How long do solar panels last? 25-year warranties and the honest after-life
Answer-first page — the first paragraph is the whole answer, checked reviewed 2026-08-08
Panels are typically certified 25-30 years (commonly 25 product/performance with ~0.5%/yr degradation — in review as sourced spec) and still make meaningful power at 30+. Inverters are the weak link: a 10-12-year life in a 25-year system is normal, and sense inverters are replaced at least once in that time.
What lasts, what doesn't
Panels: 25-year product warranty manufacturers' standard; degradation ~0.5%/yr (industry spec sheet, in review) means a 25-year-old array still produces ~87%. Inverter (string, micros up to 25y): the first big repurchase. Mounting & flashing: the roof waterproofing is the true project lifespan — a quality install protects it.
Payback math past the quote: a $2.5/W system in a ~5-hour-sun state pays for itself long before the panels fade; a lease promise to replace at year 12 belongs in the contract, not on a sales sheet.