To go solar, you'll need solar panels, inverters, racking equipment, and performance monitoring equipment––at a minimum. Depending on where you live, you may also consider a solar battery.
Inverters in photovoltaic power stations convert direct current (DC) from solar panels into alternating current (AC), making solar energy compatible with grids and devices. This device power determines system efficiency, stability, and ultimately, your return on investment.
We looked at all these factors in dozens of models featured on the EnergySage Marketplace to determine the best inverters of 2025. Five brands stood out: SolarEdge, Tigo, Enphase, Hoymiles, and Schneider Electric.
While it varies from home to home, US households typically need between 10 and 20 solar panels to fully offset how much electricity they use throughout the year.
•PV systems require excess storage of energy or access to other sources, like the utility grid, when systems cannot provide full capacity. •Grid-connected PV systems can.