Solis Solar Inverters: An Independent Review by Solar Choice

Solis Inverter Review: An Independent Analysis Uncovers the Efficiency of the Smaller S6 Series!

Note: Solar Choice does not gain any financial incentive from the Solis inverter. Solar Choice is not associated with any solar installer and has no financial or other incentives to promote any product brand over another. 

Overview of Solis – Company History

Ginlong Technologies Co Ltd, trading as Solis, was founded in 2005. The Chinese company is listed on the Shenzen Stock Exchange and headquartered in Ningbo, China. The company focuses on the manufacture and distribution of single-phase and three-phase string inverters.

In Q3 2019 the company announced a record revenue of $52 million for the quarter, which was greater than the combined total of their revenue in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In 2019, Wood Mackenzie estimated Ginlong to be 10th in their global market share ranking with ~5% of the market.

Solis claim to have entered the Australian market in 2005 but have not distributed a large volume of solar inverters until recent years.

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. Typically, there are 2 approaches to inverters – either string inverters or micro-inverters

String inverters (including all of Solis’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. Solis also specialise in hybrid string inverters which provide the ability to charge a battery as well as use solar power immediately as its created.

Micro-inverters, generally a more expensive solution, provide a small inverter for each solar panel that is installed. This means that each panel operates individually which creates more visibility over performance and can offer some advantages in partly shaded conditions.

In 2021, Ginlong Solis reported an annual manufacturing capacity of 20GW.

Solis have expanded across the globe with 29 regional offices listed on their website. They have an Australian website and have a local office in Melbourne Australia. Solis claim to be one of the first inverter companies in Australia entering in 2005. We have not observed a material market share for Solis on offers in the Solar Choice installer network until recent years.

Solis Inverters – Point of Difference

Solis-3P(5-10)K-4G-AU

The Solis CEC approved Inverter range differs from other inverter manufacturers by offering different types and configurations in the typical power range. Solis manufactures Single Phase Inverters with one or two MMPTs (Maximum Power Point Tracking), Three Phase Inverters with dual MMPTs, and Hybrid Storage Inverters with 2 MMPTs and a specific battery. All of the CEC approved Solis Inverter range are Transformerless Inverters, which contributes to the high efficiency.

The Solis-3P(5-20)K-4G-AU is a 5-20kW Three Phase Inverter with 2 MPTTs. This inverter is showcasing the developments of inverter technology, function, and appearance. This series supports 24 hour consumption monitoring with a smart meter, Wi-Fi connectivity and monitoring app for smartphones to oversee performance. With efficiency ranging from 98.3% to 98.7%, it is one of the most efficient residential inverters on the market.

Solis Solar Inverter Costs

Solis inverters are manufactured in China and have reached a significant scale of production meaning they are able to offer cost-effective prices.

Indicative pricing

Solis Inverter ModelIndicative Price Range
Solis-3P5K-4G-AU 5kW$1,100 – $1,200
Solis-3P10K-4G-AU 10kW$1,400 – $1,500
Solis-3P15K-4G-AU 15kW$1,600 – $1,700

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.

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Solis Inverter Efficiency

An important aspect of getting the most value out of a solar inverter is to choose an appropriately sized inverter to optimise the solar panel system efficiency. To read about the importance of inverter sizing and system efficiency click here.

Residential inverter efficiency standards are generally 95 to 98 percent. Solis inverters meet these standards and have at least 97% max efficiency throughout their full product range.

A number of Solis models have over a 98% max efficiency, one of these models is the Solis-3P(5-20)K-4G-AU. This Three-Phase Dual-MPTT string inverter has a 98.7% max efficiency, making it one of the industry’s more efficient inverters.

Solis Inverter Technologies

There are 92 of Solis Inverters (under the name of Ginlong Technologies Co Ltd) approved by the Clean Energy Council for the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, which is Australia’s home solar rebate program. The majority of the listed inverters are available in Australia.

Mini Series

The Solis Single Phase Mini Series string inverters are specifically designed for small residential rooftop solar applications up to a maximum AC output of 3.6kW. These inverters offer real-time performance monitoring through a LCD screen. 

As the name implies they don’t require much space with an impressively compact body with dimensions: 31 (W) x 37.3 (H) x 16cm (D) and a weight of 7.7kg. 

They feature a single maximum power point tracker (MPPT) for optimising energy conversion meaning they will only work if your solar panels are designed to face one direction on your roof. The maximum efficiency of 97.5% is comparable to other cost effective solutions on the market. 

Solis Mini Series inverters are a suitable choice for those seeking efficient and space-efficient solutions for utilising solar energy in residentials.

Single Phase Inverters

Solis offers a range of single-phase inverters, including the S5 and S6 series. 

The S5 series covers a power range from 3kW to 10kW, with a maximum efficiency rating of 98.0% on the larger inverters. The 7kW to 10kW s5 inverters come with 3 MPPTs offering greater flexibility to solar designers to maximum the solar panel coverage of the roof.

The S5 series offers an LCD screen where customers can view the real time performance of the system along with their monitoring portal. 

Compared to most other options on the market the s5 series is quite a bulky solution with height of 58cm and weight of 18.5kg.

The S6 series only covers a power range from 3kW to 6kW. The S6 series is notably smaller and lighter with a height of 37cm and weighing in at 8.3kg. 

The S6 series has a lower maximum efficiency of 97.3% which is lower than many other comparable options on the market. 

Solis also offer a single-phase 5G inverter which seems to sit somewhere in the middle of the s5 series and the s6 series in terms of size and weight. This inverter only comes in a 7kW and 8kW option which doesn’t match the Australian market well where we see 5kW and 10kW inverters being the most popular options.

Three Phase Inverters

Solis’s three-phase inverters provide products for residential, commercial and utility-scale solar projects, ranging from 5kW to a giant 255kW. 

In terms of residential three-phase inverters, the S5 GR3P (5-20) K series offers a range of options starting from 5kW to 20kW. Solis’s residential 3-phase inverter’s maximum efficiency is 98.7% which is much more impressive than their single-phase models. 

Energy Storage Inverters

Solis offers a range of energy storage inverters designed to work with battery storage systems. The big differences among these Solis energy storage inverters typically involve their power capacity, features, and suitability for different applications.

Solis storage inverters provide a power range from 3kW to 10kW with a maximum efficiency of 98.4%. They offer built-in Li-ion battery options for energy storage integration, along with 3 or 4 MPP trackers to accommodate multiple solar panel orientations. 

The inverters are capable of operating through a power outage with built in capability. These inverters are also compatible with a limited list of lithium battery models, so we recommend checking with your installer before purchasing.

Soliss warranty offer for Australian customers

In Australia, all CEC approved Solis inverters come with a standard 5-year manufacturer’s warranty. However customers can extend this for free to 10 years by registering their product online.

It is good to see that customers can get a 10 year warranty for free as this is not the expectation in the Australian solar inverter market.

In the event of a Solis replacing an inverter, customers must bare the cost of returning the solar inverter to Solis Australasia, which is presumably to their Melbourne office. Given the bulky nature of these inverters, those customers could be up for a significant postage cost.

If customers experience any warranty-related issue, the original installer who installed the system should be the first line of support for replacing or repairing the product. However, Solis also suggests that customers who can no longer contact their original installer should fill out their Service Request Form on their website to get the support from their Australian office in Cheltenham, Victoria. They are also contactable on 03 8518 5732.

You can read more about Solis warranty conditions here.

Pros and Cons of Solis Inverters

Pros:

  • Australian local office in Melbourne
  • Affordable solution with a wide range of models

Cons:

  • Limited track record in the Australian market compared to established European brands.
  • Lack of independent verification of inverter performance, such as tests conducted by PV Evolution Labs.
  • Inverters are quite bulky and may not be the most aesthetically-pleasing option

Comparison Solis Solar Inverter Specifications (common models)

 Solis 5kW 
Solis-3P5K-4G
Solis 5kW 
Solis-1P5K-4G
Solis 10kW 
Solis-3P10K-4G
Rated AC Power Output5kW5kW10kW
PhasesThree-phaseSingle-phaseThree-phase
Maximum Continuous Output Current7.9A21.7A15.9A
Maximum DC Power10kW6.7kW15kW
Number of MPPTs222
Maximum Inverter Efficiency98.3%98.1%98.7%
Dimensions 310*563*219 mm310*543*160 mm310*563*219 mm
Weight18.9kg11.5kg18.9kg
Warranty5 Years5 Years5 Years
Operational Temperature Range-25°C to 60°C -25°C to 60°C -25°C to 60°C
Made inChinaChinaChina

Should you use a Solis inverter on your project?

Solis have made some significant headway in recent years, picking up greater share of the Australian market. Looking at the technical specifications and the price point it is easy to see why. In recent years, Solis has grown their top line significantly leading Ginlong Technologies to a more bankable position which provides greater value to their warranty offer. Equally it is good to see they have an established office in Cheltenham, Victoria where they can service warranty claims.

Despite having ‘entered’ the Australian market in 2005, Solis do not have the same track record as some of the European inverter brands who have many data points to prove their low failure rates and expected lifetime. Solis inverters lack any independent proof of their inverter’s performance such as the tests completed annually by PV Evolution Labs (see results here). At this stage we would consider Solis inverters suitable for customers on a tight budget.

Example of a large-scale Solis Inverter Project 

  • Site: Monash University, Melbourne, 2020
  • System: 1MW PV plant with Solis 50kW inverters
solis monash project

Comparatively Solis’ 50kW inverters are smaller and ligheter than alternatives which reduces transportation costs and increases the ease of installation. The Solis 50kw inverter has 4 MPPT designs meaning 4 separate solar arrays can be connected to each inverter. Each inverter has a maximum operating current rating of 28.5a, meaning it is compatible with high-voltage solar panels commonly used in solar farm installations.

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.
Jeff Sykes

Reviews from Australians who have installed Solis Inverters

Rated 4.21 from 63 reviews
23rd June 2024
Dennis
-
6kW system
5.00

Very good tracking app

1st June 2024
NSW - 2032
6kW system
5.00

Yes, we are happy so far.

23rd May 2024
Suzie
-
6kW system
1.00

App configuration is sub-par and extremely glitchy.

30th April 2024
NSW - 2548
9kW system
4.00

The app has been a major source of frustration because we are dealing with someone who doesn't understand it. We had a consumption meter installed which they did not even realise. Communication between different parts of the company just doesn't happen. Every time you deal with someone new you start all over again. Just terrible.

24th April 2024
Greg
-
6kW system
1.00

System failed after 1 month

24th April 2024
John
-
5kW system
5.00

18th April 2024
Kyrylo
-
5kW system
5.00

22nd February 2024
NSW - 2429
6kW system
3.00

Still waiting on company to show me how to operate inverter.Many calls made to company to come to home to show me operation but cannot get any assistance.

19th February 2024
Frank
-
5kW system
5.00

Efficient installation, happy with excellent backup service . Very happy with fortune Solar installing solar at very competitive rate.

17th February 2024
VIC - 3196
6kW system
5.00

Reviews good, working well, slimline.

6th February 2024
VIC - 3084
4kW system
4.00

The Solis (Ginlong) website is effective for obtaining the generated data,

5th February 2024
NSW - 2261
9kW system
1.00

Fronius is great solis not happy with. Not happy with the solis inverter, keeps over reading the grid voltage, so periods of inactivity.

29th January 2024
SA - 5076
6kW system
5.00

So far so good with very good data information provided on-line.

28th January 2024
NSW - 2429
6kW system
3.00

Was not advised of app to review system

11th January 2024
Glenn
-
10-15kW system
5.00

28th December 2023
Trevor
WA - 6171
6kW system
3.00

Have been unable to connect to inverter since they changed the app.

12th December 2023
Sandy
-
10kW system
5.00

5th December 2023
Sandra
-
5kW system
5.00

Failed after 18 mnths. Supplier is now uncontactable.

4th December 2023
Steven
-
6kW system
5.00

1st December 2023
Tom
-
10kW system
4.00

Early days yet but will update.

22nd November 2023
Victoria
NSW - 2340
10-15kW system
5.00

Is working perfectly

20th November 2023
Gary
VIC - 3084
6kW system
5.00

Doing the job no problems wifi monitoring easy to connect

17th November 2023
Justin
-
10kW system
1.00

14th November 2023
Graeme
VIC - 3030
6kW system
5.00

Solis 4G, 3phase. No problems so far.

5th November 2023
Yusuf
NSW - 2190
5kW system
5.00

Inverter is great, just getting the app to sync can be problematic.

12th October 2023
Peter
NSW - 2526
6kW system
5.00

4th September 2023
John
-
10kW system
1.00

System hasn't worked since installation

4th September 2023
Vishnu
-
6kW system
5.00

Just installed, so far working well

2nd September 2023
Bob
-
9kW system
1.00

Solis deleted years of our data without warning and without caring. They built a new data reporting app but didn't think to migrate the historical data. The inverter is working okay but Solis doesn't understand that data is a valuable part of managing energy usage.

22nd August 2023
Greg
NSW - 2773
4kW system
5.00

No issues to date

18th August 2023
Karen
NSW - 2581
6kW system
5.00

Looks tidy in position. Efficiency can not be determined yet too early as with comments re pantt egg ks

15th August 2023
Jennifer
NSW - 2537
10kW system
5.00

Excellent for a single phase system.

12th August 2023
John
VIC - 3180
6kW system
4.00

Inverter works well only issue is the monitoring app which is not the greatest in terms of being user friendly.

2nd August 2023
Chris
-
5kW system
5.00

A little difficult to connect to app.

1st August 2023
Ben
VIC - 3805
6kW system
5.00

Seems good so far after about 5 weeks. 5 stars for using 1 month. Though no problems so far.

29th July 2023
Gerard
-
6kW system
5.00

18th July 2023
Stefan
VIC - 3089
6kW system
5.00

Works well. The app is not as user friendly.

21st June 2023
David
QLD - 4680
10-15kW system
5.00

All good so far

18th June 2023
Wayne
VIC - 3675
6kW system
5.00

Have had three of these over the years and never had a problem.

13th May 2023
Philip
QLD - 4509
7kW system
5.00

Excellent Inverter in my view, pretty much set and forget. Setting up the wifi and app was easy following the instructions and very good support from Zip Solar.

3rd May 2023
John
NSW - 2259
6kW system
5.00

15th April 2023
Kinan
-
6kW system
1.00

Solis is awful. It is installed since September 2022 and changed modem twice; still not stable in functioning as it should. Better to AVOID this brand and go with others. I regret accepting it as I had other choices.

15th April 2023
Kristy
-
6kW system
5.00

Great inverter.

24th March 2023
Patricia
VIC - 3264
5kW system
5.00

So far so good

13th March 2023
Brian
VIC - 3490
6kW system
5.00

11th March 2023
Neill
-
6kW system
4.00

Works well so far

27th February 2023
Rodney
-
6kW system
3.00

neutral

10th January 2023
Paul
VIC - 3831
10kW system
3.00

Sam comments as above. Looks fine but only new. I can say that the app connection is almost impossible. Even my IT guys couldn't get it to work

29th November 2022
Patrick
ACT - 2605
10-15kW system
5.00

21st July 2022
Eve
-
6kW system
5.00

Great inverter. We can monitor what the system is doing and works as intended,

23rd June 2022
Ray
-
10-15kW system
5.00

Solis has become a very popular brand and I strongly recommend it. It does a fantastic job.

22nd June 2022
Raymond
-
6kW system
5.00

26th May 2022
Rims
-
6kW system
5.00

Best

12th May 2022
Dillon
-
5kW system
4.00

1st May 2022
Rose
-
7kW system
4.00

22nd April 2022
Kristy
-
6kW system
5.00

Very happy. Love hQow I can monitor w

21st April 2022
Michael
-
6kW system
5.00

Very happy. Nice little hnirm

12th March 2022
Paul
VIC - 3815
8kW system
4.00

as said above this was not what i ordered only has a 10 year after registering with emails so will reserve my judgement

17th February 2022
Bob
QLD - 4575
6kW system
4.00

its OK

2nd February 2022
Leon
VIC - 3909
6kW system
5.00

So far so good

1st September 2021
Kevin
VIC - 3978
6kW system
5.00

15th June 2021
Kevin
-
6kW system
3.00

Not switched on yet. Awaiting inspection

12th May 2021
-
4kW system
4.00

as with the solar panels.