What is the True Lifespan of Solar Panels?

The 25-Year Guarantee

Top-tier solar panels sold in India today come with a standard 25-year performance warranty. But what does that actually mean? It doesn't mean the panel dies on year 26. It simply refers to the degradation curve guaranteed by the manufacturer.

Understanding Degradation

Solar panels naturally degrade. Most tier-1 manufacturers guarantee that the panel will not degrade more than 2% in the first year, and no more than 0.5% per year after that. This means at the end of 25 years, your solar panel is guaranteed to still produce at least 80% to 85% of its original rated capacity.

Inverter Lifespans

While the panels last decades, the inverter is the weakest link. A standard string inverter will typically need replacing around year 10 to 15. Fortunately, inverters represent only ~20% of the initial system cost, and by year 12, the system will have paid for itself exponentially.