Solar Power Optimisation: Getting More From Every Solar Panel
When investing in solar PV, the number and wattage of your panels are only part of the equation. How effectively each panel can operate has a significant impact on the overall performance, visibility and safety of your solar system.
This is where solar power optimisation comes in.
At Eco Energy, we design solar PV systems around the individual property or business. Where shading, multiple roof orientations or complex layouts are involved, technologies such as SolarEdge Power Optimisers and Tigo Optimisers can help maximise the potential of the available roof space.
What is a solar power optimiser?
A power optimiser is a small electronic device connected at panel level. Its purpose is to allow individual solar panels to operate more independently, reducing the impact that differences between panels can have on the performance of the wider system.
These differences – known as module mismatch – can be caused by:
Partial shading from trees, chimneys or surrounding buildings
Different roof orientations and pitches
Dirt, leaves or debris
Differences in panel performance
Uneven sunlight throughout the day
Panel ageing and other environmental factors
On a conventional string inverter system, panels are connected together in strings and differences between individual modules can affect the performance of the string. Power optimisation helps minimise these mismatch losses by managing performance at panel level.
Helping overcome partial shading
Partial shading is one of the most common reasons we consider optimisation.
Imagine one section of a solar array receives full sunshine while another panel is temporarily shaded by a chimney. Rather than allowing that mismatch to unnecessarily restrict the wider array, an optimised system can manage the affected panel independently and allow the remaining panels to continue operating closer to their individual potential.
This doesn't mean optimisers can create energy where sunlight isn't available – a heavily shaded panel will still generate less electricity. Instead, optimisation helps reduce the knock-on effect that the underperforming panel can have on the rest of the system.
SolarEdge power optimisation
SolarEdge takes optimisation a step further by designing its system around panel-level Power Optimisers combined with a SolarEdge inverter.
Each panel can be individually managed, helping mitigate losses caused by shading, soiling, manufacturing tolerances and other forms of module mismatch. SolarEdge also supports designs involving panels installed across different roof orientations and pitches, giving designers greater flexibility when making use of available roof space.
For properties with east, west and south-facing roof areas, for example, this flexibility can allow more of the available roof to contribute to the overall solar system.
Panel-level remote monitoring
One of the major benefits of SolarEdge is its module-level monitoring capability.
Rather than only seeing how much electricity the overall solar system is producing, performance can be monitored down to individual panels. This provides far greater visibility when assessing how the system is performing.
If one panel begins producing significantly less electricity than expected, the issue can be identified remotely rather than potentially remaining unnoticed for a prolonged period.
For larger commercial installations in particular, this level of visibility can be extremely valuable for ongoing solar monitoring and maintenance.
Increased system efficiency
Power optimisation doesn't mean every solar installation will suddenly generate significantly more electricity. On a simple, completely unshaded roof with panels facing the same direction, the benefit may be relatively limited.
Where optimisation becomes particularly valuable is on more challenging or complex installations.
By reducing mismatch losses, an optimised system can help extract more usable generation from each panel and make better use of roof areas that might otherwise be difficult to incorporate effectively.
The result can be a more flexible solar design and improved overall system performance.
Enhanced solar safety
Optimisation can also provide important safety benefits.
Solar panels naturally generate DC electricity whenever exposed to sufficient sunlight. This means that simply switching off a conventional inverter does not necessarily remove the DC voltage generated across the rooftop array.
SolarEdge systems incorporate SafeDC™ technology, which is designed to automatically reduce the voltage of individual panels to a touch-safe level when the inverter or grid supply is shut down.
This provides an additional layer of protection for installers, maintenance engineers and emergency services.
SolarEdge systems also incorporate additional monitoring and safety technologies designed to identify potential electrical issues and improve visibility across the array.
What is rapid shutdown?
Rapid shutdown is a safety function designed to quickly reduce the DC voltage present within a solar PV array when the system is shut down.
With suitable module-level electronics, the panels can be electronically disconnected or their voltage reduced rather than leaving a high DC string voltage present across the roof.
The exact rapid-shutdown requirements and functionality depend on the equipment, system configuration and applicable standards, but module-level technology can provide a significant additional layer of system safety.
What about Tigo Optimisers?
SolarEdge isn't the only option.
Tigo TS4 Optimisers can provide panel-level optimisation for compatible solar installations and are particularly useful where only certain panels are affected by shading or mismatch.
Depending on the system design, Tigo technology can support optimisation, module-level monitoring and rapid shutdown.
One particularly useful feature of Tigo is the ability, in suitable system configurations, to use optimisation selectively. This means an installer may be able to optimise the panels that require additional assistance rather than necessarily optimising every panel in the array.
This can make Tigo an attractive solution for installations where a conventional string inverter remains appropriate but there are specific areas of shading or mismatch that need to be addressed.
Multiple roof orientations
Modern properties rarely provide one perfect, unobstructed south-facing roof.
A property may have panels spread across:
East-facing roof → South-facing roof → West-facing roof
Each section reaches peak generation at a different time of day.
With the right inverter and optimisation design, these different orientations can be incorporated effectively into the overall solar system. In fact, spreading generation across east, south and west-facing roof areas can sometimes provide a broader generation profile throughout the day rather than concentrating production around midday.
Optimisation gives solar designers additional flexibility when dealing with these more complicated roof layouts.
Does every solar system need optimisers?
No – and we don't believe in adding equipment simply because it's available.
A straightforward, unshaded roof with a well-designed string inverter may perform perfectly well without panel-level optimisation.
However, optimisation can be particularly beneficial where there is:
Partial or intermittent shading
Multiple roof orientations
Complex roof layouts
Different panel conditions
A requirement for panel-level monitoring
A greater emphasis on DC safety and shutdown functionality
A need to identify individual underperforming panels remotely
The important thing is choosing the technology around the property rather than forcing every property into the same solar design.
Designing the right solar system
Two properties with the same number of solar panels can perform very differently depending on their orientation, shading, inverter design and how effectively the individual panels are managed.
At Eco Energy, we assess the roof layout, shading, electricity consumption and individual requirements of each customer before recommending a system.
Whether that means a conventional string inverter, targeted Tigo optimisation, or a fully optimised SolarEdge system, our aim is simple: design a solar system that makes the most of your available roof space while providing the performance, monitoring and safety appropriate for your property.
Interested in solar power optimisation?
If you're considering solar for your home or business – or you're concerned that shading or a complex roof layout could affect performance – speak to Eco Energy.
We can assess your property and recommend the most appropriate solar, inverter and optimisation technology for your installation.
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