What is solar retrofit?

Solar retrofit is the process of upgrading existing solar energy systems to improve their efficiency, functionality, or capacity. This can involve modifications such as adding new solar panels, power optimisers or inverters to meet increased energy demands or enhance system performance.

What is a retrofit inverter in a photovoltaic system?

The retrofit inverters only manage the storage systems and are mainly used in existing photovoltaic systems to keep the system configuration unchanged. In this case, the retrofit inverter of the storage system and the photovoltaic inverter are two distinct machines where the power of the storage is added to the power of the photovoltaic.

Should you retrofit a solar energy system?

Let’s say you’ve owned a solar energy system for several years, and over time, your energy needs have expanded. Whether you need more power to charge a new electric vehicle or because of increased home consumption (maybe you invested in a new heat pump), there are many reasons why people may want to retrofit an existing solar energy system.

Can a PV inverter retrofit an AC coupled storage system?

Whatever the case, to retrofit an AC coupled storage system, the PV inverter must be installed such that it is isolated from the grid during an outage by the battery based inverter. To do so, a critical loads panel is added to the facility where the PV inverter is interconnected.

Should I add an inverter to my solar system?

If you have a solar system that does not support oversizing, you will have fewer panels installed, which means less power generation throughout the day. Swapping out an inverter is a relatively simple process, so consider adding one with oversizing if you want to get more power from your roof.

What makes a good solar inverter?

A good inverter, like the ones from SolarEdge, will be built with an oversizing capability that allows you to add panels over and above the stated rating because the system’s peak energy output is only achieved for part of the day.