What is a microinverter?

A microinverter is a small inverter unit installed on each solar panel rather than one central inverter for the entire array. Each panel operates independently, converting its own DC output to AC electricity at the point of generation.

The main advantage on Perth roofs, particularly those with partial shading from trees, neighboring buildings, or roof features, is that shaded panels do not drag down the output of unshaded ones. When one panel is partially blocked in a string inverter setup, the entire circuit's performance suffers. With microinverters, each panel's performance is isolated, so shading on one unit has minimal impact on the rest of your system.

Microinverters also provide panel-level monitoring and diagnostics. You can see the performance of each individual solar panel via app or web dashboard, making it easier to spot a faulty or underperforming panel. This granular visibility helps you and your installer identify maintenance issues quickly.

They differ from string inverters, which collect and convert DC power from multiple panels wired in series into a single AC output. Optimisers (also called power optimisers) sit between these two approaches, attaching to panels and optimizing their output before sending power to a central string inverter, but they do not perform the DC-to-AC conversion themselves.

Microinverters are typically more expensive per watt than string inverters, but suits roofs with shading challenges, complex layouts, or where panel-level performance data matters to you. Solar inverter suppliers in Perth can assess whether microinverters are the right choice for your roof.