How do I know if my solar system is underperforming?

Lower generation than usual on clear days Inverter error codes or warning lights Alerts in your monitoring app Visible damage: cracked glass, discolouration, burn marks or loose panels If you notice any of these, contact a licensed electrician or accredited installer. Never work on the system yourself, because panels keep generating whenever there is light. For more on how output varies, see solar panel energy production in Brisbane (https://www.openelectrical.com.au/knowledge-base/solar-panel-energy-production-in-brisbane) .

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How Long Do Solar Panels Last?

Solar panels last 25 to 30 years or more, losing a little output each year. Warranties, what shortens panel life in Queensland, inverter lifespan and maintenance.

Solar Panels & Inverters

Published11 November 2026

Reading time6 min

Good quality solar panels last 25 to 30 years or more, and the federal government's energy.gov.au puts the typical range at 20 to 30 years. Panels do not suddenly stop working. They slowly produce a little less each year. The inverter usually needs replacing well before the panels, typically after 10 to 15 years.

How long do solar panels last?

Panels have no moving parts, so they wear out slowly. Energy.gov.au lists average lifespans of:

Solar panels: 20 to 30 years
String inverters: 10 to 15 years
Microinverters: 20 to 25 years

In practice, many systems are removed before the panels wear out. CSIRO researchers note that a significant share of Australian systems are taken down early, sometimes in under 10 years, because owners upgrade or installation problems surface, not because the panels failed.

How much output do panels lose each year?

All panels lose a small amount of output over time, called degradation. A widely cited review by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), covering nearly 2,000 measurements, found a median loss of 0.5% per year. Systems in hotter climates tend to lose a little more than those in cooler ones.

Modern panels are warranted to degrade more slowly than older ones. Current N-type panels typically lose up to 1% in the first year and then 0.35% to 0.4% a year after that.

What do solar panel warranties cover?

Panels come with two warranties:

Product warranty: covers defects in the panel itself, such as manufacturing faults. Energy.gov.au calls this the most important panel warranty, because it is the one that is usually easiest to enforce.
Performance warranty: guarantees the panel will still produce a minimum share of its rated output after a set number of years.

As examples from current Australian documents:

Aiko Neostar (3S54 and 3P54): 25-year product warranty and 30-year performance warranty, guaranteeing 88.85% of rated output at year 30.
Jinko Tiger Neo 3.0: 25-year product warranty and 30-year performance warranty, also at 88.85% at year 30. The previous Tiger Neo generation was warranted to 87.4%.

That is noticeably better than what energy.gov.au describes as a standard performance warranty: 90% at 10 years and 80% at 25 years.

Warranties sit on top of your rights under Australian Consumer Law. They generally exclude damage from hail, lightning, flood and poor installation. Hail damage is usually a home insurance matter, so check your policy covers your panels.

What shortens solar panel life in Queensland?

Heat

Panels lose some efficiency as they heat up, and long-term wear is generally faster in hot climates. Panels with a low temperature coefficient lose less output on hot days. Aiko and Jinko's current panels are rated at -0.26% per °C.

Hail and storms

South East Queensland gets severe hailstorms. The international panel standard tests against 25 mm hailstones, and some panels are tested to a higher level: Aiko's Neostar is rated for 40 mm hail. Wind is the other risk. Installers must design the mounting for your area's wind conditions so panels stay on the roof in a severe storm.

Salt air

Near the coast, salt corrodes frames and connectors. Jinko's installation manual, for example, calls for protected connectors within 50 to 500 m of the sea and specially rated panels closer than that.

Installation quality

Many problems come from installation rather than the panels themselves:

Mismatched connectors. Plugging connectors from different makers together is a recognised fire risk, and panel makers say not to do it.
Cracked cells from people walking on panels.
Faulty DC isolators. These caused fires in older Queensland systems and led to product recalls.

How long do inverters last?

The inverter converts your panels' power into electricity your home can use, and it works harder than any other part of the system. Energy.gov.au says string inverters typically last 10 years or more but will probably need repair or replacement within the life of the panels. Heat, direct sun, dust and pests all shorten inverter life, so a shaded, ventilated location helps.

Inverter warranties are commonly 5 to 10 years. Fronius, for example, offers a free 10-year warranty when the inverter is registered on its Solar.web platform within 30 months of delivery. For a fee, it can be extended to 15 years if bought within the first six months.

How to make solar panels last longer

Have the system serviced. Energy.gov.au suggests a service about every two years, and Queensland's Electrical Safety Office recommends a check annually or as the manufacturer specifies. A service should include testing electrical components and checking cables, isolators and mounting.
Watch your monitoring. A drop in generation on sunny days, inverter fault codes or app alerts can all point to a problem.
Keep panels clear. Panels tilted at 10 degrees or more usually self-clean in the rain. Only qualified people should clean them, without harsh soaps, and never by standing on them.
Check for shading as trees grow.
Use an accredited installer. Installer accreditation is now run by Solar Accreditation Australia.

Our solar servicing page covers inspections and maintenance.

Frequently asked questions

An old panel usually still produces power, just less. When panels are finally removed, recycling options in Australia are still limited. Current facilities can recover up to 90% of a panel by weight, mostly aluminium and glass. Recycling costs more than landfill, though, and some states ban panels from landfill.

In January 2026 the federal government announced a $24.7 million national solar panel recycling pilot, but it was suspended in May 2026 and had not restarted at the time of writing. We will update this article when it does. Ask your installer how they handle old panels when you upgrade.