What Are AC Solar Panels?   What are AC solar panels? I always
thought solar panels had to be DC, but now I’m hearing about new
AC products. How well do these work? Are there any benefits to
using them?  AC (alternating current) solar panels are a
promising new idea on the photovoltaic (PV) market. The panels
themselves still produce DC (direct current), but each panel
would come with its own attached micro-inverter, which converts
the DC to AC. The inverters also synchronize the output with the
grid, allowing the modules to be grid-intertied. The micro-
inverters replace the need for the single, centralized inverter
currently used in solar-electric systems.  AC solar panels with
integrated micro-inverters are under development by several
companies, but are not yet in widespread use, so there’s no
performance data from the field. Bob-O Schultze of Electron
Connection, an installing dealer in northern California and
southern Oregon says, “No one that I’m aware of is marketing AC
panels at this time. What is ava