Huawei Solar Inverters: Independently Reviewed by Solar Choice

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Overview of Huawei – Company History

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. is a Chinese multinational technology company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. The company was founded in 1987 and it is most well-known for designing, developing, and selling telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics. In 2012, they overtook Ericsson as the largest telecommunications manufacturer in the world and over Apple in 2018 as the second-largest manufacturer of smartphones by Samsung.

Solar Choice has written up an extensive Huawei inverter review to help you make an informed decision before buying.

Huawei were a later entrant to the Solar Inverter market, but have rapidly gained the top market share position. The below graph estimates global market share in 2019 based on international shipments. Wood Mackenzie also estimated Huawei to have the largest market share in the APAC region in 2019.

Solar Inverter Global market share - Huawei majority

Huawei and ZTE were banned from suppling technology into Austalia’s 5G network due through Australian Government concerns about unathorised access or interference.  In 2019, amid rising tensions between the Trump administration and China, Huawei ceased selling to the U.S. market and laid of all of with U.S. staff. This hasn’t slowed Huawei’s penetration of the Australian solar market their sales continue to grow into 2022.

 

A Brief Rundown on Solar Inverters

A solar system’s inverter is the point at which the DC electricity produced by solar panels is turned into grid-compatible AC electricity.

String inverters (such as Huawei’s product range) have traditionally been the standard in the solar industry. They send the power produced by solar panels to a central inverter that changes it from the DC electricity to the usable AC electricity that powers homes.

Microinverters, on the other hand, convert DC to AC electricity at each individual panel and allow for monitoring and power regulation at the panel level. This is useful for homes that are impacted by shading from clouds, trees, or other buildings.

 

Huawei SUN2000 inverters were named as a PV Evolution Labs Top Performer

PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) independently test solar inverter reliability. The tests are voluntary, with solar inverter manufacturers paying to participate in the testing. This testing process is internationally renowned and is an accurate reflection of the solar inverter’s performance.

To see the full PVEL scorecard results click here.

In 2019, four inverters from the Huawei SUN2000 series were named as top performers across different tests completed. Although the Huawei solar inverters deployed into testing were US models, it can be reasonably assumed that the models sold in Australia adopt the same or similar technology.

Testing Category Huawei Named Top Performers
High Temperature Operation Huawei SUN2000-11.4KTL-US
Low Temperature Operation Huawei SUN2000-11.4KTL-US
MPPT Efficiency Huawei SUN2000-30KTL-US
Conversion Efficiency Huawei SUN2000-30KTL-US

Huawei SUN2000-375W-USP0

Energy Harvest Huawei SUN2000-28KTL

Huawei SUN2000-30KTL-US

Transient Response Huawei SUN2000-11.4KTL-US
30 Day Runtime Performance Huawei SUN2000-11.4KTL-US

Huawei Inverter Costs

As many Huawei inverters are manufactured in China, this enables them to be sold at a cheaper price in comparison to European manufactured competitors.

Indicative pricing

Huawei 5KW Inverter Lite (HUW-SUN600-5KTL) $800-$850
Huawei 5KW Inverter (SUN2000-5KTL-L1 ) $1,400 to $1,600
Huawei 12KW Inverter (SUN2000-12KTL-M0) $2,600 to $2,800
Huawei 29.9kW Inverter (SUN2000-29.9KTL) $3,600 to $3,800

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.

 

Huawei Inverters – Point of Difference

The main line of inverters from Huawei are the SUN2000 range. These are single or three phase inverters ranging from 2 to 100 kilowatts in capacity. Huawei have rapidly gained market share of the back of the SUN2000 series being functionally superior to many of its rivals. Most notably:

Hybrid battery chargingLG Chem RESU6.5

The Huawei SUN2000 inverters are hybrid and with an inbuilt battery charger they can be connected immediately with a battery or open the options for customers hoping to be ‘battery ready’. It is the only compatible battery system listed for the reputable LG Chem RESU 7H and 10H. The Huawei inverters are also compatible with their own LUNA2000 solar Huawei battery.

Mutliple MPPTs and the option for power optimisersSolarEdge Power Optimiser

Even the smallest 2kW inverters in the Huawei SUN2000L series come with 2 MPPTs meaning that one inverter can be used for 2 strings of panels across 2 orientations. For a third or fourth orientation power optimisers can be selectively installed on the additional orientations meaning it is more affordable than having to go to a complete power optimiser or micro inverter solution. Panel optimisers are typically $70-80 per panel. So on a 10kW system with 30 solar panels designed with 10 panels on each of 3 orientations – you could only install 10 power optimisers instead of 30 creating a saving of $1,400 to 1,600 (plus additional labour costs).

Smart IV Curve Diagnosis 3.0Huawei solar inverter smart IV curve diagnosis

The inbuilt IV curve-tester is an industry first and is designed to monitor Solar Panel degradation to ensure it is in line with the manufacturer’s warrantied specifications (e.g. Solar Panel warrantied to produce 82% of initial nameplate rating after 25 years, degrading 2% in the first year and 0.7% p.a. after that). The solution uses big data analysis and Artificial Intellegence algorithms to create an IV curve that can be compared against the Solar Panel Manufacturer’s claims. Huawei states their results are accurate to 0.5%. To access this functionality a customer must complete their form via Huawei’s website and pay a licence fee via a local distributor.

Natural Cooling Replaces Fans

Huawei inverters have natural cooling technology. Essentially this means they can manage the temperature of the unit without the requirement for noisy fans. This can be a game-changer for commercial applications or any situation where the inverter will be installed close to usable areas. The absence of fans also presents advantages in terms of safety and lower risk of corrosion over time. Given the Huawei SUN2000-11.4KTL-US was named as a high performer by PV Evolution Labs in high and low temperatures it appears the ‘natural cooling’ performs as well as they claim.

 

Limitations of the Huawei Inverters

For those hoping to operate their solar battery during a blackout (grid outtage), the absence of a Emergency Power Supply mode (EPS) is a major limitation. As in almost every scenario a solar battery doesn’t make economic sense, providing back-up power to the grid, is one of the main advantages and reasons homeowners and small businesses are currently installing batteries.

Huawei’s user manual suggests that their inverters should not be installed in salt areas, defined as 500m from the coast or prone to sea breeze. That is a pretty broad sweeping definition and covers a significant portion of Australian buildings. Although Huawei inverters are IP65 rated, installing Huawei inverters within these regions may impact your ability to claim warranty.

 

Huawei Warranty Periods

Huawei offer a full 10 year warranty on their products with covers a spare product, logistics and the replacement fare. They can also be extended up to an industry leading 20 years for an additional cost upfront. At the time of writing a 5 year extension to 15 years on the Huawei SUN2000-5KTL inverter would cost an additional ~$300 and a 10-year extension to 20 years would cost ~$600.

 

A Full Range of Huawei Inverters Approved for use in Australia

 The majority of Huawei Inverters are approved by the Clean Energy Council for the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, which is Australia’s home solar rebate program.

Hybrid Inverters (with battery charging)

MODEL NUMBER EXPIRY  PHASES AC OUTPUT IEC 62116 IEC 62619
2KTL-L1 25-06-23 1 2000 Yes No
3KTL-L1 25-06-23 1 3000 Yes No
4KTL-L1 25-06-23 1 4000 Yes No
4.6KTL-L1 25-06-23 1 4600 Yes No
5KTL-L1 25-06-23 1 4999 Yes No
SUN2000-5KTL-M0 30-09-22 3 5000 Yes No
SUN2000-6KTL-M0 30-09-22 3 6000 Yes No
SUN2000L-4.6KTL 28-11-20 1 4990 Yes No
SUN2000L-4kTL 28-11-20 1 4400 Yes No
SUN2000L-3kTL 28-11-20 1 3300 Yes No
SUN2000L-2kTL 28-11-20 1 2200 Yes No
SUN2000L-5KTL 28-11-20 1 4990 Yes No

Grid Connected Solar PV Inverters (mostly commercial sizes)

MODEL NUMBER EXPIRY PHASES AC OUTPUT IEC 62116 IEC 62619
100kTL-M1 25-Jun-23 3 100,000 Yes No
SUN2000-20KTL-M0 30-Sep-22 3 20,000 Yes No
SUN2000-17kTL-M0 30-Sep-22 3 17,000 Yes No
SUN2000-15kTL-M0 30-Sep-22 3 15,000 Yes No
SUN2000-12kTL-M0 30-Sep-22 3 12,000 Yes No
SUN2000-10kTL-M0 30-Sep-22 3 10,000 Yes No
SUN2000-8kTL-M0 30-Sep-22 3 8,000 Yes No
SUN2000-29.9KTL 17-Jan-22 3 29,900 Yes No
SUN2000-8KTL 18-Oct-21 3 8,800 Yes No
SUN2000-12KTL 18-Oct-21 3 13,200 Yes No
SUN2000-17KTL 18-Oct-21 3 18,700 Yes No
SUN2000-20KTL 18-Oct-21 3 22,000 Yes No
SUN2000-33KTL 07-Dec-20 3 33,000 Yes No
SUN2000-36KTL 01-Feb-22 3 40,000 Yes No
SUN2000-42KTL 01-Feb-22 3 47,000 Yes No
SUN2000-55KTL-HV-D1 28-Nov-20 3 55,000 Yes No
SUN2000-65KTL-M0 13-Sep-21 3 72,000 Yes No
SUN2000-50KTL-M0 13-Sep-21 3 50,000 Yes No


A comparison of common Huawei Solar Inverters used in Australia

 Huawei  5kW SUN2000 -5KTL-L1 Huawei 10kW SUN2000-10KTL-M0 Huawei 29.9kW SUN2000-29.9KTL
Phases of Power One Three Three
Rated AC Power Output 5,000VA 10,000VA 29,900VA
Maximum Continuous Output Current 21.7A 17A 36.2A
Maximum DC Input 7,500W 20,000W not published
MPPTs 2 2 4
Maximum Inverter Efficiency 98.4% 98.5% 98.6%
Dimensions 365 x 365 x 156 mm 525 x 470 x 262 mm 930 x 550 x 283 mm
Weight 12 kg 25kg 62kg
Warranty 10 Years 10 Years 10 Years
Operational Temperature Range -25°C to 60°C -25°C to 60°C -25°C to 60°C
Made in China China China

 

Conclusion – should you consider Huawei for your solar project?

If you want a hybrid inverter for a residential project then Huawei offers an affordable option. Huawei is priced cheaper than its major european competitors (Fronius and SMA) but when examining the product specifications, warranty periods and flexibility – it may offer some advantages. If you wish to run a hybrid battery system during a blackout, unfortunately Huawei is not a possible option for you. In our opinion, Huawei inverters a great option for most projects and are likely to have a strong position in the solar market in the future.

 

Example of a Huawei Commercial Solar Project – 50 MW PV plant in Rajasthan State, India

On April 16, when India was still on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a 50 MW PV plant in Rajasthan State was successfully connected to the power grid. This project was constructed by Adani Green Energy, a new energy subsidiary of the Indian energy conglomerate Adani Group. To date, Adani Green Energy has put 2.6 GW of renewable energy projects into operation, among which over 96% use Huawei Smart PV Solution.

This project deployed a Huawei Smart PV 1500 V Solution, including 312 SUN2000-185KTL-INH0 smart inverters.

Huawei solar inverter large-scale project 50MW in India

 

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Reviews from Australians who have installed Huawei Inverters

Rated 4.94 from 31 reviews
16th March 2023
Keith
WA - 6076
5kW system
5.00

Excellent.

10th February 2023
Sam
WA - 6174
10-15kW system
5.00

1st February 2023
Kevin
WA - 6028
6kW system
5.00

27th January 2023
Ron
-
6kW system
5.00

20th January 2023
Flynn
-
6kW system
5.00

18th December 2022
Lisa
-
6kW system
5.00

Fantastic app

16th December 2022
Rachel
-
6kW system
5.00

5th December 2022
Kai
-
10-15kW system
5.00

Online monitoring is very good

2nd December 2022
Jay
-
6kW system
5.00

17th November 2022
Doug
-
6kW system
5.00

15th November 2022
Steven
-
6kW system
5.00

3rd November 2022
Kathryn
-
6kW system
5.00

30th October 2022
Mark
-
6kW system
5.00

27th October 2022
Jenn
-
6kW system
5.00

25th October 2022
Dougie
WA - 6163
6kW system
5.00

Happy with brand

21st October 2022
Derek
-
6kW system
5.00

17th October 2022
Scott
-
6kW system
5.00

16th October 2022
Brooke
-
6kW system
5.00

13th October 2022
Mike
-
6kW system
5.00

12th October 2022
Andrej
-
6kW system
5.00

7th October 2022
Stephen
-
6kW system
5.00

30th September 2022
Claire
VIC - 3072
6kW system
5.00

7th July 2022
Sabine
WA - 6210
6kW system
5.00

The inverter we have chosen is Hybrid, so we can have batteries installed later on.

28th June 2022
Max
WA - 6330
6kW system
5.00

6th June 2022
Candice
-
6kW system
5.00

6th June 2022
Wayne
-
30-50kW system
5.00

12th May 2022
Gary
-
6kW system
5.00

Too early to tell but seems to be quite good

9th May 2022
Mark
-
5kW system
5.00

Seems good. Huawei are another big, long term company.

7th April 2022
Lewis
-
6kW system
5.00

Nice looking piece

20th September 2021
Sander
WA - 6061
4kW system
5.00

2nd August 2021
Paul
-
6kW system
3.00

Can't comment as only had it < 2 months. Waiting for bill to see benefits.