How long do solar panels last? (and what happens after)

Solar is a long-term investment, so it’s fair to ask: how long will it actually last? The good news is that modern panels are built to work for decades.

25 years and counting

Most quality solar panels come with a performance warranty of around 25 years, and many keep producing well beyond that. They don’t suddenly stop — instead they slowly degrade, typically losing well under one percent of output a year. After 25 years a good panel is often still producing around 80–90% of its original output.

The inverter is the part to watch

While panels last decades, the inverter works harder and usually has a shorter life — often 10 to 15 years. It’s normal to replace an inverter once during a system’s life, and worth budgeting for. It’s also the component most likely to need attention, which is a good reason to have monitoring in place.

What makes panels last

Quality components, a clean install and a bit of airflow behind the panels all help. There are no moving parts to wear out, so with a proper installation there’s very little that can go wrong day to day.

What happens at end of life

End-of-life panel recycling is a growing focus, and the industry is moving toward fully recyclable, circular panels — technology SolarLink has worked with first-hand on a world-first New Zealand project. A panel reaching the end of its working life is increasingly a resource to be reused, not just waste. Planning a system you want to last? We can help make sure it’s specified and installed to go the distance.