With photovoltaic glass and silicon prices rising, is it finally time for photovoltaic inverters to increase in price as well? It is reported that a photovoltaic inverter company recently issued a price increase notice, stating that due to rising prices of raw materials such as chips, copper, and aluminum, it has decided to raise the prices of some distributed inverters.
Regardless of the veracity of the source, let's first examine the role of photovoltaic inverters in the photovoltaic industry. As we all know, photovoltaics is a system that directly converts solar radiation energy into electrical energy by utilizing the photovoltaic effect of solar cell semiconductor materials. However, the generated electrical energy is direct current (DC), while the electricity we use is alternating current (AC).
Therefore, a photovoltaic inverter is an inverter that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). Currently, photovoltaic inverters are mainly divided into centralized inverters, string inverters, and micro inverters.
These three types of inverters differ in cost and applicable scenarios, as previously discussed by OFweek Solar PV Network. However, all three share the common goal of minimizing power loss, which involves maximum power point tracking.
Throughout the day, the degree of sunlight exposure to solar cells varies, resulting in different power outputs. The load characteristic with the highest power transfer efficiency is called the maximum power point (MPP). MPP tracking aims to find the maximum power point and maintain the load characteristic at that power point. This allows for maximizing the amount of electricity generated under the same solar conditions, increasing the competitiveness of photovoltaics.
According to the head of an inverter company, photovoltaic inverters are among the photovoltaic-related products with the most stable price reduction trend. If prices rise this time, it will put great pressure on module manufacturers.
