Solar Inverters Guide
The inverter converts DC electricity from your panels into AC electricity your home can use. It's the second most important (and expensive) component after the panels themselves.
String Inverters
The traditional and most affordable option. All panels are wired in one or more "strings" to a single central inverter.
Cost: €800–€2,000 Lifespan: 10–15 years Best for: Simple roofs with one orientation, minimal shading
How it works: Panels in a string must all produce similar current. The weakest panel limits the entire string — like the slowest car in a convoy.
Popular brands: Fronius, SMA, Huawei, GoodWe
Microinverters
Each panel gets its own small inverter mounted underneath it. Every panel operates independently.
Cost: €100–€200 per panel (€2,000–€4,000 for a typical system) Lifespan: 20–25 years Best for: Complex roofs, multiple orientations, partial shading
How it works: Each panel converts its own DC to AC independently. A shaded panel only affects itself.
Popular brands: Enphase, AP Systems
Power Optimizers + String Inverter
A hybrid approach. Each panel gets a DC optimizer, but they all feed into a central string inverter.
Cost: Between string-only and microinverters Lifespan: Optimizer 25 years, inverter 10–15 years Best for: Mixed conditions where microinverters are overkill but string limitations are a concern
Popular brand: SolarEdge
Hybrid (Battery-Ready) Inverters
A string inverter with an additional connection for a home battery. Can manage solar, battery, and grid power simultaneously.
Cost: €1,500–€3,500 Best for: Homeowners planning to add battery storage now or later
Hybrid inverters are becoming the default choice as battery prices drop and more homeowners plan for energy storage.
Which Do You Need?
- Simple south-facing roof, no shade: String inverter (best value)
- Multiple roof faces or some shading: Microinverters or optimizers
- Planning for battery storage: Hybrid inverter
- Maximum monitoring and panel-level data: Microinverters
Your installer should recommend the right type based on your roof assessment. Compare options from verified installers in our directory.