Micro vs Optimisers vs String

Which inverter type is best for UK homes?

Three inverter architectures compared for UK homes: STRING INVERTER (GivEnergy, Solis): Cost: £800-£1,500. Warranty: 10-12yr. Shading impact: HIGH — one shaded panel affects entire string. Best for: simple roofs, no shading, budget installs. SOLAREDGE OPTIMISERS: Cost: £1,500-£2,500 (inverter + optimisers). Warranty: 12yr inverter + 25yr optimisers. Shading impact: LOW — each panel optimised independently. Best for: partial shading, multi-orientation roofs. ENPHASE MICRO-INVERTERS: Cost: £1,000-£1,500 for 10 panels. Warranty: 25yr. Shading impact: LOWEST — true independence. No single point of failure. Best for: heavy shading, maximum monitoring, future expansion. SHADING SCENARIOS: No shading: String wins (cheapest, 0% output difference). 10% shading: Optimisers/micro add 3-5% output (£30-£50/yr). 20% shading: Optimisers/micro add 8-12% output (£80-£120/yr). 30% shading: Optimisers/micro add 15-20% output (£150-£200/yr). BREAK-EVEN: Optimisers pay for themselves at ~15% shading (£500-£1,000 extra cost recovered in 5-8 years). Micro-inverters pay for themselves at ~20% shading. Sources: Manufacturer specs, shading modelling studies, installer pricing.