A photovoltaic inverter is provided, having a controller, an auxiliary power and a buffering element. The auxiliary power provides power to the controller. The buffering element is coupled between a photovoltaic panel and the auxiliary power such that the buffering element stores energy output from the photovoltaic panel first during a startup period, and then stops storing energy output from the photovoltaic panel and provides the stored energy to the auxiliary power, thereby performing a maximum power point tracking procedure on the photovoltaic panel during a first period following the startup period, and feeds energy output from the photovoltaic panel to the auxiliary power during a second period following the first period thereby continuously performing the maximum power point tracking procedure on the photovoltaic panel by the controller.