Photovoltaic Inverter of the Year 2025

Following a challenging 2024, the global inverter market is expected to return to revenue growth, with total revenue estimated to reach just under $20 billion in 2025.

Second runner-up Growatt accounted for 7% of market share, replacing SMA which slid down to sixth position. Together, the top three vendors control over half of the world's solar PV inverter market. GoodWe jumped four positions to rank at number five in 2021 owing to large shipments to the Asia Pacific region particularly China and South Korea.

With global solar installations forecast to grow at a CAGR (2024-27) of only 3.4% for the next 3 years, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights, manufacturers can expect tough market conditions to continue in 2025, with gradual price declines and pressure on 'normal' profit margins expected.

However, European inverter revenue in 2025 will remain below 2023 levels as high levels of competition forces price reductions in the market. Elsewhere, revenue in the United States is forecast to rise by 16% in 2025 as the residential market recovers from a slowdown in demand and inventory oversupply.

With the decline in financial incentives for solar power exporting to the grid and increasing awareness of self-consumption in key residential markets including Europe, California, and Australia, hybrid inverters, which combine solar and energy storage conversion, are becoming the standard for residential solar PV systems in many markets.

With higher power ratings, these string inverters will offer lower price per watt and save balance of system spend for solar systems due to lower cabling, installation, and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs due to fewer inverters used. The other technology to watch in 2025 is 2,000 volts (V).