Many devices come with a basic warranty that offers free replacement within a set period of time. Solar panels come with different types of warranties that will protect you from various problems.
Product Warranty
Product Warranty will replace your solar panels free of charge if they are defective due to defects in materials or workmanship. The duration varies by brand and specific product, but the solar standard is 10 years or more. The best warranties offer a 25-year warranty and are available from major brands like SunPower and Q Cells.
At a minimum, you should look for a warranty that protects the panel from failure for at least 10 years. At Marketwatch Guides, we offer solar panels with a 25-year warranty, as several brands now offer this benefit.
Electricity warranty
Electricity warranties are also called performance warranties and are offered for devices that use renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines. Photovoltaic (PV) cells gradually lose power, meaning the amount of electricity produced decreases slightly each year. However, the energy guarantee guarantees that this will happen very slowly.
- Solar panel manufacturers specify a maximum degradation rate, and your electricity warranty will cover you if degradation occurs faster.
- For example, if your manufacturer specifies a performance loss of 0.50% per year, and your solar panels begin to lose 1% of their performance per year, the performance guarantee will kick in and you will receive a replacement.
Power supply warranties are generally longer than product warranties; most manufacturers offer a term of 25 to 30 years. A high quality panel will lose 2% to 3% performance in the first year and less than 0.50% annually thereafter. This means that the best solar panels can produce at least 85% of their original electricity in 25 years.
Ideally, you should look for a guarantee of solar panel performance if the following conditions are met:
- Degradation is no more than 2–3% in the first year.
- Deterioration of no more than 0.50% in subsequent years
- 25 to 30 years of performance loss protection
Some solar manufacturers guarantee an annual degradation rate of 0.25% and a performance guarantee of up to 30 years.
Installation warranty
The best solar companies offer homeowners a warranty on their installation.
- Manufacturer's warranties only protect you against solar panel problems such as defects in materials, manufacturing defects, and power outages.
- A solar system warranty provides additional protection by fully covering your photovoltaic system.
- This also includes problems with other components such as racks and wiring.
Most solar energy brands focus solely on manufacturing and outsource installation services to licensed contractors. However, companies like SunPower and Tesla also offer their own installation services. In these cases, you receive a comprehensive warranty with full coverage: product, manufacturing and installation.
Warranties for solar systems can range from five to 25 years. Overall, you'll get the best assurance by hiring installation companies that are certified by the solar brands they represent. Plus, take advantage of long warranties from solar panel manufacturers who offer installation services.
