What is a good DC/AC ratio for a solar inverter?

Because the PV array rarely produces power to its STC capacity, it is common practice and often economically advantageous to size the inverter to be less than the PV array. This ratio of PV to inverter power is measured as the DC/AC ratio. A healthy design will typically have a DC/AC ratio of 1.25.

What is a good DC/AC ratio for a PV system?

A 1:0.8 ratio (or 1.25 ratio) is the sweet spot for minimizing potential losses and improving efficiency. DC/AC ratio refers to the output capacity of a PV system compared to the processing capacity of an inverter. It’s logical to assume a 9 kWh PV system should be paired with a 9 kWh inverter (a 1:1 ratio, or 1 ratio).

What is the DC/AC ratio of a 5 kW inverter?

For example, a 6-kW DC array combined with a 5-kW AC rated inverter would have a DC/AC ratio of 1.2 (6 kW / 5 kW = 1.2). The key driver here is the “clipping loss”: when the DC power feeding an inverter is more than the inverter can handle, the resulting power is “clipped” and lost.

What is the average solar inverter loading ratio?

Inverter loading ratios are higher for larger solar power plants. At the end of 2016, smaller plants—those one megawatt (MW) or less in size—had an average ILR of 1.17, while larger plants—those ranging from 50 MW to 100 MW—had an ILR of 1.30. As solar plants have gotten larger, inverter loading ratios have increased.

What is the DC/AC ratio of a PV array?

This ratio of PV to inverter power is measured as the DC/AC ratio. A healthy design will typically have a DC/AC ratio of 1.25. The reason for this is that about less than 1% of the energy produced by the PV array throughout its life will be at a power above 80% capacity.

How do I choose a solar inverter?

When designing a solar installation, and selecting the inverter, we must consider how much DC power will be produced by the solar array and how much AC power the inverter is able to output (its power rating).