PV inverter buyers value most energy storage

According to IHS research report on photovoltaic inverter buyers all over the world, energy is the most rapidly growing storage requirements. Although this technique is relatively less mature, IMS Research, a survey showed that 400 global PV inverter customers, nearly one-third of respondents expect the solar energy system installed in 2015 years storage usage can reach more than 40%.

Respondents from Germany, Italy and the UK stressed that compared with the other requirements in the future more attention photovoltaic inverter energy storage. When asked about the main driving force of energy storage when used in what will be the most common response is to help customers reduce the price of the drive system, so that the storage economically viable, lower battery prices.

More than 60 percent of respondents said "acceptable" price increase system includes energy storage technologies between 10-29%, although nearly one-third of respondents said they would be willing to pay a higher premium . IHS Energy electricity and Sam Wilkinson, research manager, said: "Energy storage will become an increasingly important future PV system function, if the vendor is able to offer products in line with industry expectations in the next two years, photovoltaic energy storage market may be significantly to expand. "

The survey also asked customers using microinverters, the results show relatively high cost of the technology has become more popular obstacles. But the survey also showed that, compared with 2011, in 2012 the use of micro-inverter proportion of customers increased by 10 percentage points. Respondents noted that they have the ability to control shadow effects, and a high degree of design flexibility, is the most common reason to use them.

Wilkinson said: "Because of its advantages and characteristics, micro inverters for more people begin to accept, but the price is still a major drawback, most currently do not buy micro-inverter respondents said, should consider using this Micro-inverter, prices are lower than 50%. "