If you replace an old solar inverter, you may find the maximum power output of the new one isn’t as high and wonder if it’s faulty.
If the decrease is only modest, then the good news is the reduction is mostly likely simply due to a change in Australian inverter standards.
Solar inverters are now required to keep a little power in reserve and use it to improve grid efficiency and help it safely ride out disruptions and avoid blackouts. This can reduce their maximum power output. For details, you can check out this blog post on reactive power.
Inverters were required to meet the new standards before the end of 2021. So if an inverter was installed in 2020 or earlier it’s unlikely to be up-to-date.
While the maximum power output of your new inverter - measured in kilowatts (kW) - may be lower, its total energy generation - measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) - shouldn’t significantly change.
If your old inverter sometimes reached a maximum power output of 5kW around noon on a sunny day, then a new replacement will likely only reach around 4.5kW. While this 10% reduction may seem like a considerable amount, the power output is only reduced when the inverter is at or close to its maximum output.
As this only happens for a limited time when the sky is clear and the sun is directly above the panels, very little energy generation is lost. Because new inverters are usually more efficient than old ones, the total number of kilowatt-hours produced may not decline and may even increase.
This means that if you get a new inverter installed and notice its maximum power output is reduced but the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity generated stays much the same, everything is likely to be fine and it’s operating as it’s required to do.
But if the number of kWh generated does drop significantly and you’re confident it’s not due to the weather, then you can contact your installer and let them know there appears to be a problem.
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