Commercial solar inverters — the 2026 UK buyer's guide
The inverter is the brain of a solar array — it dictates efficiency, monitoring depth, DNO compliance and how easily you can bolt on batteries later. Here's how to choose.
Inverter types compared
String inverters (10–110 kW)
The default for UK commercial rooftops up to ~500 kWp. Cheaper £/kW, easy to swap, modular. Brands: Solis, Sungrow, SMA Tripower, Huawei SUN2000.
Central inverters (250 kW+)
Cost-effective at 500 kWp – 5 MW ground-mount or industrial rooftop. Single high-capacity unit, requires plant room and MV transformer.
Optimised / MLPE (SolarEdge, Tigo)
Panel-level optimisers or micro-inverters. Best when shading is unavoidable or fire-safety rapid shutdown is required (e.g. schools, hospitals, listed buildings).
Hybrid / battery-ready
Sungrow SH, Solis S6, SolarEdge Home Hub commercial. Integrates DC-coupled battery storage with a single MPPT stage — 3–5% more efficient than AC-coupled retrofit.
G99, G100 and export limiting
Most UK DNOs cap commercial export at 3.68 kW/phase for fast-track connection, so anything over ~11 kW needs G99. Modern inverters implement soft export limiting natively — Sungrow, Solis and SolarEdge all comply with G100 without extra hardware.
Related reading
FAQ
What's the best commercial solar inverter brand in the UK?
Sungrow, SolarEdge, Solis, Huawei and SMA dominate 2026 UK commercial installs. Sungrow leads on £/kW and battery-ready hybrids; SolarEdge wins where panel-level monitoring or fire-safety shutdown matters; SMA remains the go-to for industrial and ground-mount at scale.
String or central inverter for a warehouse?
Under 500 kWp, string inverters almost always win — lower capex, redundancy, and no plant room. Above 1 MW, central inverters cut £/kW meaningfully but need MV switchgear and a transformer compound.
Do I need a battery-ready (hybrid) inverter?
If there's any chance of adding storage in the next 5 years, yes — DC-coupled hybrids are 3–5% more efficient than AC-coupled retrofit and avoid a second inverter cost. The premium is typically £8–£12/kW.
What inverter warranty should I expect?
10 years standard, extendable to 20–25 years for a modest fee. String inverters are consumables — budget one full replacement across the 30-year system life. Central inverters have longer service intervals but higher failure cost.
What is a G99 / G100 application?
The DNO approval process for connecting generation to the grid. G99 covers export up to your agreed limit; G100 is required for export-limited systems that generate more than the connection allows. Your installer files both.
Get an inverter recommendation for your site
Read next
Related guides & sector pages
Best commercial solar panels 2026
Top panel brands compared for UK commercial roofs.
Read GuideCommercial solar battery storage
Sizing, chemistry and revenue stacking.
Read GuideCommercial solar carports
Turn car parks into revenue-generating assets.
Read SectorFactories & manufacturing
Match daytime process loads with on-site solar.
ReadRequest your free feasibility review
Share a few details and our team will send a no-obligation review of your site — indicative system size, annual generation, savings and payback. Prefer to explore numbers yourself first? Run the calculator or contact us directly.
- MCS & RECC accredited installer
- Response within one working day
- No cost, no obligation