Solar Inverters review

Solar Inverter Review Australia - Updated March 2021

 

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Summary table. See individual brand reviews below the table.

 
Quality
Price
Highlights
Fronius
Best
High
European made
Huawei
Best
Average
Highest recommendation
SMA
Best
High
SolarEdge
Best
High
Goodwe
Average
Average
Huge range
Delta
Average
Average
Sungrow
Good
Average
Growatt
Average
Low
Good value
Solis
Average
Low
Sofar
Average
Low
Solax
Average
Low


 

Good - Top quality, reliable inverters, made in Europe (Austria).
Not so good - Expensive, old tech Primo & Symo, annual payment for 'Premium' reporting.
Comments - Australia's No.1 brand. The new GEN24+ range is too expensive for most.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Single
Three
Battery
No
No
Yes - BYD
Yes - BYD
Models
3kW to 8kW
3kW and 20kW
3kW to 6kW
6kW and 10kW
Optimisers
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
BackUp
No
No
Yes
Yes
Quality
Best
Best
TBA
Best
5kW Price
$2,070
$2,300
TBA
$4,100
Available
Since 2013
Since 2013
ETA June '21
Since 2020


Good - Top quality, own battery, World No.1, excellent reporting & support.
Not so good - Nothing at all.
Comments - Zero faults, impeccable quality throughout.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Three
Three
Battery
Yes - Huawei
Yes - Huawei
No
No
Models
2kW to 6kW
5kW to 6kW
8kW to 20kW
30kW and 40kW
Optimisers
Huawei
Huawei
Huawei
Huawei
BackUp
Optional
Optional
No
No
Quality
Best
Best
Best
Best
5kW Price
$1,600
$1,900
N/A
N/A
Available
Since 2020
Since 2021
Since 2021
Since 2021


The new Huawei LUNA2000-5/10/15-S0 solar storage battery for L1 and M1 inverters.




Good - Top quality, German, World No.3, excellent reporting & support.
Not so good - Expensive, no battery.
Comments - Apart from the brand name strength, not much to get excisted about.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Battery
No
No

Models
3kW to 6kW
5kW to 60kW
Optimisers
Tigo
Tigo
BackUp
No
No
Quality
Best
Best
5kW Price
$2,070
$2,130
Available
Since 2017
Since 2015



Good - Top quality, reliable solar + battery inverters, excellent reporting.
Not so good - Expensive because of DC optimisers on every panel.
Comments - Will be better when they have their own battery.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Battery
Yes - LG
Yes - SolarEdge

Models
3kW to 10kW
5kW and 10kW
Optimisers
SolarEdge
SolarEdge
BackUp
Yes
No
Quality
Best
Best
5kW Price
$2,740
$3,5750
Available
Since 2017
Since 2017



Good - Large range, solar only, solar + battery, battery only inverters
Not so good - Average quality, reliability, reporting, service & warranty
Comments - Re-badging their inverters for GE. Had quite a few faults.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Single
Three
Battery
No
No
Yes - BYD
Yes - BYD
Models
3kW to 10kW
4kW and 6kW
3.6kW to 6kW
5kW to 10kW
Optimisers
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
BackUp
No
No
Yes
Yes
Quality
Average
Average
Average
Average
5kW Price
$1,100
$1,550
$1,715
$2,985
Available
Since 2015
Since 2015
Since 2018
Since 2018




Good - Good single phase solar only inverter, excellent support.
Not so good - Lack of three phase and "solar + battery inverter' range.
Comments - Consumption meter built-in to H5A-222. Saves $100-$150.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Battery
No


Models
5kW
Optimisers
Tigo
BackUp
No
Quality
Good
5kW Price
$1,520
Available
Since 2018




Good - Good range, good quality, World No.2.
Not so good - Limited single phase 'solar + battery' range.
Comments - Nothing.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Single
Three
Battery
No
No
Yes
Yes
Models
5kW
5kW to 8kW
5kW only
5kW to 10kW
Optimisers
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
BackUp
No
No
Yes
Yes
Quality
Good
Good
Good
Good
5kW Price
$1,220
$1,870
$2,450
$3,850
Available
Since 2019
Since 2020
Since 2019
Since 2019





Good - Good range, good quality, low prices, Australia No.2.
Not so good - Lacking 3 phase 'solar + battery'
Comments - Much better than the price tag might suggest.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Single
Battery
No
No
Yes

Models
2.5kW to 6kW
5kW to 50kW
2.5kW to 6kW
Optimisers
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
BackUp
No
No
Optional
Quality
Good
Good
Good
5kW Price
$970
$1,290
$1,210
Available
Since 2019
Since 2015
Since 2020





Good - Low prices, decent single phase range, look nice, been around a long time.
Not so good - Average quality
Comments - Re-badging for Canadian Solar.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Single
Battery
No
No
Yes

Models
3kW to 8kW
3kW to 20kW
3kW to 6kW
Optimisers
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
BackUp
No
No
Yes
Quality
Average
Average
Average
5kW Price
$935
$1,300
$1,850
Available
Since 2020
Since 2019
Since 2020





Good - Low prices, decent range, own battery.
Not so good - Average quality.
Comments - New to us. Old style look, specs seem ok.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Single
Three
Battery
No
No
Yes- SOFAR
Yes - SOFAR
Models
3kW to 6kW
3kW to 12kW
3kW to 6kW
10kW to 20kW
Optimisers
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
BackUp
No
No
Yes
Quality
Average
Average
Average
Unknown
5kW Price
$915
$1,375
$1,760
N/A
Available
Since 2020
Since 2020
Since 2020
Since 2019





Good - Lowest prices, own battery, 12 year warranty on X1.
Not so good - Average quality.
Comments - Chequered reliability history.

 
Phase(s)
Single
Three
Single
Three
Battery
No
No
Yes - Solax
Yes - Solax
Models
3kW to 6kW
3kW to 12kW
3kW to 6kW
8kW to 30kW
Optimisers
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
Tigo
BackUp
No
No
Yes
Quality
Average
Average
Average
Unknown
5kW Price
$870
$1,265
$1,800
TBA
Available
Since 2018
Since 2018
Since 2018
Unknown




This review was written by Andrew MacKeith, Solar4Ever service manager since 2011.