One of the most consistent trends in photovoltaic (PV) technology has been the steady increase of power output ratings of solar modules. This increase in module power output is the result of advances in material science and the R&D efforts of both mono- and polycrystalline module producers, as well as the introduction and maturation of bifacial modules. Today, the average power output of monocrystalline modules is 375 W, and around 415 W for bifacial modules.
Over the next five years, we can expect module power output to reach 450 W, and at Enphase, we are staying ahead of the technology curve.
A closer look at the Enphase IQ 7A™ microinverter
The Enphase IQ 7A™ microinverter is designed to give Enphase professional installers a familiar and reliable platform to leverage the advantage of high-power modules. As such, Enphase designed the IQ 7A microinverter with a peak power rating of 366 VA (Volt-Ampere) which, when factored with the optimal inverter loading ratio (DC/AC ratio) of 1.25, will pair with all commercially available 60- and 72-cell solar modules, including bifacial modules.
As a member of the seventh-generation family of Enphase microinverters, the IQ 7A microinverter retains all the benefits that have made Enphase IQ microinverters the go-to inverter platform for solar installers around the world:
Consistent high production: IQ 7A microinverters boast 97% CEC efficiency, and their burst-mode technology delivers great performance even in low-light conditions. With one microinverter for every module, the Enphase’s distributed architecture offers additional resilience in the face of partially shaded or soiled modules, which will not degrade total system performance to the extent that they do on centralized architectures.
Proven safety and reliability: IQ 7A microinverters retain the all-AC design of the IQ™platform, which nearly eliminates the risk of exposing installers, homeowners, or first responders to dangerous, high-voltage DC electricity. With integrated rapid shutdown, IQ 7A carries on the tradition of safety by shutting down energy production quickly and safely in the case of grid failure during a power outage or home electrical work and maintenance. To ensure that Enphase microinverters deliver rock-solid reliability, the Enphase quality and reliability testing facilities run microinverters through a grueling regimen of damp heat and temperature cycling as part of its rigorous, million-hour reliability testing.
Unmatched flexibility: IQ 7A microinverters are ideally suited for both residential and commercial solar projects since they can be combined with a wide variety of solar modules and configured to be compliant with requirements of many utility grid operators around the world.
We developed the IQ 7A microinverter to ensure that installers can offer their customers high-power solar systems by supporting the highest-power modules on the market, with compatibility for years to come.
