Growatt Solar Inverters: Independent Review

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This Growatt inverter review is performed independently by Solar Choice and has no affiliation with Growatt.

Overview of Growatt – Company History

Founded in 2011, Shenzhen Growatt New Energy Technology Co Ltd (Growatt) has built a reputation as a cost-effective manufacturer of solar inverters. The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China and have their main manufacturing facility in Huizhou which is located in the Guangdong province.

After building scale of production of solar inverters, the company has expanded their product range into EV chargers, batteries and energy management accessories.

The company has disclosed plans for an IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange in previous years. Last year attracted acquisition interest from companies including Blackstone which valued Growatt at close to US$1 billion.

Growatt entered the Australian market soon after their inception and have established a local office to support their customers. Their office is based in Homebush, Sydney.

A Brief Rundown on Solar Inverters

The solar inverter is what turns the solar energy generated by solar panels into the useable electricity that powers households. The energy generated by the solar panels is in the form of direct current (DC) energy. DC electricity only flows in one direction and is the type of electricity used to power phones and laptops. The role of the solar inverter in a photovoltaic (PV) system is to convert the DC energy into the useable AC electricity that powers households.

The inverters are also connected to the grid, this is important as it needs to be able to handle the flow of AC electricity. As any surplus solar generated electricity is fed back into the grid. There are four types of solar inverters, these being string inverters, hybrid inverters, micro inverters, and power optimisers.

What is PV Evolution Labs Top Performer?

PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) with support from DNV GL has been independently testing Solar Panel reliability since 2014, and for the first time in 2019 have tested solar inverters. It is a voluntary test which manufacturers have to pay to be a part of.  The solar panel testing is considered internationally as an excellent indication of solar panel quality. It’s expected that the inverter testing will have the same recognition. To read the full PVEL scorecard click here.

Growatt didn’t rank in any of these tests.

 Growatt Inverter Review – Points of Difference

Growatt Min5000TL-X solar inverter

Growatt are one of the few inverter manufacturers to extend their product range into battery storage. That means for customers looking to install solar and batteries they can install a Growatt solution that integrates both technologies seamlessly and can be monitored through a single app.

All of the CEC approved Growatt Inverter range are Transformerless Inverters, which contributes to the high efficiency.

Growatt Inverter Efficiency

The Growatt flagship residential single phase inverter (MIN 2500-6000TL-X/XH) features a maximum efficiency rating of 98.2% to 98.4% depending on the size of the inverter. This definitely puts them towards the top end of the market in terms of inverter efficiency with the leading European inverters offers 97% to 97.6% on their flagship residential models.

How much do Growatt inverter cost?

The below prices are an indicative guide of the wholesale costs of Growatt Inverters. These prices are only available to solar installation companies, not to end customers.

Model Number Description Indicative Wholesale Cost
GW-1500-S Growatt 1500-S Inverter $310-$320
GW-2000-S Growatt 2000-S Inverter $330-$340
GW-3000-S Growatt 3000-S Inverter $400-$410
GW-MIN5000TL-X Growatt MIN5000TL-X Inverter $560-$570
GW-MIN6000TL-X Growatt MIN6000TL-X Inverter $590-$600

Keep in mind that inverter costs generally only run between 10-20% of your total system, so often it is worth investing in a high quality inverter given this will have a large impact on the efficiency and performance of your Solar Power project.

Compare quotes from up to 7 installers in your area now.

Growatt Inverter Warranty

Growatt have updated their warranty policy for Australian customers in recent years and now offer a 10 year standard warranty. This matches most options on the market which include a 10 year warranty.

Growatt also have a list of scenarios where warranty would be voided, like improper installations and reselling of devices. Most of these exclusions seem reasonable and comparable with other warranty documents Solar Choice has examined.

Growatt have an Australia website, office and phone number (1800 476 928), so it is good to see that Growatt customers will not be stuck trying to contact Chinese headquarters in the event of warranty claim.

Read Growatt’s full warranty document here.

A Review of Growatt Inverters Available in Australia 

Most Growatt inverters have Clean Energy Council (CEC) approval for Australia’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, the country’s home solar rebate program. However, it’s crucial to note that not all kW sizes of certain inverters receive approval. The CEC-approved Growatt inverters include:

  • Growatt 750-3000-S 1-2kW & 3kW
  • Growatt MIN 2500-6000TL-XH 2.5-6kW
  • Growatt MIN 2500-6000TL-X 2.5-6kW
  • Growatt 3000-6000TL3-S 3-6kW
  • Growatt 7000-11000TL3-S 7-11kW
  • Growatt SPH 3000-6000 3-6kW

Growatt Solar Inverters Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

  • Growatt offer some of the lowest priced solar inverters on the market which cater well to buyers on a budget

  • The maximum efficiency rating of Growatt’s inverter range compares well against other options in the market with most ratings between 97.2% and 98.4%
  • The main downside of Growatt inverters is that they don’t have the same track record and longevity as other brands on the market. Most Growatt inverters that have been installed are still within their 10 year warranty life, so the reliability of these inverters is less proven than other brands.

  • As no financial information is released it is difficult to form any opinion on the financial health and longevity of the company

Growatt Inverter Specifications

 Growatt 3000-SGrowatt MIN 5000TL-XHGrowatt SPH 3000
Rated AC Power Output3000W5000W3000W
Maximum Continuous Output Current14.3A22.7A16A
Maximum DC Voltage550V550V550V
Maximum Inverter Efficiency97.6%98.4%97.5%
Dimensions271 x 359 x 141 mm375 x 350 x 160 mm547 x 516 x 170 mm
Weight9.1kg10.8kg27kg
Warranty10 Years10 Years10 Years
Operational Temperature Range-25°C to 60°C-25°C to 60°C-25°C to 60°C
Made inChinaChinaChina

Growatt’s Innovative Commercial Solar Project in the Netherlands

2016 marked a significant milestone in the solar energy sector in the Netherlands with the installation of an impressive 1.5MW solar system. This project, spearheaded for the Dutch utility company Liander, notably became the largest solar installation in the country at that time. What made this project particularly groundbreaking was its choice of technology: 70 units of the Growatt 20kUE inverters. These inverters represent the pioneering first generation of three-phase inverters produced by Growatt, a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation in solar energy solutions. The location of this solar plant was strategically chosen to be a parking lot, maximizing space utility and contributing to the region’s renewable energy goals.

Liander Parking Lot Solar Plant

Read more product reviews from Solar Choice

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Since 2008 our knowledge and sophisticated software has allowed over 300,000 Australian households and businesses to make a well-informed choice on their solar & battery installer.

This Growatt inverter review is performed independently by Solar Choice. Solar Choice has no affiliation with any Solar Panel, Battery or Inverter brands.

Jeff Sykes
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Reviews from Australians who have installed Growatt Inverters

Rated 4.48 from 199 reviews
5 star
142
4 star
33
3 star
14
2 star
2
1 star
9

Showing 20 of 199 Reviews

21st November 2024
Karen
-
6kW system
4.00

Reinstalled new unit that has been claimed on warranty after 4 years from initial installation

21st November 2024
Alex
SA - 5127
10-15kW system
5.00

I have had a Growatt system in the past and so far this system is performing well

12th November 2024
Terry
NSW - 2666
6kW system
2.00

manual can't be understood written in garbled English. verry hard to interpret I don't have any idea of what is going on from the app.

19th October 2024
Lynn
-
6kW system
5.00

The monitoring app helps though took a while to understand.

19th October 2024
Hossein
-
10kW system
5.00

I had an amazing experience with Amazing Solar company that installed solar panels for me. The installation was done exceptionally well. I'm really happy with the outcome.

10th October 2024
George
-
10-15kW system
3.00

Reporting system and app are absolutely rubbish

10th October 2024
Alex
-
7kW system
5.00

Seems to be working to spec and good app

10th October 2024
Angelo
-
10-15kW system
5.00

It is the first one for me with this brand but my neighbour and other people I know who have the same brand installed say good things about this brand.

27th September 2024
Hugh
NSW - 2590
10kW system
5.00

Had issues with app, but that was our internet. Installed a Telstra Booster and everything good now.

7th September 2024
John
-
10-15kW system
5.00

Great brand works excellent and very happy I know it’s not so called top of the brands but I am very happy

5th September 2024
Ros
-
10kW system
5.00

The man who came after the installation to check it was done correctly reassured me that this brand of inverter has a good reputation and works particularly well with the Jinko panels. I have been very happy

2nd September 2024
Rowan
WA - 6053
7kW system

Review left 2 years after system installed

5.00

Silent operation (important for us with proximity to bedroom) and cheaper than fronius option. No issues with performance.

30th August 2024
Nyan
-
6kW system
5.00

Happy with the shine application and easy to monito the out put and performance of the system on my phone.

29th August 2024
Andre
-
9kW system
4.00

Impossible to read display in full sunlight... Otherwise very happy

29th August 2024
Pam
VIC - 3264
6kW system
5.00

I don't have anything to say: it just sits there working. What else do I need :)

3rd August 2024
Tanya
NSW - 2500
9kW system

Review left 2 years after system installed

4.00

Happy with inverter except have been unable to set up web application not user friendly.

1st August 2024
Kelvin
-
6kW system
5.00

Great modern system with phone connectivity

2nd July 2024
Dheerendra
-
9kW system
4.00

Works well, decent warranty & reviews. Office in Australia.

17th June 2024
Joe
-
6kW system
3.00

Still not aware to comment as no date available - No App still installed on my phone & no grid connection done as yet - Both messed up by Amazing solar team

6th June 2024
Eddie
-
10-15kW system
1.00

would be happy if they turned up to install them

Showing 20 of 199 Reviews

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