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Are micro-inverters better than a single string or hybrid inverter?

Independent analysis

Based on AskSolar's analysis of 1,102 real Irish data points on this topic.

Last updated .

In Ireland, micro-inverters are the exception rather than the rule. They're more of a US approach; here, most installs use a single string or hybrid inverter. Micro-inverters put a tiny inverter on each panel, which gives good per-panel performance and handles shading well, but for typical Irish systems they bring real downsides.

The main issue is that micro-inverters don't let you oversize the array the way a single inverter does, so you lose the winter-production benefit of having more panels than the inverter's nominal rating. They can also make it harder and more expensive to add a battery later, since battery integration is built around a central hybrid inverter. The rough cut-off: micro-inverters can have value on small arrays (maybe under ~3.5 kW), but above that the inability to oversize and the battery limitation usually tilt the decision back to a string or hybrid inverter.

If shading is your concern, the standard Irish answer is to use optimisers on the affected panels with a normal string/hybrid inverter, rather than going micro-inverter for the whole array. That gives you the shade tolerance without sacrificing the ability to oversize or add storage.

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