Central vs String Inverter: When to Choose Which
| Feature | Central Inverter | String Inverter |
|---|---|---|
| Typical capacity | 500 kW to multiple MW per unit | ~10 kW to 250 kW per unit |
| Best suited for | Utility-scale and large commercial farms | Residential and small-to-medium commercial installations |
| Panel-level control | No | Yes (especially with optimizers or micro-inverters) |
| Efficiency | High overall efficiency at scale | Slightly higher module-level MPPT efficiency |
| Reliability impact | High (whole system offline if fails) | Localized failure only affects part of the system |
| Maintenance density | Low (few units centralised) | Higher (distributed units across the array) |
