Micro-inverters convert the DC electricity from solar panels to the AC power that we use. They’re usually smaller than string inverters.
Instead of converting all of the electricity coming from a solar farm into AC at once, microinverters use DC to convert it to AC at the same time.
Advantages
Micro-inverters can increase a solar system’s efficiency by up to 25%. This is because they are focused on a couple of panels instead of a hundred.
Modern micro-inverters can also send feedback to the system owner regarding the status of certain panels. They can also prevent the damage or dimming of certain components of the system.
Newer technology
Until 2008, micro-inverters were not widely used in the solar industry. However, in 2008, Enphase released its M175 series, which became the first commercially available micro-inverter system.
They make sense for bigger installations as they deliver better control and feedback than standard panels.
Advances
While they may be more expensive compared to string inverters, micro-insulations are becoming more prevalent in the solar industry in an effort to reduce the overall cost of solar.