SolarEdge is a world leader in smart energy solutions. They were the 2021 Innovation Award Winner at the Green Sustainability Awards for their Energy Hub Inverter with Prism Technology. They have won multiple awards for their innovative inverter technology. They also pioneered the concept of a string inverter matched with individual DC optimisers. In short, SolarEdge are renewable energy innovators.
At Energy Partners, we are beyond thrilled to be one of SolarEdge Preferred Partners in Australia. Being a Preferred Partner means that we’ve been recognised by SolarEdge as one of their most dedicated installers. With so much choice around renewable energy solutions, it’s easy to be unsure why one option, such as SolarEdge, could be great for you, and not another. This is why we’ve created this guide to all things SolarEdge. We hope it helps you make an informed decision.
About SolarEdge.
SolarEdge is an Israeli inverter company founded in 2006. As an impressive initial offering, SolarEdge developed the DC optimised inverter solution that changed the way power is harvested and managed in photovoltaic (PV) systems. Now a fundamental part of renewable energy technology, this intelligent inverter solution maximises power generation while lowering the cost of energy produced by the PV system, for improved RoI.
Since its stock launch on the NASDAQ in 2015, SolarEdge has grown into a world-leading PV inverter manufacturer, with 3600+ employees globally, monitoring 2,150,000+ of its solar energy systems around the world in over 133 countries.
They continuously aim to earn their reputation for developing and producing cutting-edge technology that is preferred by industry-leading installers, integrators, and other energy market participants.
Ever at the forefront of enhancing smart, clean energy, SolarEdge addresses a broad range of energy market segments through its diversified product offering. This includes residential, commercial and large scale PV, energy storage and backup solutions, EV charging, home energy management, grid services and virtual power plants, batteries and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) solutions.
Let’s find out more about this wide range of products.
At Energy Partners, we are beyond thrilled to be one of SolarEdge Preferred Partners in Australia.
The SolarEdge product range.
The first product we’re going to cover is the SolarEdge inverter. This was the technology that began everything and cemented SolarEdge’s reputation as a world-class clean energy innovator.
An inverter is an essential part of a solar energy system. Essentially, an inverter takes electricity from a power source that produces ‘DC’ electricity, such as solar panels or a battery system, and converts it into mains-equivalent 230 volt ‘AC’ electricity ready for use in the home or business. Without an inverter, any solar energy generated is wasted.
String Inverter with Power Optimisers
The Importance of inverter selection:
While inverters account for only 10% of the system cost they:
- Manage 100% of the system production
- Control Operation and Maintenance costs
Therefore, the inverter selection is critical for the long term financial performance of a solar system as it can maximise energy production and reduce lifetime costs
This is why it is important to have a good-quality inverter. You don’t want to replace them too often, so it’s worthwhile getting a good, reliable one up-front.
SolarEdge is best known for pioneering the concept of a string inverter matched with individual ‘DC optimisers’ on each solar panel. These optimisers allow:
- Individual panel monitoring
- Individual panel optimisation (i.e. shade or dirt on one panel will not affect the other panels as in a conventional setup)
- Rapid shutdown of panels in the case of an emergency
- Slightly more energy generation over the lifetime of the system
- A smaller string inverter because the Multi Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is all done at the panel.
Due to this efficient technology, SolarEdge’s inverters have earned a good reputation for reliability and efficiency. They are also compliant with current remote shut down regulations and approved in a number of Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs across Australia.
Among the safety features of SolarEdge inverters are integrated SafeDC and Rapid Shutdown technology that automatically de-energises DC cables to a “touch safe” 1-Volt whenever the inverter is switched off.
Solar Panels.
SolarEdge’s Smart Panels are premium solar panels. They have integrated their power optimisers into the panel, instead of having it separate. This means that these panels function independently, so if one panel is shaded or dirty, it does not affect the energy generation of your other panels. It’s why they’re called Smart Panels!
Another benefit of integrated power optimisers is that Smart Panels have greater energy production and faster installations, due to installers not having to install a separate optimiser. This in turn means installation savings for clients.
The main point of difference for SolarEdge’s solar panels in that they have integrated their power optimisers into the panel. Most of the benefits of this are received by the installer who should be able to reduce the time required to install, who should in turn be able to pass through some savings to the client.
Their reliability is guaranteed by SolarEdge, with one of the most impressive warranties on the market. You get a 15-year panel warranty, which is significantly more than the industry average of 10 years. They have partnered with a tier 1 manufacturer to produce their panels, which additionally shows that the company has confidence in the longevity of their product which is great news for clients.
In addition, SolarEdge Smart Panels deliver maximum safety and an elegant black-frame design, making these panels smart, safe, and beautiful!
Energy Storage.
Solar batteries are a game-changer for solar panel owners. For many years, one of the sticking points for many people considering going solar has been not having power when the sun goes down.
With energy storage or batteries, this removes this obstacle. By storing excess solar production in a battery, solar power system owners can take control of their energy consumption, maximising their solar usage for greater electricity savings and energy independence. Whether day or night, power can be accessed, reducing reliance on the grid and lowering power bills.
SolarEdge Energy Bank
Energy Hub Inverter with
HD-Wave Technology
So how does SolarEdge’s Energy Bank storage stand out from the crowd? In four ways.
More energy. Energy Hub inverters are designed to maximise system efficiency and produce the most energy. There is no energy loss, as the Energy Hub inverter directly stores solar energy into the battery – no energy-wasting conversions from AC to DC and back.
Simple Design and Installation. Reduce the clutter by choosing Energy Bank. The SolarEdge system means you only need one inverter for your solar panels and for Energy Bank – easy! Plus, it’s all suitable for indoor or outdoor installation, which simplifies the installation process.
Full visibility and easy maintenance. SolarEdge’s superior monitoring platform tells you everything you want to know about your system’s performance. You can monitor your battery status, solar production, energy use behaviour, and much more.
Advanced safety. Just because your solar system is out of sight doesn’t mean it’s out of mind for SolarEdge. For the safety of both users and installers, all the solar and battery system is designed to automatically reduce to be touch-safe upon AC shut down. This exceeds most safety regulations and is another way that SolarEdge energy storage is a well-rounded choice.
Grid Services.
As PV and storage continue to proliferate around the world, energy production is transitioning from a centralised system to a distributed network model, where energy is produced close to the location in which it is consumed and stored. This model creates an opportunity for new interconnected and decentralised energy networks offering improved grid reliability, services, stability, and costs.
SolarEdge is driving the transition from centralised to distributed energy networks with its innovative grid services solution. The grid ‘holds’ the energy generated from the solar panels until it needs to be used. SolarEdge offers new, innovative grid services, like enabling cloud-based, real-time aggregative control management and reporting of different energy resources.
SolarEdge Grid Services manage the complex network of distributed energy generation by integrating third-party software interfaces with dedicated grid services. SolarEdge has been working to overcome local shortage supplies and is protecting energy retailers from energy price peaks. They achieve this by providing access to stored energy and automatically discharging energy to reduce the costs during peak price hours.
MySolarEdge App.
SolarEdge offers a comprehensive monitoring platform dedicated to residential and commercial system owners.
The mySolarEdge app gives you live solar energy production information, including:
- How much solar electricity is being used by your home or business
- How much is flowing into the grid
- How much grid electricity you are importing
- Real-time module-level performance monitoring
- Remote management of batteries, smart energy devices, and electric vehicle charging.
It also allows solar system owners to quickly and independently monitor their system and resolve routine system issues.
The mySolarEdge app is all about putting you, the user, in charge. You can interact and control your energy right from your smart phone. The app makes it easy to understand your system’s performance. It lets you run more appliances and also control how and when you charge your batteries. What’s more, you can set up a welcome-home scenario where your home can greet you after a long day! It truly puts you firmly in the driver’s seat.
This real-time information sharing also allows your installer to monitor your system too, making it easier for them to respond quickly when your system is not working as optimally as it could. Here at Energy Partners, we love the ability to respond to our clients fast, and resolve any issues in their system so their energy production doesn’t miss a beat. Oh, and did we mention the mySolarEdge app is included free with your solar system?
Lastly, few things provide as much satisfaction as seeing your solar energy system supplying you with more clean energy than you need, and your power bill disappearing!
Who do SolarEdge products suit?
Whether you’re a homeowner or business owner, SolarEdge has an energy solution for you. All of the products and benefits mentioned so far apply to either group, but SolarEdge’s product range is versatile enough to fit your needs perfectly.
Homeowners.
If you’re setting out on your solar energy journey, congratulations! You’re taking a huge step towards reducing your power bill as well as your carbon emissions. You might like to check out SolarEdge’s 5-step guide to going solar, or their solar FAQs page, or find out about Australian government incentives to go solar.
Business owners.
SolarEdge supports businesses worldwide, big and small, to cut their energy expenses for the good of the environment, their bottom line, and their public profile. Businesses in a wide range of industries are benefitting from going solar, such as hospitality, agriculture, industrial, and public premises. You might be interested to read some real commercial user testimonials here.
Run on sun with SolarEdge.
Energy Partners is proud to be a SolarEdge Preferred Partner. From their exceptional componentry to their versatile product range and superior performance, this is the high standard we want to work with when serving our clients here in Brisbane and South East Queensland.
Could your home or business do with lower power bills and an energy solution that is going to give you clean, reliable energy for years and years? Get in touch with us for an energy assessment to find out how much you could save. Use our contact form here, or give us a call on 1300 768 977.
