Enphase vs SolarEdge?
Looking at quotes for Enphase vs SolarEdge? based systems. These both avoid the problem of individual panels in shade dragging down the output of a whole "string" of panels, but in different ways. They also both give you per-panel performance data stats.
Enphase
Enphase uses microinverters (DC -> AC converters on the panel doing Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)), which makes each panel more stand-alone; if one dies, the others keep working. The enphase batterys are also AC coupled with their own inverters. They each have their own independent Wifi API/reporting?
SolarEdge? uses DC Optimizers (DC -> DC converters on the panel doing Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)) feeding a central inverter. SolarEdge?'s battery is also DC coupled to the inverter. Each DC Optimizer transmits its module's performance data over the DC power line to the inverter.
DC Optimizers are simpler, cheaper, slightly more efficient, perform slightly better for low-light, and are more reliable than microinverters. However, the inverter is a single point of failure and a scaling bottleneck. It is easier to add more pannels with microinverters later, but you cannot add more panels with DC Optimizers (or batteries?) if you've hit the limit of your inverter. You'd have to upscale your inverter, or maybe add another inverter?
SolarEdge? uses industry standard modbus control/monitoring interface and has 2 (or 3) HomeAssistant? solutions;
- https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/solaredge/ - addon using the SolarEdge? cloud interface.
- https://github.com/binsentsu/home-assistant-solaredge-modbus - addon using the SolarEdge? modbus interface.
- https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/modbus/ - roll your own using the low level modbus addon.
Enphase uses it's own custom http/json control/monitoring interface, and the web-comments suggest they are not particularly user-friendly about it, rolling out breaking changes with new firmware and disabling features in some countries. There is a HomeAssistant? interface that has been around longer than the SolarEdge? addon, but has less users.
It looks to me like SolarEdge? will be easier to monitor/control and supports things like control of inverter power output so you can reduce/turnoff feed-in when prices go negative. I don't think enphase can do that.
It looks like SolarEdge? have a generally wider suite of options/addons including an ev charger.