The guarantee for solar panels is typically 25-30 years, but they will typically continue to produce electricity for long after that. Some solar panels can generate power for 50-60 years or more!
Now, it’s important as always that you approach any investment with the right expectation. So, you’ll want to take into consideration that the power output will inevitably decrease by 0.8% every year due to solar cell degradation.
That said, if you’re working with the right solar rep, your solar panels will come with a warranty that guarantees you will get the most out of your investment…
For example, 90% production capacity after 10 years and 85% after 20-years!
You will also have an equipment warranty from the installation company, in the rare case that any of your solar equipment happens to malfunction due to quality issues.
Inverters (as of 2021) are known to not last as long as the solar panels and may need replacing after 10 to 15 years. You will typically have a 10-15 year guarantee for your inverters, and keep in mind that equipment reliability is constantly improving.
Micro-inverters, on the other hand, enjoy a life span of up to 25 years (more or less around the same as solar panels) – which tends to make them the natural choice for most people.
Note: The main difference with Micro-inverters is that they produce more power when panels are subject to partial shading, such as passing cloud cover. String inverters need power optimizers in in order to continue functioning optimally through clouds or other shade.
