Solaredge inverters and Fronius inverters are among the most popular solar products on the market today. Their growing customer base and excellent reviews are a result of the value for money that these inverters provide. 

What is a Solar Inverter?

As the heart of a solar pv system, an inverter is responsible for converting the Direct Current (DC) electricity from your solar array (collection of solar panels) into an Alternating Current (AC) that can power your home or business. Inverters give a return on investment through their long life spans, their high performance rate and the efficiency boost that they give to residential and commercial solar systems.

Solaredge VS Fronius | Solar Inverter Review and Comparison

In this solar inverter comparison guide we will examine Solaredge and Fronius to determine which solar product is the best value for money. The best solar inverters are more than just good products; they also have good warranties, customer service, technological innovation, performance rates, efficiency and reliability. To understand which of these solar inverters is worth purchasing and installing, we will look into the companies that make them. We will then provide an overview of the different types of inverter technologies available on the market. Following this, an overview of the main features offered by each inverter will be laid out which will then lead to a comparison of the strengths of both SolarEdge and Fronius. We will also show you two useful tests to determine if a solar inverter manufacturer is reliable and provide a verdict as to which solar inverter is the better investment.

About the Companies

SolarEdge

SolarEdge is a US/Israeli provider of optimisers, solar inverters and PV monitoring systems that emerged on the scene in 2006. Over the next few years SolarEdge established itself as a major player in the solar photovoltaics (PV) industry. By 2010 SolarEdge’s annual product distribution had grown to represent some 70% of the global optimiser market. That year it shipped up to 250,000 optimisers and 12,000 inverters around the globe. In 2015 SolarEdge partnered with Tesla Motors to develop a new PV battery storage solution that required only a single inverter for both PV and storage functions. SolarEdge has an estimated annual revenue of AUD $1.8 billion.

Fronius

Fronius was founded in Austria in 1945. Initially focusing on welding and battery charging, Fronius branched into solar energy in the 1990s. The company’s first solar inverter, ‘Sunrise’ was produced in 1995. Dedicated to innovation, quality and service, Fronius has expanded to unite more than 5,400 professionals across more than 30 countries around the world. The company’s annual revenue is estimated at AUD $784.7 million.

Types of Solar Inverters

There are four different main types of inverters and depending on the size and specifications of the solar system you’re installing, along with the location of your solar panels and other environmental conditions, the type of inverter you’ll need depends.

String Inverters

A string inverter connects to a whole series – or ‘string’ – of solar panels. It converts the Direct Current (DC) energy absorbed by the solar array from the sun into Alternate Current (AC) electricity that can be used by common appliances. String inverters are the most common type of inverters used in residential solar systems

Solar Micro Inverters

As opposed to string inverters, microinverters are each connected to a single solar panel. By individually optimising the settings of each panel, microinverters help to boost the efficiency of a solar system. Microinverters are particularly beneficial for homes overcoming the challenges of shade.

Hybrid inverters

Hybrid inverters enable the use of a solar battery in conjunction with the solar power system. Also known as a multi-mode inverters, hybrid inverters can simultaneously manage both solar panels and solar batteries. This allows the synchronisation of both systems and enables the; charging of the solar battery with either power from the solar array or from the grid, depending on which is optimal at the time.

Optimised String inverters

Optimised string inverters combine the approaches of string inverters with microinverters. This type of inverter uses a single inverter to manage the whole solar array while having individual optimisers on each panel in order to micromanage the efficiency of each solar panel.

Overview of Fronius and SolarEdge Inverter Products

Fronius Primo

Solar Inverters from Fronius have remained some of the most popular solar inverters around the world. With consistent strides forward in technological innovation, Fronius has remained at the cutting edge of inverter performance and efficiency. In domestic and commercial solar systems, Fronius are favoured for their high performance and dependable reliability. One of the reasons Fronius have stayed at the front of the inverter market is their excellent customer service and support.

Their flagship inverter is the single-phase Fronius Primo which is ideal for residential systems. High demand has resulted in some minor faults and delays in the supply chain, but the support team have been quick to resolve these problems. The Fronius Primo comes with a 5 year warranty that can be extended for free for another 5 years when the inverter is registered online, providing a full 10 year warranty period.

SolarEdge Home Hub

With rising popularity in the United States and Australia, SolarEdge have gained a reputation for their high quality solar products and innovative DC optimisation technology. SolarEdge combines the strengths of both string inverters and microinverters, using DC optimisers fitted to the back of each solar panel; SolarEdge inverters boast the dual benefit of panel level monitoring and power optimisation.

SolarEdge’s DC optimised inverters provide a number of advantages over a standard inverter setup. This includes:

• Increased safety through rapid shutdown capacity
• Improved shade efficiency
• Early detection of potential issues and the ability to connect longer strings of solar panels.

DC optimised inverters from SolarEdge can be purchased with an extended 12 year warranty period.

Two tests to determine if a solar inverter brand is reliable

Test 1: Does the manufacturer have an Australian office and an easy warranty claim process?

While the performance and reliability of a product is important when investing in a solar inverter, just as important is the quality of the customer service and warranty claim process. Without quality customer service and warranties, a solar inverter becomes a risky investment. That’s why we always recommend choosing solar products that have a proven track record of high quality customer service, a domestic office available and a reliable warranty. Both Fronius and SolarEdge have Australian offices and a good track record of honouring their warranties.

Test 2: Is the inverter brand CEC-Approved?

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) is the leading body representing businesses in the renewable energy industry and over 4,000 accredited solar installers. The CEC promotes high industry standards of products and ethics by regulating the services provided by renewable energy businesses with a system of endorsement and accreditation. As such, CEC-approval demonstrates that a product and/or company has met the rigorous industry standards of practice and performance. We highly recommend only investing in solar brands that have been approved by the CEC.

The Verdict: Solaredge Solar Inverters are better than Fronius Solar Inverters

There aren’t a lot of weaknesses to be found in the solar inverters manufactured by SolarEdge and Fronius. Both companies have risen to the top of the solar market due to their capacity to create high performance products with strong durability, endless reliability and excellent value for money. However, in almost all areas SolarEdge has the edge over Fronius.

Who offers the best Warranty? – SolarEdge

An extended, reliable warranty is one of the most important features of an inverter. As it is an investment that should continue to provide value for many years, a strong warranty is your financial safety net. SolarEdge has a longer warranty and a good track record of honouring their warranties through a straightforward and smooth process.

Who offers better Customer Service? – SolarEdge

The quality of customer service from an inverter manufacturer is important as they will be your point of call should anything go wrong. The worse the customer service, the longer and more frustrating this process can be. SolarEdge has excellent customer reviews and is known in the industry for its dedication to providing a supportive customer experience.

Which Solar Inverter has better Performance? – SolarEdge

While both inverters have excellent output and efficiency, SolarEdge just beats out the Fronius inverters in terms of their overall performance. With a higher efficiency rate, the SolarEdge inverters will ultimately boost the efficiency of your solar system as a whole.

Who offers the best value for money? – SolarEdge

In terms of value for money, you can’t look past SolarEdge inverters. With a max efficiency rate of 99.2%, SolarEdge will improve the overall value of your solar system and dramatically increase the return on investment in the long run.

Get in touch to find the right Solar Inverter for your system

In this review, we have provided a comparison of two of the leading solar inverter brands on the market today. You can learn more about SolarEdge inverters and Fronius inverters in our detailed product reviews. For more information about any of the topics covered, or to speak with one of our friendly solar specialists, get in touch with us today. You can request a free quote from the contact field on our website or give us a call on 1300 076 527.