“If string inverters and microinverters have been precisely the identical value, nobody would ever purchase a string inverter.”
Penrith Photo voltaic founder & MD Jake Warner
Western Sydney-based photo voltaic installer Penrith Photo voltaic Centre has joined a rising variety of Australian corporations that provide solely microinverter-based photo voltaic power programs as a result of they’re safer and easier to put in and help.
After a latest inside evaluation, Penrith Photo voltaic founder and managing director Jake Warner recognized that microinverters have been eight occasions much less more likely to fail than string inverters. “We reviewed our in-house service information and labored out that microinverters trigger us only a few points, in order that they’re about eight occasions inexpensive to help than normal string inverters,” he stated.
“That’s after I had the sunshine bulb second to make use of solely microinverters. Not solely are they extra dependable, however they’re simpler to promote on their worth, higher for system design and efficiency, simpler to put in due to their dimension and far easier to order and warehouse as a result of one dimension matches all.”
Based in 2017, Penrith Photo voltaic has a workforce of about 40 individuals delivering a mean of six photo voltaic installations per day all through the western Sydney space extending into the Blue Mountains.
Mr Warner, who’s a licensed electrician, stated promoting solely microinverter-based programs focussed prospects on worth reasonably than value. “The fact is that if string inverters and microinverters have been precisely the identical value, nobody would ever purchase a string inverter,” he stated.
“Lots of people have been burnt by low-cost inverter programs which have been slapped collectively however barely even labored. Every week, we get known as out to burnt-out DC isolators on low-cost programs, so it is fairly scary. Microinverter-based programs are safer as a result of their all-AC design doesn’t want rooftop DC isolators.
“Additionally, microinverters enable better design flexibility and system efficiency. Not like most string inverters, which carry out solely in addition to the weakest panel on that string, microinverters are related to every panel, so each panel delivers its very best efficiency in all circumstances.
“This has been crucial in western Sydney through the previous couple of summers the place producing circumstances have been actually inconsistent. This summer season was fairly wet with lots of cloud and final 12 months we had all that bushfire smoke. Whenever you do have that type of inconsistent climate and cloud protection, microinverters guarantee every panel nonetheless generates essentially the most power it probably can.
“Thirdly, the better warmth tolerance of microinverters is essential in Penrith which recorded the most well liked temperature in Australia final 12 months at 48.9 levels Celsius (120.02 levels F). Microinverters actually do carry out higher in hotter circumstances in comparison with string inverters.
“Additionally, string inverters usually are not that good, so when there’s an issue with a string inverter photo voltaic system, the entire system is down till we get to the positioning to diagnose and repair it, which can want multiple go to. It’s inconvenient for the shopper and extra pricey to us to have service crews on the street.
“With the per-panel monitoring delivered by microinverters, we robotically obtain alerts and may remotely diagnose system points, so we solely must go to website as soon as to have the shopper again up and working right away. That’s good for them and retains my overheads down in the case of providing after-sales service.”
Mr Warner stated microinverters additionally supplied “large benefits” for his firm in inventory ordering and warehousing. “It’s far simpler to handle from a retailer’s viewpoint,” he stated.
“We have already ordered 7500 microinverters for quarter two this 12 months. If I used to be ordering string inverters, I must break that down into 5 kilowatt (kW), 6kW, 7kW, 8kW, 10kW, 12kW and 15kW inverters whereas now I actually order only one microinverter for every photo voltaic panel on order.
“As a result of we have now to order three or 4 months forward, that basically simplifies inventory administration as microinverters take up a lot much less area on the shelf. They’re additionally a lot lighter, so simpler on the installers’ backs bodily as properly by lifting a number of small inverters, not only one large heavy inverter. When you will have an set up and gross sales firm, these items are actually essential.”
Enphase Vitality Common Supervisor ANZP Wilf Johnston stated Penrith Photo voltaic was the most recent Enphase companion in Australia to solely supply microinverter-based photo voltaic programs. “Larger photo voltaic security and higher efficiency have at all times made good enterprise sense, so it’s nice to see extra installers resembling Penrith Photo voltaic providing solely this larger high quality photo voltaic know-how,” he stated.
For media help or to rearrange interviews, contact Enphase Advertising and marketing Supervisor APAC Justin Cohen on +61 438 630 163 or [email protected]
About Enphase Vitality, Inc.
Enphase Vitality, a world power know-how firm, delivers good, easy-to-use options that handle photo voltaic era, storage and communication on one clever platform. The Firm revolutionized the photo voltaic trade with its microinverter know-how and produces a completely built-in solar-plus-storage answer. Enphase has shipped greater than 25 million microinverters, and over a million Enphase programs have been deployed in additional than 130 international locations. For extra data, go to www.enphase.com/au and observe the corporate on Fb, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Penrith Photo voltaic Centre (PSC) https://www.penrithsolar.com.au/
Penrith Photo voltaic Centre was born to revolutionise the way in which Western Sydney & Blue Mountains residents obtain their photo voltaic power options. Our goal is to teach humanity to enhance the standard of life. We have now set out our mission to offer 15,000 properties the ability to supply, retailer and eat their very own power by 2025.
