System Optimization with Inverter Clipping

What is Solar Inverter Clipping?

PV inverter is one of the main components in solar energy system. Every inverter is rated for its maximum power output (kWAC) that it can provide. When the solar panels energy production (kWDC) surpassed the Inverter’s maximum output rating, excess energy is being clipped which is called Inverter Clipping.

Is Solar Inverter Clipping being Good or Bad?

Clipping in a solar inverter shouldn’t damage any components of your solar system unless it’s at an excessive level. Inverter Data sheets should be used to verify how much kWDC we can feed in an inverter.

For example, XYZ 100kW Solar Inverter is rated to 100kWAC Output but can take upto 140kWDC which is mentioned on its data sheet. In this case we should limit the total kWDC below 140 to make sure that Inverter should not be overloaded with excessive energy and thus damaging Inverter’s internal AC components. Balancing between DC and AC power output is called DC/AC Ratio.

Optimizing System with Inverter Clipping

The greater the kW of the DC component of the ratio, the more likely the system will clip. You may lose some of your power production if you have a system with a larger solar array (more DC). But a system with a bigger inverter (more AC) will be less likely to clip, but it will be more expensive.

There are drawbacks to having a ratio that is unduly skewed toward either DC or AC. The inverter's warranty may be voided if the ratio is based on a large quantity of DC input power. A ratio that is excessively heavy on the AC side may place too much strain on the AC components, leading them to wear out faster.

The quantity of electricity your solar panels produce varies depending on how much sunshine they get. For Hour by hour, day by day, and season by season, this changes.

On a Sunny July day, your PV system generates far more power than it would on a Cold January day. Your solar panels may only generate their peak power on rare occasions due to all of this variability.

To get the most out of your PV solar system, it should run the inverters at or near their maximum input rating for as many days as possible throughout the year. To conclude, if properly planned, deliberate inverter clipping is good for a more efficient solar system.