Solar Edge

TamsinC

Can anyone explain this for me - I've looked on the website and my brain isn't comprehending it today - it is necessary to have a battery? Is it just for maximising if you have panels on different orientations? etc.

Merlin139

The point of Solar Edge is that each panel has its own optimiser which means each panel is treated separately. Most Solar systems would have 2 strings of say 8 panels. These might be facing say East and West. Solar Edge is also ideal if you have multiple aspects.

If one of those panels was effected by shade it would bring down the production of all of the string to that of the shaded one while it was shaded. If you had a panel in shade on a Solar Edge system it would only effect that panel and not all of the panels facing the same direction.

On my Solar Edge system in 4 years 6 months has Best panel 1.34 Mega Watts and Worst 1.16 Mega Watts.

At this time batteries are not deemed cost effective. You will not recover the cost and you could probably buy the electricity of the cheaper off your supplier. Only you will know why you want or need a battery.

TamsinC

thank you - that was where the solar edge website confused me - it had a battery in the illustration and we don't want one. And there was very little info as to whether it was necessary for the SolarEdge technology to work. So looks like we will be getting half the panels on a SSE facing roof and the other half on a W facing roof. So solar edge would be potentially good in this case. Is it expensive to install? If it is I don't think we will see a useful gain.

Merlin139

You will pay a premium for SE system but how much would depend on the people installing it.

With a bit of work you can find Optimizers around £40 plus VAT so each panel will need one. The inverter maybe around twice the cost compared to others.

The cost could add around £1000 but if you are likely to get shading then it maybe worth it. Only you can decide if it is. Do you have a TV aerial that could cast a shadow? Anything that can cast a shadow on your roof could effect production. As to it being a whole string or just one panel then it will depend on SE or not.

Exiled_Tyke

Merlin139 wrote: »

You will pay a premium for SE system but how much would depend on the people installing it.

With a bit of work you can find Optimizers around £40 plus VAT so each panel will need one. The inverter maybe around twice the cost compared to others.

The cost could add around £1000 but if you are likely to get shading then it maybe worth it. Only you can decide if it is. Do you have a TV aerial that could cast a shadow? Anything that can cast a shadow on your roof could effect production. As to it being a whole string or just one panel then it will depend on SE or not.

This time of year reveals shading issues which you never knew you had. Although it doesn't matter so much as generation is always going to be low from until spring anyway. But it's nice to eek out every kWh available. My neighbours' house which causes no problem at all during the peak spring- summer months now casts a shadow which passes across my panels one by one as the day progresses. I can see its path on the monitoring portal. I can't say that the SE premium is worthwhile for this issue alone, but its nice knowing that the 'sunny' panels are still doing their bit.