Enphase Stock Price Dive and Outlook for Install

[DaveEV]

Seems like SolarEdge's lower price is hurting Enphase by stealing market share.

With features, reliability and performance very similar, it comes down to price.

[Valdemar]

Seems like SolarEdge's lower price is hurting Enphase by stealing market share.

With features, reliability and performance very similar, it comes down to price.

Last time I checked up to average residential-style installation, 6-7kW, the price was comparable between the 2.

[DaveEV]

SolarEdge has come out a couple grand cheaper in quotes I've seen recently for systems in the 6-8kW size.

[Valdemar]

I got an impression that installers are pushing micros as they are somewhat easier to install, so given the overall solar illiteracy amongst customers the effect of price differential on the stock price is a moot point.

[DaveEV]

So if it's not price, why is SolarEdge stealing market share from Enphase? How is it better than Enphase aside from price?

[Valdemar]

So if it's not price, why is SolarEdge stealing market share from Enphase? How is it better than Enphase aside from price?

Well, it looks like the stock price slide is in fact price related, they had to cut the prices by 19% to stay competitive.

[JimSouCal]

So if it's not price, why is SolarEdge stealing market share from Enphase? How is it better than Enphase aside from price?

I don't think it is... The redundancy of have many micro inverters would appear to me to be an advantage in reliability... But of course, it'd be great to have an expert opinion....

[QueenBee]

So if it's not price, why is SolarEdge stealing market share from Enphase? How is it better than Enphase aside from price?

I don't think it is... The redundancy of have many micro inverters would appear to me to be an advantage in reliability... But of course, it'd be great to have an expert opinion....

One thing that will/is impacting this industry is the new 2014 NEC 690.12 Rapid Shutdown requirements that require DC circuits to go below 30 volts within 10 seconds when shut down. One way that this has been achieved for a long time is with microinverters and optimizers. This requirement might help bring the cost premium of micro inverters/optimizers down vs installing relays/etc. like Midnite Solar's Birdhouse system.

[fooljoe]

I don't think it is... The redundancy of have many micro inverters would appear to me to be an advantage in reliability... But of course, it'd be great to have an expert opinion....

As far as reliability (reliability engineer here), it depends upon how you define success. If success is ALL of your panels producing, then microinverters don't give you redundancy; they give you multiple single point failures (1 per panel!) If success is ANY of your panels producing, then yeah that's redundancy. With an optimizer/string inverter combo, you have the highest number of potential failures, and so the worst case for reliability (depending upon the actual failure models of each of course).

I think realistically most people would want all their panels working to declare "success" - although they'd probably appreciate that if one microinverter goes down they still have at least (n-1)/n of their system working while they wait for replacement. And I think they'd appreciate that although you might have to replace a few microinverters over 30 years, you're pretty much guaranteed to have to replace a string inverter at least once over the same period. Those considerations led me to go with microinverters for my system, although the news that the Enphase warranty might be in jeopardy is certainly troubling.

[RegGuheert]

And I think they'd appreciate that although you might have to replace a few microinverters over 30 years, you're pretty much guaranteed to have to replace a string inverter at least once over the same period.

I would have agreed with you a month ago, but it appears that may change within the next month or so, depending upon the type of life SolarEdge can achieve with their new technology. Still, a single central inverter means a single point of failure for the entire system.