To Go Micro inverter or not!..Given Tesla style batteries are coming

[NobbyTD5]

Hi
looking at adding new Solar PV set up to house roof near Adelaide
(had a 3KW system before so have some experience)
This house has limited North Roof (and old fragile terracotta tiles!)
and I am looking at trying to gain useful energy production to offset use - for as much of the day as possible rather than feeding the Grid. Especially as the FIT is virtually Nil these days!
So I am looking at about 5KW/h but having some panels facing East, some North and some West. roughly a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. I can only fit 2-2.5KW max to North facing roof surfaces alone.
Started to look at Micro inverters as this would (reportedly) optimise output per panel given the planned arrangement and the fact that some panels would be partially exposed to sun early am and late pm.
This would generate more power - as no/less shaded panel effect with Micro inverters.
There is a cost penalty - about 20% extra for this set up vs a single inverter..but
probably similar cost to installing separate inverters for the East, North and West facing strings or a double and single string inverter combo to allow for the 3 facings.
Was set to go with Adelaide supplied set up..but then reading about the coming Tesla style batteries, that I think will eventually revolutionise energy storage/use, I was wondering how compatable micro inverters and AC output are with DC battery storage....
Any thoughts, info or different options that I should consider?

cheers

Nobby :)

[BigTim]

My 2c worth having been in the PV game for almost 7 years now....

1) Pay the extra for the micro inverters. It's worth it for the module level monitoring, the ability to easily configure your system with multiple small arrays, no unprotected DC cabling and no rooftop DC isolation switch (statistically speaking this is the most common serious failure point in residential PV systems with a number of isolators going up in smoke every year).

2) You can AC couple micro inverters with a number of multimode battery inverters already (e.g. Selectronics SP-PRO)

3) If you wait for a few months Enphase will have a modular battery system out (currently there's a half-dozen or so test systems in Australia) that ties in with their micro inverters.

https://enphase.com/en-us/products-and-services/whats-next

Just my 2c worth - take it with a pinch of salt :cool:

[NobbyTD5]

Thanks Big Tim

all good points - I've had a DC isolation switch burn out - not much fun..nasty smoke etc
and yes as its a new system i.e. no feed in tariff system
and with limited North facing roof - hence going East West
I reckon Micro inverters are the way to go to beat shading etc
i will have a look at Enphase Battery unit


Thanks for the response!!

cheers
Nobby