Inverter clipping happens when the direct current (DC) input power supplied to an inverter surpasses the inverter's alternating current (AC) power rating. This situation arises because the inverter is designed to convert DC power to AC power up to a certain maximum capacity. It is common practice to slightly oversize the DC array compared to the inverter to maximize energy production during periods of lower irradiance. If the ratio of the DC array size to the inverter’s AC capacity becomes too large, however, a considerable amount of the energy generated by the solar panels will be lost due to clipping. This loss occurs because the inverter cannot convert the excess DC power into AC power beyond its rated limit, "clipping" the output.
Aurora’s performance simulation report provides detailed insights into the designs system losses, including clipping. The report quantifies how much potential energy is lost during these clipping events, giving users a clear understanding of the impact on overall system performance. With this information, users have the option to adjust and resize their system design if they wish to minimize clipping losses and optimize energy yield. This flexibility allows for better decision-making in balancing system cost and efficiency based on the specific goals of the solar installation.