First a brief explanation of how solar pv works
When solar panels are connected together they form a “string”.
When solar panels are connected together they form a “string”.
Each panel in the string increases the amount of potential energy that can be generated.
The speed at which the electricity flows, the current, is constant along the whole string. The total power a string generates is the amount of energy multiplied by the speed of flow.
Why is this important?
If each of the panels in a string are producing the same amount of energy then the current remains the same. If one panel starts to produce less energy due to being in shade then the current will drop to the level of the lowest panel. This reduces the total power the string will generate.
So how do optimisers help?
A panel optimiser monitors one individual panels performance and ensures it is always operating to its maximum capability. If the panel is in shade or has significant dirt/bird poo causing the current to drop the optimiser will make the system skip over that panel so as not to force the string to operate at the lowest current, thereby improving system performance.
Standard string
Optimised string
Are there any other benefits?
Solar pv inverters monitor system performance but only at a string level, making it more difficult to establish when and where a problem may have occurred with an individual panel. Panel optimisers produce panel specific performance data enabling faster identification and resolution of any system performance issues that may occur over the lifetime of the system.
How many optimisers do I need?
You can either have them on every panel (so you benefit from panel level system performance data), or just on the individual panels where the design modelling suggests that there is likely to be reduced performance from shading.
Do I have to have optimisers?
No, it is down to each customers preference. If we believe that you will get a system performance benefit from adding them due to shading issues we will advise accordingly but we only offer optimisers as an extra cost option.
