Microinverter

Definition: A small inverter attached to each individual solar panel in a photovoltaic system, converting the DC output of a single panel to AC.

Relevance to energy: Microinverters can increase the efficiency of solar panel systems, especially in situations where some panels may be shaded or have different orientations.

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Benefits:

• Optimizes performance of individual solar panels
• Easier to monitor performance of each panel
• Can increase overall system efficiency

Drawbacks:

• Higher initial cost compared to string inverters
• More components that could potentially fail
• Can be more complex to install

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Statistics: According to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, systems with microinverters can produce 4-12% more energy than systems with string inverters in certain conditions.