If you're installing solar panels, one of the most important components in the system is the solar inverter.
Solar panels produce DC electricity from solar panels, but homes run on AC power. A solar inverter performs the DC to AC conversion that allows your home to safely use the electricity your panels generate.
Without a solar inverter, your solar energy system wouldn't be able to power your appliances or export electricity to the grid.
This guide explains how solar PV inverters work, the main types of solar inverter, and how to choose the right type of inverter for your system.
What Is a Solar Inverter?
A solar inverter is the device that converts DC energy produced by solar panels into alternating current AC, which is the standard electricity used by homes and the grid.
Solar panels generate DC power when sunlight hits the photovoltaic cells. However, household appliances and the UK electrical grid operate using AC electricity.
The inverter performs the DC to AC conversion, transforming DC electricity from solar panels into usable AC electricity that flows through your home's electrical system.
In simple terms:
Solar panels → produce DC power Solar inverter → converts DC into AC power Your home → uses AC electricity
Modern solar PV systems rely heavily on modern inverters to manage performance, safety, and monitoring.
What Does a Solar Inverter Do?
Solar PV inverters are often described as the brains of solar energy systems.
They perform several key functions:
- Converting DC energy into alternating current AC
- Managing power output from solar panels
- Communicating with the grid
- Monitoring system performance
- Managing battery storage integration
- Ensuring safe operation of the electrical system
- String inverters
- Microinverters
- Hybrid inverters
- AC-coupled inverters
- Power optimisers
- Lower installation cost
- Reliable and widely used technology
- Simple system design
- Easy to maintain
- If one panel underperforms, it can affect the entire string
- Less flexible for complex roof layouts
- Limited panel-level monitoring
- Better performance with shading
- Panel-level monitoring
- Higher overall system efficiency in complex installations
- Improved safety with lower DC voltages
- Higher upfront cost
- More components in the system
- Convert to AC electricity for immediate use
- Send to a battery to store energy for later
- Designed for systems with batteries
- Efficient DC-coupled energy storage
- One central monitoring platform
- Higher upfront cost than standard inverters
- If the inverter fails, both solar and battery systems stop working
- Solar panels generate DC electricity
- A solar inverter converts it into AC electricity
- The AC-coupled inverter manages charging and discharging the battery
- Reduced solar power output
- Fault codes on the inverter
- System monitoring showing no generation
- Inverter shutting down frequently
- String inverters – best for simple roofs with no shading
- Microinverters – ideal for complex roofs or shaded panels
- Hybrid inverters – best for new solar systems with batteries
- AC-coupled inverters – best for adding batteries to existing systems
- Power optimisers – useful for improving performance on string inverter systems
Most modern inverters also include monitoring apps that allow homeowners to track solar generation and store energy in batteries.
Another important function is Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).
MPPT ensures your solar panels operate at their optimal voltage and current levels so your system generates the maximum possible power output from available sunlight.
Types of Solar Inverters
There are several types of solar inverter, each designed for different types of solar installations.
The main options include:
Choosing the right type of inverter depends on your roof design, budget, and whether you plan to install a battery storage system.
String Inverters
String inverters are the most common type of solar inverter used in residential installations.
In this setup, solar panels are connected together in groups called strings. Each string feeds electricity into a central inverter that performs the DC to AC conversion.
Most string inverters include Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to maximise energy production from each string of panels.
Advantages of String Inverters
Disadvantages of String Inverters
String inverters work best on simple roofs where panels face the same direction and receive similar sunlight.
Microinverters
Microinverters are installed on the back of each individual solar panel.
Instead of converting DC power from an entire string of panels, microinverters perform DC to AC conversion at each panel.
This means each panel works independently.
Advantages of Microinverters
Disadvantages of Microinverters
Microinverters are commonly used on roofs with multiple orientations, shading, or complex designs.
Hybrid Inverters
Hybrid inverters combine the functions of a solar inverter and a battery inverter.
They allow solar panels and a battery storage system to work together within one unit.
Solar panels generate DC energy, which the hybrid inverter can either:
When the battery discharges, the hybrid inverter converts the stored DC power into AC power so your home can use it.
Advantages of Hybrid Inverters
Disadvantages of Hybrid Inverters
Hybrid inverters are commonly used in new solar installations that include battery storage.
AC-Coupled Inverters
An AC-coupled inverter allows battery storage to be added to an existing solar PV system.
In this configuration:
This type of setup is ideal when adding a battery storage system to an older solar installation.
AC-coupled systems are also used when installing battery storage without solar panels, allowing households to charge batteries from cheaper overnight electricity tariffs.
Power Optimisers
Power optimisers are devices installed behind individual panels that improve performance in systems using string inverters.
They optimise DC energy from each panel before sending it to the central inverter.
This improves power output, especially when panels experience shading or uneven sunlight.
Power optimisers are commonly used with brands such as SolarEdge.
Do Solar Batteries Need an Inverter?
Yes — a battery storage system still requires an inverter.
Batteries store electricity as DC energy, but homes run on AC electricity.
This means an inverter is needed to convert stored DC power into AC power that can run your appliances.
There are two common setups:
DC-Coupled Batteries
Used with hybrid inverters, where the inverter manages both solar panels and battery storage.
AC-Coupled Batteries
Used when batteries are added to existing solar systems or installed without solar panels.
In both cases, the inverter ensures the battery integrates safely with your home's electrical system.
Replacing a Solar Inverter
Solar inverters do not last as long as solar panels.
Most solar PV inverters have a lifespan of around:
10–15 years
Solar panels typically last 25–30 years, which means most systems will require at least one inverter replacement during their lifetime.
Signs that an inverter may need replacing include:
Replacing an inverter is usually straightforward and can often improve system efficiency, as modern inverters include better monitoring, higher efficiency and improved battery integration.
Choosing the Right Solar Inverter
The best type of inverter depends on your solar system design and long-term energy plans.
General guidance:
A properly designed inverter setup ensures your solar energy system operates safely, efficiently and generates the maximum possible energy.
Solar Inverters from CRG Direct
At CRG Direct, we design and install high-performance solar energy systems including solar panels, solar PV inverters and battery storage systems.
Our team can help you choose the right inverter for your system to maximise power output, improve energy efficiency and support future upgrades such as battery storage.
If you're considering solar panels or upgrading an existing system, speak to our team today to learn more about the best solar inverter solutions for your home.