The commercial solar sector has seen tremendous growth in the past two decades. However, as early solar installations begin aging, asset owners and developers are increasingly turning to repowering as a cost-effective alternative to decommissioning or starting from scratch. To engage in meaningful repowering conversations with commercial asset owners, solar installers, EPCs (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction), and solar developers, it is essential to understand the latest technology and available options in today’s market.
What is repowering?
Repowering means upgrading or replacing outdated product components with modern technology to increase solar production and system longevity. This involves assessing weaknesses or problems with the current solar system on-site and identifying opportunities for improvement to optimize efficiency and maximize ROI.
Key equipment in the repowering conversation
A successful repowering strategy typically involves evaluating and upgrading the following components:
- Inverters
- PV modules and racking
- Trackers
- Electrical infrastructure
Why repower? The benefits of smart upgrades
Making smart upgrades to an aging commercial solar installation can offer many perks for the solar investor. While each project differs based on the original equipment used, installation date, and location conditions, a well-thought-out strategy can offer:
- Better system efficiency through modern inverters and optimized components
- Increased solar production to generate more revenue
- Reduced downtime as certain components reach end of life
- Lower maintenance costs with advanced monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities
- Improved financial control with better returns
Why Enphase for repowering?
Enphase’s commercial solution offers a powerful alternative to traditional string inverter technology, enabling solar installers and developers to deliver a smarter, more resilient upgrade strategy. While each project has unique requirements, a straightforward repowering approach involves retaining the original PV modules, and racking and replacing the outdated string inverters with Enphase commercial microinverters.
This upgrade not only provides module-level monitoring but also enhances system performance, safety, and future operations and maintenance.
Performance
Enphase has a very low failure rate (0.05%), making it a top choice for an effective repowering strategy. Replacing aging string inverters with Enphase microinverters significantly improves uptime, ensuring more consistent energy production.
Enphase's quality and reliability have been proven in real-world conditions. However, in the unlikely event of an Enphase microinverter failure on a commercial roof, the impact is minimal. Only one PV panel would stop producing power, as opposed to an entire solar array or string of PV panels being out of commission. This is a crucial detail for commercial projects. Additionally, replacing a microinverter is logistically simpler; one solar installer staff member can easily carry the 3.5-pound microinverter to the roof and perform a quick replacement.
Once installed, the Enphase App provides module-level monitoring for daily, monthly, and annual production, along with easy troubleshooting options. Most issues can be resolved remotely with our customer service team, often eliminating the need to be on site, saving time for a solar installer, and increasing performance metrics.
Additionally, the Enphase commercial solution allows the system owner to perform future system upgrades with ease. Enphase microinverters are PV module agnostic so future design changes are not a problem. Couple that with an industry-leading 25-year warranty*, and Enphase presents a clear, winning formula for solar performance and system reliability.
Safety
Enphase commercial microinverters come with a built-in rapid shutdown feature, fully compliant with UL 174-SB (IEEE-1547-2018) standards. This is a major safety upgrade from systems that are built under NEC 2008-2012 codes. Additionally, all Enphase microinverter wiring uses three-phase, 208 V AC, eliminating the need for 600-1000 V DC wiring. Enphase microinverters convert DC to AC at the module level, enhancing overall system safety and making maintenance easier.
Is repowering the right choice?
As first-generation commercial solar systems age, solar installers, EPCs, and developers have an opportunity to help asset owners evaluate their best path forward. Instead of decommissioning or rebuilding from scratch, repowering offers a financially sound alternative to extend the lifespan of existing solar assets.
Want to learn more? Contact commercialsales@enphaseenergy.com to discuss repowering solutions and unlock new opportunities for your commercial solar projects. Together we share the same goal of helping customers get the most out of their solar system today and into the future.
*25-year warranty is valid, provided an internet-connected IQ Gateway is installed
