Technology
A microinverter is a small inverter device that converts DC electricity to AC electricity at the level of a single solar panel, rather than using one central or string inverter for a larger group of modules. Each panel can operate at its own maximum power point, so shade, debris, or mismatch on one module has less effect on the rest of the array. Microinverters also provide panel-level monitoring and can simplify designs with multiple roof angles. The tradeoff is that a system uses more individual electronic devices, usually at a higher upfront equipment cost than a basic string-inverter design. They are common in residential and small commercial projects, while utility-scale solar generally favors larger central or string inverters because of cost, maintenance, and scale.