We exclusively install Enphase microinverters, recognized as the industry's most advanced and innovative solar inverter worldwide. So far we've installed more than 35,887 inverters in Nova Scotia. Despite the availability of many cheaper options, we will never choose another product to be the most crucial component of the solar systems we install. Equipment reliability is the most important factor in seeing the promised return on investment.
Our team of expert solar installers is the most experienced in the province. Paired with our top-quality equipment, we're the standout choice for a solar system in Nova Scotia. That's why we've been recognized as the best choice for Nova Scotians going solar by the Consumer Choice Awards for six straight years to the present.
To keep things simple we use modular pricing and a flat installation cost. Below you can explore our recommended equipment pairings.
Equipment Catalogue Calculator$800.00 per module
$2.00/W
Includes all necessary hardware, i.e. IQ8PLUS microinverter, racking and cabling etc.
$1,000.00 per module
$2.00/W
Includes all necessary hardware, i.e. IQ8H microinverter, racking and cabling etc.
$1,000.00 per module
$1.92/W
Includes all necessary hardware, i.e. IQ8H microinverter, racking and cabling etc.
$5,000 Flat
Solar + Storage Made Simple. Get "Sunlight Backup" with the IQ Controller 2 or add IQ batteries as well for a completely grid independent solution
Storage Options$6,500
$6,700/5 kWh
$2,000 Flat
Their IQ Is Off The Charts
IQ8A Microinverters are the industry's first grid-forming microinverters with split-phase power conversion capability to convert DC power to AC power efficiently. Part of the Enphase Energy System, IQ8A Microinverters integrate with the Enphase IQ Battery, Enphase IQ Gateway, and the Enphase App monitoring and analysis software. IQ8A Microinverters redefine reliability standards with more than one million cumulative hours of power-on testing, enabling an industry-leading limited warranty of up to 25 years.
Inverter Comparison and Buyer's Guide
As one of the top providers of high quality solar equipment in Nova Scotia, we think it is important for solar buyers to know what they're getting for their money.
The inverters and accompanying monitoring systems are crucial elements of a PV solar system. Our Enphase inverter components constitute approximately 33% of our total turn-key system cost, including installation.
Below is a table of the most common inverters proposed by PV installation companies in Nova Scotia, their specifications, and their Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP). We have also included a chart showing the MSRP of each inverter for a 20-panel system (7kW AC and 9kW DC) and a chart showing the standard warranty length for each inverter.
Inverter Type | Microinverter | Microinverter | Microinverter | String Inverter | String Inverter |
Inverter Model | IQ8A | APS-DS3-L | HM-1500NT | SE7600H-APP | Ginlong Solis-1P7.6k-4G-US |
Output W | 369 W | 768 W | 1500 W | 7,600 W | 7,600 W |
Panels Serviced | 1 | 2 | 4 | 21 - 25 | 21 - 25 |
AC W Per Panel | 369 W | 384 W | 375 W | 300 W - 360 W | 300 W- 360 W |
Requires Optimizers | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
MSRP | $407 | $388 | $313 | $3,149 | $1,497.10 |
Cost Per Panel | $407 | $194 | $78.25 | $125.96 - $149.95 | $59.88 - $71.29 |
AC Cost for 20 Panels | $8,140 | $3,880 | $1,565 | $3,149 | $1,497.10 |
Standard Warranty | 12 Years | 12 Years | 12 Years | 10 Years |
Prices are averages taken from December 2023 pricing sheets from Canadian solar distributors. Prices are in CAD.
What does this mean?
The next best microinverters (AP Systems) are valued at less than half the price of Enphase, and the cheapest microinverters available (Hoymiles) are valued at less than one quarter the price of Enphase. The best string inverter among them (Solaredge) is valued at a little more than 1/3 the price of Enphase and the cheapest string inverter ever manufactured (congratulations Ginlong Solis) is valued 82% lower than enphase. Enphase's standard 25 year warranty is more than double every other inverter brand.
Inverter MSRP for a 20 panel system
Standard Warranty Length
Key Takeaways
The Solis inverter, a string inverter, has the lowest value among the inverters shown in the table above. It has an MSRP value that is 82% lower than a system using Enphase microinverters.
You can't be sure you're getting your money's worth by simply electing a microinverter system instead of a string inverter because the next most commonly installed microinverter (Hoymiles) is valued 81% lower than enphase
Our pricing for a 20-panel system (7kW AC and 9kW DC) equipped with an Enphase IQ8A microinverter is $24,000, before tax and incentives, and includes installation. This translates to $2.66/W DC or $3.43/W AC.
Quote yourself with our cost and savings calculator
Consequently, a 20-panel system with a Solis string inverter, where the AC components are 82% less expensive for the installer to purchase, should cost $17,440 before tax and incentives, and including installation. This is $6,560 less than our Enphase system, or $1.93/W DC or $2.49/W AC. A system using Hoymiles microinverters should be $6,453.40 cheaper to buy.
If the Solis string inverter didn't have the shortest warranty in the solar inverter industry, it would actually be a bargain at $1.93/W DC installed. However, that's probably not the price you've been quoted. We have been monitoring the Nova Scotia solar industry for the last 5 years and, unfortunately, we are only seeing systems sold at approximately $2.50/W DC or higher, even when the cheapest available inverter hardware is used.
Summary
We know our value proposition is good, that's why our pricing is online and availale to the public. Although we are notably elitist about our equipment preferences, we think it's fine to install or purchase other brands of solar equipment. However, it pains us deeply to see Nova Scotians paying top dollar for bottom tier equipment to installation companies willing to capitalize on consumer ignorance. We think it's important to be transparent about the actual costs of the equipment and the value of the installation service.
Finally, we implore you to do your research when buying a solar system the same way you would if you were buying any other high ticket item. There is a wide disparity in quality and value across equipment brands particularly in the inverter market, and plenty of companies willing to exploit what you do not know. We hope this data helps you make an informed decision.
Individual Panel Production Reports
View real-time individual panel production reports for your solar system (not offered by most solar monitoring equipment).
Get The Full Picture With Enphase Consumption Monitors
Find out how much power your home is using at any given time all in the same app.
Enlighten is the monitoring experience built specifically for the system owner. Delivering at-a-glance verification, Enlighten gives you the assurance that your Enphase System is performing as expected.
With a family of modular components adding and expanding is easy
Configuration Options | Solar only | Sunlight backup | Solar + battery with backup |
---|---|---|---|
Produce solar energy only when the grid is up | Produce solar energy even when the grid is down | Produce and save energy even when the grid is down | |
Save money on my monthly utility bill | |||
Manage my system's performance live, and over time, on a mobile app | |||
Power basic appliances during an outage (phones, lights, fans, or a fridge) | - | With sunlight | Day and night |
Seamlessly integrate an AC standby generator during an outage | - | ||
Store excess solar energy in a battery to use more of your own power, even overnight or when the sun isn't shining as much | - | - | |
Manage large appliances during an outage (air conditioner, EV charger, heat pump, washer/dryer, etc.) | - | - | |
Participate in net metering and grid service programs to make money (where available) | - | - | |
Power my whole home during an extended outage and eliminate my energy bills | - | - | |
Export power to the grid at the optimal time for maximum economic benefits | - | - | |
ENPHASE SYSTEM COMPONENTS |
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