Sungrow Inverter Review

Solar power is a leading force in the transition to renewable energy, with more than 1.47 million solar panels installed in the UK so far. A vital component of these systems is the solar inverter. But finding the right inverter can be tricky, especially with so many brands and options available.

One top brand is Sungrow. These inverters have a strong reputation as highly efficient, technically advanced products you can rely on, with user-friendly features. They’re also competitively priced.

But do Sungrow inverters live up to the hype? Find out in Effective Home’s in-depth guide to Sungrow inverters below.

Sungrow Inverters At A Glance

• Popular solar models – SG inverter series, 3kW-10kW.
• Popular hybrid models – SH-RS hybrid series, up to 10kW.
• Price bracket – medium range.
• Value for money – very good.
• Warranty – good: up to 10 years.
• Quality and reliability – impressive.
• System monitoring – very good.
• Overall – highly recommended.

Sungrow Company Profile

Headquartered in Hefei in the Anhui province of China, Sungrow Power Supply is a leading global manufacturer of solar inverters. It’s worth noting that inverter manufacturers typically evolve from established power electronics companies. Sungrow is different.

The company was founded in 1997 by Cao Renxian. While he was knowledgeable about power electronics, he was also an academic with a strong social conscience.  His main focus in creating Sungrow was to leverage renewable energy to improve the quality of life of his fellow countrymen living in rural areas. 

Sungrow was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2006 and now has a net worth of $1.5 billion as one of the world’s largest inverter manufacturers.

The company ethos is based on innovation and reliable sustainability. It confirms its prominence in the renewable energy sector with numerous patents in inverter technology. 

The company makes photovoltaic (PV) inverters for residential, commercial and industrial, and utility-scale applications. It also produces energy storage products and wind power converters.

Sungrow is a research and development pioneer in renewable energy. It boasts the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry, representing 40 percent of the 13,700-strong workforce.

To date, more than 605 gigawatts (GW) of the company’s power electronics equipment has been installed in 170-plus countries and regions, including the UK and rest of Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. 

Sungrow has its own, certified testing centre. Furthermore, the company carries out state-level post-doctoral research and is a national high-tech industrialisation demonstration base, a national enterprise technology centre, and a national industrial design centre.

The company is dedicating resources to make its operations 100 percent green by 2028.

About Cao Renxian

Sungrow chairman and chief executive officer Cao Renxian is a self-made man with a rags-to-riches background. He had an impoverished rural upbringing in Hangzhou in southeast China at a time when many Chinese families outside towns and cities struggled to get a reliable power supply. Cao went on to study industrial automation and get bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Hefei University of Technology.

After landing a job as professor at the university, he became aware of opportunities in the renewable energy market. That led to the start of Sungrow, in November 1997, and the development of the world’s largest inverter factory.

The billionaire philanthropist has never forgotten his humble beginnings. Through Sungrow, he contributes to multiple social welfare programmes including poverty alleviation and disaster relief. 

Awards Gained By Sungrow And Its Inverters

Sungrow and its inverters have won a slew of prestigious awards over the years. The company is consistently ranked as a Tier I inverter manufacturer by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BloombergNEF). This reflects Sungrow’s financial stability and bankability, and product performance.

Sungrow is consistently among the honours in other major awards, including:

• China Grand Awards for Industry.
• Top national manufacturing enterprise.
• Top 50 innovative Chinese companies.
• Top national intellectual property enterprises. 
• Global top 500 new energy enterprises.
• Best companies to work for in Asia.

Sungrow inverters have been accredited by energy authorities such as:

• Australian Clean Energy Council. 
• Global certification organisation TUV Rheinland. 
• Solar market researchers EUPD Research (European Utility Partners and Distributors). 
• Safety certification company Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Sungrow Inverters Overview

Sungrow produces high-quality PV inverters for homes, businesses, industrial use, and large-scale solar projects.

They include:

• String inverters. 
• Microinverters.
• Hybrid inverters.
• Plus monitoring systems, and solar batteries.

Single-phase inverters are available for smaller homes and three-phase options for larger households and others with higher power demands.

Key Features Of Sungrow Inverters

Sungrow inverters are compact and lightweight. This makes them easier to install and more aesthetically pleasing. They’re highly efficient and reliable, with advanced technological features.

• High efficiency. With efficiency levels of up to 98.6 percent, Sungrow home inverters are among the most energy efficient on the market.
• Dual MPPT. Sungrow inverters have dual maximum power point tracking (MPPT). This optimises power output when some solar panels are shaded.
• Smart monitoring: Sungrow’s proprietary iSolarCloud monitoring platform allows homeowners to track their system’s performance in real time.

Sungrow Residential Inverters

Sungrow offers one of the largest series of home inverters on the market. They’re designed for easy installation and come with features such as:

• Backup mode to provide energy during power outages. 
• Fast charging and discharging.
• Online energy use monitoring. 
• Plug-and-play connectors.
• Industry-leading efficiency levels.
• Flexible PV string configurations.
• High DC/AC ratio, up to 1:3.

Types Of Sungrow Home Inverters

Competitive pricing and good reliability have made Sungrow’s SG series of solar inverters a popular choice for households. These models include:

• SG-RS single-phase residential solar inverters – up to 10kW.
• SG-RT three-phase residential solar inverters – up to 20kW. 

Sungrow also offers hybrid inverters. 

• SH5K-30 5kW single-phase residential hybrid inverter.
• SH-RS single-phase residential hybrid inverter – up to 10kW.
• SH-RT three-phase residential hybrid inverter – up to 10kW.

Hybrid inverters work with mains electricity as well as solar energy. They combine the solar inverter and a battery inverter in a single unit.

Sungrow SG Series Solar Inverters

Sungrow SG solar inverters are designed for homeowners looking to maximise energy efficiency while minimising electricity bills. They offer power outputs starting from 3kW and rising to 20kW. 

SG3RT

• Max. output power: 3kW.
• Max. efficiency: 98.4%.
• Input voltage range: 160-600V.
• Max. input current per string: 12.5A.
• MPPT (maximum power point tracking): 2.
• Weight: 10.8kg.
• Dimensions (W/H/D) 370x480x160 mm.
• IP (ingress protection) rating: IP65.

SG5RT

• Max. output power: 5kW.
• Max. efficiency: 98.4%.
• Input voltage range: 160-600V.
• Max. input current per string: 12.5A.
• MPPT (maximum power point tracking): 2.
• Weight: 10.8kg.
• Dimensions (W/H/D) 370x480x160 mm.
• IP (ingress protection) rating: IP65.

SG10RT

• Max. output power: 10kW.
• Max. efficiency: 98.6%.
• Input voltage range: 200-600V.
• Max. input current per string:15A.
• MPPT (maximum power point tracking): 2.
• Weight: 16.2kg.
• Dimensions (W/H/D) 370x530x160 mm.
• IP (ingress protection) rating: IP65.

Sungrow also offers another type of 3kW inverter (the SG3K-S) and two 8kW inverters (SG8K-D and SG8KTL-M). 

Third-Generation SG Solar Inverters 

The SG-RS (3G) series of string inverters boast an impressive range of features and still come at affordable pricing.

Key features include:

• New modern design with LCD (liquid-crystal display).
• Up to 3 x MPPTs.
• Extra wide MPPT operating voltage range.
• Solar oversizing up to 200 per cent allowed.
• Increased input current of 16A per MPPT (maximum 20A).
• Built-in smart PID (potential induced degradation) recovery function.
• Advanced diagnostics with I-V curve scan.

3G updates include MPPT with low operating voltage. This allows a string of just two solar panels, with increased input current limit – a good match for more powerful, higher-current panels. 

The 3 x MPPTs of larger 5kW, 8kW, and 10KW models are ideal for larger solar arrays and facilitate more flexible designs.

The three-phase SG-RT series of 5kW, 7kW, 8kW, and 10kW sizes has two MPPTs and a maximum input voltage of 1000V. But it doesn’t have a built-in display.

* Solar oversizing is allowed when solar array output power surpasses the inverter size. For instance, 200 percent oversizing means a 5kW inverter can handle a solar panel system of up to10kW. 

Sungrow SH Series Hybrid Inverters

Sungrow was one of the first inverter manufacturers to develop compact hybrid inverters for home battery storage.

That was in 2015. These early hybrid inverters were limited in power but paved the way for the much-improved SH series. These provide immediate backup power and up to 200 percent solar oversizing, enabling households to become highly energy independent.

The SH-RT three-phase hybrid inverter series was followed by a single-phase version. This is compatible with high-voltage (HV) Sungrow LFP (lithium ferro phosphate) batteries and several other HV battery brands.

The lightweight SH-RS series, ranging from 3kW to 6kW, has been given a new look, with a more modern design. It has high efficiencies and an operating temperature range from -25C to 60C. It provides immediate backup power. 

SH-RT Three-Phase Hybrid Inverter

Until recent years, availability of residential three-phase hybrid inverters was limited. No surprise then that Sungrow’s SH-RT three-phase hybrid inverter was well received by homeowners.  And it looks to be one of the most advanced inverters of its kind to date. 

The SH-RT range is available in 5kW, 6kW, 8kW, and 10kW power ratings, with a wide HV battery voltage range (from 150V to 600V) and high charge/discharge levels.

The inverters have dual MPPTs and an operating voltage range from 200V to 950V, plus solar oversizing allowed up to 200 percent. 

New Sungrow Single-Phase Hybrid Inverters

In September 2023, Sungrow launched more powerful (8kW and 10kW) versions of its SH-RS series.

These come with an impressive 4 x MPPTs and an outstanding peak backup power rating of 13.6kW for 10 seconds. This ranks them among the best single-phase hybrid inverters on the market. 

These inverters can even back up large air-conditioning systems, water pumps, and other high-surge loads.

SH5K-30 Hybrid Inverter

• Max. output power: 5kW.
• Max. efficiency: 97.5%.
• Input voltage range: 125-600V.
• Max. input current per string: 12.5A.
• MPPT (maximum power point tracking): 2.
• Weight: 20.5kg.
• Dimensions (W/H/D) 620x450x180 mm.
• IP (ingress protection) rating: IP65.

SH6K-30 Hybrid Inverter

• Max. output power: 6kW.
• Max. efficiency: 97.5%.
• Input voltage range: 125-600V.
• Max. input current per string: 12.5A.
• MPPT (maximum power point tracking): 2.
• Weight: 20.5kg.
• Dimensions (W/H/D) 620x450x180 mm.
• IP (ingress protection) rating: IP65.

Sungrow’s New Microinverters

Sungrow entered the residential microinverter market when it launched a new range in June 2024 at the Intersolar Europe trade fair in Munich, Germany – the biggest trade fair in the solar industry.

While string inverters connect strings of solar panels in a single, central location, microinverters are attached to the back of each panel, which makes them more suitable for complex solar energy systems.

Operating in a parallel circuit, microinverters make the most of power output from each individual panel.

Sungrow’s new microinverters come in three models:

• S450S 450W.
• S800S 800W.
• S1600S 1600W.

With a wide MPPT voltage range (16V to 60V), these microinverters are compatible with all modern solar panels, and they’re suitable for various residential applications, including rooftops and balconies.

A plug-and-play design and one-click network setup significantly reduces installation time. Installers only need to set up one microinverter. Others in the network automatically sync. 

Operating efficiently in both low light and at high temperatures, the microinverters produce two percent more power than some other similar brands.

A unique, corrugated microchannel heat sink (MCHS) improves heat dissipation. This enables full power operation at rooftop temperatures as high as 60C, even without ventilation. The microinverters also have high corrosion resistance, allowing long-term operation in less-than-ideal weather and environmental conditions.

The Sungrow iHomeManager

The Intersolar Europe expo also saw Sungrow unveil a smart home energy management system based on the company’s state-of-the-art AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology.

The iHomeManager facilitates customised optimal energy use strategies that can significantly cut household electricity bills. It analyses household electricity consumption patterns, forecasts energy demand, and takes into account electricity market prices in real time. Lightweight and compact, the iHomeManager is easy to install and supports both wired and wireless networking.

Looking to the future, Sungrow says the iHomeManager will be able to integrate with Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), enabling smart interconnectivity between household devices. Households would be able to remotely monitor and manage their home energy anytime, anywhere.

Sungrow Inverters Pricing

Sungrow home inverters are competitively priced, starting from around £540 for basic models.

Here’s a rough guide to pricing of various Sungrow inverter models.

• Sungrow SG3RT (3kW): £540 to £770.
• Sungrow SG5RT (5kW): £926 to £1,235.
• Sungrow SG10RT (10kW): £1,930 to £2,310.
• Sungrow SH5K-30 (hybrid 5kW): £1,150 to £1,540.
• Sungrow SH6K-30 (hybrid 6kW): £1,540 to £1,930.

These estimates don’t include installation costs, which can vary from around £500 to £1,000, depending on the size of the system, complexity of the job, and the solar installer.

Pros And Cons Of Sungrow Inverters

Sungrow inverters are packed with features that give households several key benefits. On the other hand, customer service comes in for some criticism.

Pros

With no transformer, models in the latest SG residential string inverter series are lightweight and come with dual maximum power point tracking, Wi-Fi connection, and LCD display on top of the inverter. 

The SH series of hybrid inverters boast advanced diagnostic tools and smart power degradation intervention.

Sungrow hybrid inverters incorporate smart PID recovery. This minimises or eliminates the problem of power reduction through potential induced degradation in solar panels. There’s also an I-V curve scan tool to diagnose any issues with the system. These features usually only come with large utility-scale inverters.

Cons

Sungrow customers in general report that Sungrow inverters are reliable and that after-sales support is good. Not everyone agrees though.

The Product Review platform in Australia – where Sungrow inverters are commonplace – gives the company a star rating of only 1.7 out of 5 for customer service and 2.1 for product quality.

Most of the reviewers’ disappointment centres on Sungrow customer support, described as “extremely poor.”

Trustpilot in the UK also gives Sungrow a 2.1 rating, with 84 percent of reviewers awarding the company just one star. Again, concerns focused on the customer support the company offers.

Sungrow Vs Huawei

Sungrow and Huawei are both well-known names in the solar sector, and they each have their own strengths. 

They’re currently slugging it out for the title of largest solar inverter manufacturer in the world. At the moment, it looks like Huawei is staying ahead on points, but that could change. With this in mind, we decided to compare products by the two inverter manufacturing heavyweights.

Sungrow Vs Huawei At A Glance

Sungrow Vs Huawei Key Features

SUNGROW INVERTERS

• High efficiency. Getting more energy from DC/AC conversion results in higher overall system performance. Sungrow inverters can deliver energy conversion efficiency exceeding 98 percent.
• Wide MPPT range. Sungrow inverters have a broad range of maximum power point tracking. This allows them to optimise energy output from various types of solar panels, even when conditions are less than ideal.
• Robust structure. Built to withstand tough environmental conditions, Sungrow inverters are IP65 rated, ensuring protection against water and dust penetration. This makes them suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations.
• User-friendly. Sungrow inverters come with an intuitive user interface. This makes it easier for installers and homeowners to monitor performance and troubleshoot problems.
• Safety. Sungrow inverters have advanced safety features including ground fault protection and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI).
• Warranty. Five to 10 years, which can be extended.

HUAWEI INVERTERS

• Smart energy management. Huawei inverters are equipped with AI-based features that optimise energy production and consumption. And a FusionSolar app monitors system performance in real time. These features help maximise self-consumption while minimising dependence on mains electricity. 

(It should be noted, though, that Sungrow is catching up on the AI front, with its recently announced iHomeManager).

• High efficiency. Like Sungrow inverters, Huawei inverters also boast high conversion efficiencies, often exceeding 98 percent.
• Battery compatibility. Sungrow inverter battery compatibility is good but Huawei inverters stand out when it comes to energy storage and hybrid solar solutions in particular.
• Durability. Huawei inverters are IP65 rated, like Sungrow inverters. But they have advanced cooling systems to prevent overheating, which potentially extends the inverter lifespan.
• Warranty. Like Sungrow, five to 10 years, extendable.

Sungrow And Huawei Performance Comparison

Sungrow and Huawei brands both offer high-efficiency inverters that significantly enhance solar energy output. Huawei inverters may perform slightly better, especially in partial shade, thanks to their AI-driven MPPT technology. 

Both brands withstand severe environmental conditions, ensuring a long lifespan, even when installed outdoors. Huawei inverters should perform slightly better in extremely hot climates, which won’t be a serious consideration in the UK.

Sungrow and Huawei both excel when it comes to inverter safety features.

Sungrow Or Huawei?

Sungrow and Huawei offer outstanding inverters that make the most of solar energy.

Sungrow inverters are reliable, budget-friendly, and easy to use, which will appeal to homeowners looking for solid inverter performance without bells and whistles.

Huawei inverters are regarded as technically superior, so they could be the right choice if you consider this worth paying a little more for.

Sungrow Batteries

If you’re considering investing in a Sungrow inverter, you may also be interested in a Sungrow battery.

Sungrow solar batteries are designed exclusively for Sungrow hybrid inverters such as the SH5RT, SH6RT, SH8RT, and SH10RT models.

They include the SBR range of high-voltage LiFePO4 (lithium ferro phosphate) batteries.

Sungrow 3.2kWh modular batteries come with a minimum of three modules to create a 9.6kWh energy storage system. This unit can scale up to a maximum of eight modules (25.6kWh). You could increase capacity by adding a further unit. But this is unlikely to be needed for household use.

Sungrow batteries have 100 percent depth of discharge (DoD), are floor-mounted, and can be installed indoors or outdoors. The Sungrow battery warranty is for 10 years or 4,000 cycles, whichever comes first. During this time, you’re guaranteed at least 70 percent of original nominal battery capacity.

Sungrow SBR Batteries Quick Facts

• Type: lithium iron phosphate.
• Safety: multi-stage protection and extensive safety certification.
• Charging/discharging: Up to 30A continuous high-efficiency charging and discharging current.
• Energy production: up to 100 percent usable energy.

Sungrow’s New Non-Lithium-Ion Batteries

Historically, Sungrow New Energy, founded in 2014, has supplied energy storage systems using batteries from other companies. That’s set to change. 

The company began building its own £1.78 billion battery factory in northeast China in May 2024. Notably, the new facility, in Jilin Province, will not manufacture lithium-ion batteries. The new line will include sodium-ion flow batteries and all-iron flow batteries. Flow batteries are becoming more common in the energy storage sector because they last longer than lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.

The new battery factory is expected to begin production by June 2025.

Crucial Role Of Inverters

An inverter is a critical component of solar panel systems. It’s what allows your household to use electricity generated by the panels.

Photovoltaic systems produce a direct current of electricity, unsuitable for mains supply electrical circuits. The inverter converts this into AC electricity. The most common home solar inverters are string inverters, microinverters, and hybrid inverters.  

String Inverters

Also known as central inverters, string inverters have been around longer than other types of inverters and are the most widely used. They’re designed with reliable and affordable technology, and installation is relatively simple because only one inverter is needed for an entire solar array. String inverters can be installed inside homes or on an exterior wall, near the electricity meter or electrical consumer unit.

On the downside, a string inverter is only as efficient as the lowest-performing solar panel. And if the inverter breaks down, the solar energy system will stop working. 

Microinverters

Microinverters are connected directly to individual solar panels, and, unlike string inverters, they operate in a parallel circuit. 

One inverter is typically attached to each solar panel, where power conversion takes place at the source of energy production. Some microinverters, however, can work with more than one solar panel.

Microinverters cost significantly more than string inverters but are perfect for more complex solar panel installations across several roof surfaces. If one solar panel fails, it won’t have a huge impact on microinverter performance.

Hybrid Inverters

Hybrid inverters optimise solar energy use and cost savings, and can be integrated directly into solar battery storage.

If solar panels aren’t producing enough electricity, the inverter uses power from a battery or the National Grid. If the panels generate more electricity than needed, the hybrid inverter can store it in the battery for later use, or sell the surplus energy to the utility grid.

The inverter also handles battery backup power to maintain an electrical supply in the event of a power outage.

Sungrow Inverters FAQs

Will a Sungrow inverter work with all types of solar panels?

Sungrow inverters are compatible with solar panels from leading brands and many other manufacturers. They’ll work with monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels, as well as bifacial panels.

How efficient are Sungrow inverters?

Sungrow home inverters have extremely high efficiency levels – from 97.5 percent to 98.6 percent, making them a top performer in the industry. Some other brands barely make it to 95 percent.

Can I use a Sungrow inverter in an off-grid solar setup?

Combined with battery storage, Sungrow hybrid inverters could be used with an off-grid system or as backup power. However, most Sungrow inverters are designed for grid-tied systems.

How does the Sungrow iSolarCloud work?

Sungrow’s iSolarCloud platform monitors solar panel performance in real time. This allows homeowners to track energy production and consumption, and detect potential problems, through a mobile app or web portal.

Final Thoughts On Sungrow Inverters

Some concerns have been raised about Sungrow customer support. But there’s no doubting the quality of their award-winning high-efficiency inverters, packed with hi-tech features but still user-friendly. Best of all, they come at a price that won’t break the bank.

A Sungrow inverter could be right for you if you’re looking for value for money and peace of mind of a reliable inverter. Sungrow used to offer warranties of only five years on most of its inverters. Now, 10 years is the standard warranty.