The global market for microinverters will expand by four times its current level by 2017 according to IHS.
This year, microinverter shipments are expected to hit 500 megawatts (MW) and IHS predicts the level will reach 2.1 gigawatts in 2017.
A microinverter consists of a small box located on the back of or situated very close to a solar module that converts the DC electricity generated by a single solar panel to AC.
While more costly than conventional string inverters, microinverter offer some advantages; including panel level MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) and increased system availability, as malfunctioning single or multiple solar panels will not have such an impact on the entire system.
IHS says microinverter demand has been focused on the U.S. residential market – where penetration will reach more than 40 percent in 2013 – but is now shifting to commercial solar systems and other regions.
“The United States in 2012 accounted for 72 percent of global microinverter shipments. However, the U.S. share will fall to 50 percent by 2017 as a result of microinverters penetrating into new markets in Europe and Asia.”
Australia is among four countries outside the USA tipped to be the most successful markets and achieve the highest penetration rates.
“PV markets such as Australia and the United Kingdom also offer great potential for microinverters because they are relatively new markets with installers that are not so entrenched in using string inverters, allowing microinverter suppliers to more easily educate them of the benefits of their solutions.”
IHS says around 9 percent of microinverters were destined for commercial installations last year and this will grow to almost a third in 2017.
With new entrants such as SMA and Power-One now manufacturing microinverters, sector leader Enphase now has significant competition and prices of the units are expected to drop substantially. Australian company Semitech Semiconductor is also developing microinverter technology.
Related:
Micro, String And Central Inverter Explainer.
Microinverters vs. Power Optimizers
