Inverter clipping

How does an inverter work?

When you buy a solar panel system we advise you on what suits your situation best, because there are different types of inverter. An inverter turns the direct current from your panels into the alternating current your appliances run on. So it has to be able to handle the power your panels generate.

Inverter clipping and oversizing

The output of solar panels is given in watt-peak (Wp), and the inverter is matched to it. We always advise choosing an inverter that is slightly smaller. Why? The weather in the Netherlands is not always kind. With a smaller inverter you see better performance: under pressure it starts earlier and switches off later, so it works more efficiently every day.

The advantages of a smaller inverter

In the picture below this is the dark orange line. The drawback is that on very sunny spring days the inverter clips. In the end the total amount of power you generate is larger with an oversized system. Oversizing gets the most out of your panels, even on less sunny days.

When does oversizing show?

Solar panels produce most in good conditions. In the Netherlands clipping usually happens only in spring, when it is not yet warm but there are plenty of hours of sun. When panels get too hot, in summer for instance, the yield drops slightly. Look at the yield across a whole year and you will see that oversizing is more efficient.

In short: oversize for the highest yield

Clipping may happen on sunny spring days, but oversizing your panels and inverter gives you a higher efficiency and a higher yield across the whole year. So choose a well-matched inverter that lets your panels perform at their best.