increase their output. 3. How much energy can I expect my solar panels to produce in the winter? The amount of energy your solar panels produce in the winter will depend on factors such as location, weather conditions, and the angle and orientation of your panels. However, in general, you can expect your panels to produce less energy in the winter than they would during the summer months. 4. Do I need to make any adjustments to my solar panel system for winter? In most cases, you do not need to make any major adjustments to your solar panel system for winter. However, you may want to clear any snow or debris from around your panels to maximize their exposure to sunlight. 5. Can I still use solar power during a winter power outage? Yes, if you have a solar power system with a battery backup, you can still use solar power during a winter power outage. However, if your solar panels are grid-tied and do not have a battery backup, they will not provide power during a blackout. 6. Will my energy bills be lower if I use solar power in the winter? Your energy bills may be lower if you use solar power in the winter as long as your solar panels are generating enough energy to meet your household’s needs. To get free and accurate in-home solar assessment, call us on 1300 911 110 or email us at info@mondiaux.com.au and we will make sure to provide our best service to our clients.
Going Solar is the most beautiful gift you can give to mother Earth. But you can fall into many traps if you don’t know how to do it effectively. This Blog is the sequel to the previous blog . We recommend reading it before starting this blog if you have not checked it out yet. 6: Believing! If the location is not optimal, the Solar is not worth it. It is a big one among the many traps! If the location is not optimal, the solar system is not worth it. It has been claimed recently that solar systems are getting better with time. And in today’s time, even if the solar panel is not installed in the north direction, it would still be worth it. As you only lose 10-15% of your solar system production. This depicts that even though the location might not seem right to you going, solar is still a fantastic decision that can help you save a lot in the long run. 7: Settling for DIY solar systems Solar systems can vary in size and the way they operate. Some people can go for off-grid plug-and-play solar systems, which are not very complex in their operations. These DIY solar systems also aid you in going solar, but you cannot completely go off the grid with these systems. Hence, if the person’s goal is to get self-sufficient in electricity, they should think of installing the solar system through a reliable service provider. Otherwise, a person can fall into the trap of wasting money on getting a system that is not fulfilling the energy demands fully. 8: Making the decision solely based on the price Going Solar is a tremendous decision, and it can look like an extravagant purchase. Some people can make the mistake of going for the company that is offering the least money. The money factor can add to the traps section when going solar. You can choose a company offering you the least amount, but the system being delivered is also very substandard. Although it has not been advocated here that the cheapest is the worst. But while deciding to go solar, look for company ratings, reviews, and how they deal with your needs before the purchase. The value for money should be considered before deciding to go solar with any company. The company that provides the best value for money should be chosen. 9: Not Taking Advantage of Incentives Solar can help you make the environment more sustainable and can also assist you in gaining incentives from the government. It is essential to have a hold on the knowledge of incentives that the government is offering to achieve the maximum benefit. A prevalent perk the government provides is lowering taxes for solar energy-dependent individuals. And businesses can benefit by capitalizing on accelerated depreciation. It is vital to keep yourself up to date with what the government is offering in terms of the benefits for the solar community. 10: Lack of knowledge of Warranties It is vital to know warranties before going solar with any installer. There are two types of warranties. One is offered by the manufacturer, and the other by the solar installer. Sometimes the manufacturer only gives a warranty. So if something happens with the system, the customers are satisfied that it is still under warranty. They can get it fixed without any cost. But they are actually falling into one of the traps! When they ask the installer to fix it, the installer doesn’t take charges for the system, but the installer does charge for the labor work. So it is crucial to know what the manufacturer is offering you as a warranty and what is being communicated to you by the installer. It is better to go with an installer that can also cover the labor charges in the warranty.
Going Solar is an astounding decision that we can take for our future. Science has made it quite evident that the world is warming perilously. Hence climate change is a problem that needs our immediate attention. If we don’t take significant actions today, there is a high chance that our future will be disastrous. Finally, you have stood up and decided to protect the environment and go solar. What a startling move it is for you and humankind. But there are a few traps into which you can fall. It is pivotal to have a piece of knowledge about these before you make this incredible choice of going solar. 1: Not having Enough Educating on Solar It is of prime importance that you educate yourself regarding Solar before going solar. Because if not, you can invest more money in it than the required amount, or you can have a system that does not fulfill your demands. In either case, you can waste money and will not attain maximum benefits from your system. The internet, no doubt, is flooded with heaps of information regarding everything. And sometimes, it is challenging to gather valuable information from all the clutter. We can also be helpful to you in this matter, as our educational blogs have all the information you need before going solar. Either Read our blogs or do your research online, but it is foremost to know your requirements before approaching solar companies. 2: Not Tracking the Energy Consumption Knowing about your energy consumption before finalizing things is of prime significance. Check your previous bills and get your hands on knowing how much electricity is being used by your household. All good solar companies provide you with an estimation of what you need according to your usage. If you know your energy consumption details, you can also try our Solar Calculator to get an idea of the appropriate system and how much it can charge you per your current location. You can try it when you intend to go solar. 3: Not Knowing the Right Size for your Energy Consumption If your system is not the right size, it will produce too much or too little for your house. It is always better to find a system that fulfills your energy needs. The surplus amount will also not be significant as an extensive system will cost you much more. So educating yourself in knowing the size of the system is also fundamental. Our solar blog, “How many solar panels do you need for your house?” and Solar Calculator, can also help you get a clear idea of the panels that suit your energy consumption. 4: Not Getting Multiple Quotes It should be significantly emphasized to get multiple quotes before choosing any company. Because you need a comparison to select a nonpareil, reliable company for your system installation, the price would not always be the fantastic way to judge a company. It is better to see the value for money before selecting any company. The organization which provides you with the most value against an affordable price (which might not be the cheapest) would be a wise choice. Because if you end up getting a cheap solar system for your house, which is not durable and reliable, you will not save money and will not gain any benefits in the long run. Also, if the system is very substandard, it won’t be able to resist the harsh climatic conditions, and it will cause you more harm. 5: Not Deciding the Location of the Installation The client must do their homework to choose a good location for Installation. Trusting the companies is good, but it can also trick you sometimes. If a person wants the system in some specific place due to the aesthetics or if you know what direction is best for the panels, it is always better to make your own decision other than the installer making it for you. Because sometimes, the installer is captivated by choosing a location that is more accessible to them or is more economical. But it would be crucial for you to get the system to a place where it looks nice and gives the maximum benefit, right? So it is better to research than rely solely on the installer.
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