Best Solar Monitoring Systems for 2024

Installing a solar panel system on your home is a major investment, and you want to be sure that you are getting a good financial return and saving money by generating your own electricity. But how can you tell if your solar panels are working as well as they should?

Solar monitoring systems, as their name implies, allow you to monitor the output and performance of your solar panels. Solar monitoring lets you determine your panels’ efficiency at producing electricity for your home and battery storage.

If you plan to invest in solar panels, you can’t go wrong with adding a solar panel monitoring system. We’ll look at the importance of monitoring your solar system’s output and the best solar monitoring systems currently available on the market.

What is Solar Monitoring?

Solar monitoring systems enable users to keep track of their solar panel output and help determine if any panels are damaged or not performing properly. A solar monitoring system is usually installed at the same time as the entire system, although some monitoring systems can be installed later.

A solar monitoring system features hardware that is attached to the solar panel array and solar monitoring software, such as a web portal or phone application. The system monitors the output from the solar panels and shows the data in the app or online portal so users can see when their panels produce the most energy. Some systems may also measure weather data and other information, allowing users to fully enjoy the many advantages of solar electricity.

Why is Solar Monitoring Important?

A solar monitoring system can help you determine how much electricity your panels produce, but it can also help detect any defects or issues with the solar system itself. For example, if there is a module or panel that is not generating electricity at the same level as the other modules, you will know that it needs to be repaired or replaced.

You can also use the data gathered by a solar monitoring system to determine your return on investment for your solar panels. In many cases, you can even export the data to other software, such as financial programs, or even integrate your solar monitoring system with other home energy software to look for ways to improve your household’s overall energy efficiency.

Solar monitoring can also help with net metering programs, allowing you to determine when your system generates the most electricity so you can get the most credit on your statement in return for excess energy.

Solar Monitoring Systems

Currently, there are three major manufacturers of solar monitoring equipment: Enphase, SolarEdge, and SMA. Below we’ll explore the monitoring solutions available from each manufacturer and their pros and cons.

Enphase

One of the top manufacturers in the solar monitoring space, Enphase’s microinverters are mounted under each module in a solar array, offering monitoring on every module. This technology works with almost any solar panel brand and is even integrated into some newer models of solar panels.

The Enphase monitoring solution comes with a 25-year warranty, ensuring that the monitoring system will be just as long-lasting as the panels. These microinverters feature Wi-Fi modules that send data to a cloud-based platform, allowing users to access both real-time and historical data via the user-friendly app or web portal.

The app’s user interface is designed to show data in a variety of ways and can even link your solar panels’ production to local weather. A diagram of the solar array color-codes the modules based on their energy generation, making it much easier to identify any modules that may not be working as they should.

SolarEdge

SolarEdge manufactures solar string inverters designed to be paired with power optimizers and attached to the individual modules in a solar array. Once this technology is installed, users can use the company’s monitoring mobile app to track the energy production of each solar panel over time.

This solution can be more challenging to install than Enphase’s technology and only comes with a 12-year warranty, although warranty extensions are available at an additional cost.

Both the mobile app and the web portal offer many of the same functions as Enphase’s solution, providing energy production reports and data on exported electricity and battery charge.

SMA

Known for their high-quality solar inverters, SMA offers a solar monitoring solution that provides clear data on the solar panel array’s overall output but isn’t quite as granular as Enphase or SolarEdge’s technologies. However, SMA’s mobile app and web portal include a map that allows you to compare your solar panels’ output and performance with other homes in your area.

If you’re looking for an app or portal with a strong user interface, you may want to choose one of the other solutions. SMA’s design is very basic, and while it gets the job done, it doesn’t offer the level of detail that the other two brands provide.

Solar Monitoring FAQs

What can a solar monitoring system be used to do?

There are several ways you can use a solar monitoring system and the data it provides:

Monitor and track your solar panels’ performance over time

Look for defects, damage, and other problems with individual modules or panels

Track your return on investment by monitoring the financial performance of your solar panel system

What types of solar monitoring systems are available?

There are three main types of solar monitoring systems: standalone energy monitors, systems purchased from equipment manufacturers, and systems purchased from your solar panel installer. All three options use similar configurations, pairing hardware and software to track your solar system’s output and provide you with the gathered data.

What do I need for a solar monitoring system?

In addition to the appropriate hardware and software, your solar monitoring system also requires a stable internet connection and a mobile app or a login to an online portal.