In today’s world, investing in solar energy isn’t just about reducing your carbon footprint on your journey to Net Zero, it’s also a smart financial decision and provides a degree of energy independence. But with so many product options available on the solar market, how do you make sure you select the right products?
In this blog, we are going to outline the benefits of SolarEdge and the top reasons the brand stands out in the market. In particular, the ability to protect your investment by offering a number of unique features:
- Enhanced safety
- Advanced monitoring capabilities
- More energy
- Long term warranties
What is SolarEdge?
What is an inverter?
Let’s begin with what the inverters do: the brain and heart of any solar power system, sitting between the rooftop solar panels and electricity distribution board. Without it, your system won’t work. Its role is to convert electricity from DC to AC electricity as efficiently as possible and is responsible for all the energy produced by your system. Solar panels are grouped into ‘strings’ of 20+ panels which feed DC power back into the inverter to be converted into AC electricity.
What is an optimiser?
These strings of panels are traditionally connected in ‘series’. Remember when Christmas tree lights were linked the same way? Well, this arrangement has a similar flaw. If one panel, or even part of a panel is shaded, the power output of the whole ‘string’ can drop to the lowest point in the line.
That’s why SolarEdge pioneered the concept of a power optimiser which put simply is a little black box that sits behind every panel or pair of panels. The optimisers connect into a pair of panels so that if there is a fault it does not impact the entire string. In essence, the panels are strung in ‘parallel’ meaning it is safer; more energy can be produced and ingeniously the optimisers provide module-level monitoring of your system.
Who are SolarEdge?
With over 3.6 million systems installed worldwide, SolarEdge is a trusted name in the solar industry. Their innovative solutions and commitment to customer satisfaction have earned them numerous awards and accolades, making them a reliable choice for commercial solar panel systems.
1. Enhanced Safety
One area that is often overlooked, however, is safety. How much do you know about the necessary safety features that set apart a safe system versus an unsafe one? We would like to discuss this issue by exploring a standout option – choosing SolarEdge for safety.
SolarEdge offers enhanced safety features across its range. It abides by the strictest safety standards and regulations being imposed and goes above and beyond to ensure the safety of consumers, installers and maintenance engineers.
Risks of traditional inverters
Traditional inverters, when shut down, still have a high voltage in the DC cabling. They also don’t terminate their flow of current from the rooftop to its inverter during shutdown which means the DC cables stay energised during daylight.
Solar Edge Safety mitigation
To combat these risks, SolarEdge offers enhanced safety with embedded features: SafeDC™, Firefighter gateways, Arc fault detection and current interruption are all designed to reduce the risk of electrocution and fires.
The SolarEdge SafeDC™ feature is designed to automatically switch into safety mode when AC is shut down, isolating the DC power at the optimisers. This is to ensure that the output voltage of each module is reduced to a touch-safe 1V whenever AC power is off until necessary checks can be undertaken. This helps to increase personnel’s safety, protect equipment and prevent damage. SolarEdge also has a seamless integration with the building fire alarm panel thanks to its firefighter gateway which automatically shuts down the system when the alarm goes off as well as providing a manual emergency stop button.
2. Advanced Monitoring Capabilities
SolarEdge’s cutting-edge monitoring platform provides real-time insights into your system’s performance. Accessible via smartphone, tablet, or computer, the platform allows you to track energy production, detect issues, and ensure your system is running at peak performance – anytime, anywhere.
This doesn’t require any extra hardware and comes already integrated into your SolarEdge system. Essentially, this means any faults or failures are easier to detect with automatic system alerts, which we can troubleshoot remotely. This monitoring platform is free to use for 25 years. The same length as your warranty for SolarEdge products.
This provides significant maintenance benefits because of the ease of fault identification, but perhaps more importantly the ability to pinpoint the issue. This reduces the time it takes to investigate system issues, whilst also reducing maintenance costs and minimising system downtime, allowing for more solar energy generation.
3. More energy
SolarEdge offers industry-leading technology that optimises the performance of each pair of solar panels. Unlike traditional string inverters, SolarEdge systems use power optimisers to maximise energy generation. This means that shading, dirt, or damage on one panel won’t compromise the output of the entire system. The result? You get more energy from your solar installation, maximising your return on investment.
Thanks to its design flexibility, panels which may be partially soiled and or shaded at certain times of the day from vents/pipes etc, do not bring down the performance of the entire string. Unlike traditional inverters, panels can be placed in multiple orientations, enabling flexibility when designing systems to maximise your PV power potential. Not all panels are created equally, even when produced by the same manufacturer, often having differing outputs within certain manufacturing tolerances. SolarEdge mitigates this module-level mismatch and ensures every panel is generating at its peak performance.
SolarEdge systems are designed with scalability in mind. Whether you want to add battery storage, electric vehicle charging, or smart energy management features in the future, SolarEdge make it easy to upgrade. This future-proof approach ensures your investment remains relevant as technology evolves.
4. Long term warranties
When you choose SolarEdge, you’re investing in a product that is built to last. SolarEdge inverters come with a 12-year warranty (extendable to 25 years), and their power optimisers boast a 25-year warranty, whilst most string inverters come with a 5-year warranty as standard. This commitment to quality ensures peace of mind and long-term savings.
Conclusion
Investing in solar energy is a major decision, and selecting the right system is essential. With its cutting-edge technology, proven performance, and long-lasting reliability, SolarEdge stands out as a top choice for harnessing solar power. However, choosing the right products is just the beginning—you also need a skilled and experienced team to install and optimize your system, ensuring your investment provides returns for generations to come.
Written By
Angus Rose
Director at Ineco Energy
Angus Rose is a Director at Ineco Energy, bringing over a decade of expertise in delivering innovative energy solutions to public and private sector clients. Passionate about renewable energy and its critical role in addressing climate change, he is committed to driving a sustainable future. In 2016, Angus co-founded Ineco Energy with a clear mission: to deliver clean energy for better business and a better world. Under his leadership, the company has become a trusted partner in the renewable energy sector, specialising in commercial and industrial rooftop solar projects. From initial consultation to project completion, Ineco Energy manages the entire lifecycle, ensuring seamless execution and long-term impact. With a strong focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, Angus continues to lead initiatives that help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and reliance on the grid while maximising financial benefits.
