Enphase Energy microinverters can dramatically improve the performance of solar power systems by increasing the productivity and reliability of each solar module. Enphase microinverters, in combination with the Enphase Enlighten monitoring system provide complete visibility of each module's performance, and reduce the operational expenses associated with large, centralized inverters.

Enphase Microinverters

The Enphase Microinverter shifts DC to AC conversion from a large, centralized inverter to a compact unit attached directly to each solar module in the power system.

Solar power production is affected by various factors such as module mismatch, obstruction shading, inter-row shading, and obstacles such as dust or debris. In addition, non-uniform changes in temperature, irradiance, and shading create complex current-voltage curves, further affecting energy harvest. This is due to the fact that in traditional systems the performance of the entire system is dictated by the performance of the weakest module.

The Enphase Energy Microinverter System solves solar power challenges by performing Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) at each solar module. MPPT is an algorithm used to calculate and respond to temperature and light changes detected on a solar power system, and to determine how much power to draw from the module. In contrast, centralized inverter’s MPPT algorithm sees the entire solar power system as a single module, and responds to the lowest production numbers it detects.

With the Enphase Microinverter System, installers are no longer limited by string design, marginal designs, co-planarity, and matched modules. The space, heat, and noise associated with a large inverter are eliminated. Enphase Microinverter Systems improve mechanical integration, reduce wiring time, and remove the need for DC switching points.

Enphase Envoy Communications Gateway

The Enphasae Envoy(EMU) is a communications gateway that collects performance information of each solar module in a user's system and transmits this data to the Enlighten™ website, where users can view and manage the performance of their solar power system.

The Enlighten website provides a wide range of information on the performance of the solar power system and individual modules. A graphical representation of the solar array provides "at a glance" information on the status of each module. More detailed information, including current and lifetime performance metrics, give users a true view of the benefits of the solar energy installation.