MLPE are devices that can be incorporated into solar PV system to improve power yield performance in certain conditions, especially where shade is present, and achieve some other system benefits.

MLPE were once costly specialty products, but have made great strides in the last decade and have become one of the fastest growing market segments in the solar industry.

MLPE includes Micro-Inverter and Solar Power Optimizer. The Micro-Inverter and Solar Power Optimizer perform some of the same functions (such as MPPT) as a string inverter or central inverter, but are typically coupled to just one (or a few) PV panels rather than many (PV String), and offer additional features.

For example, MLPE is an extra layer of MPPT at the per-panel level. This is in contrast to MPPT in string inverter that is connected per string of multiple panels.