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solar-panel-warranties

Solar panel warranties protect your solar investment and are essential to any solar installation. But, if you think comparing solar panel warranties is confusing, you're certainly not alone: Even if you take the time to sift through pages of dense documentation, understanding the differences in warranties across the various manufacturers can feel like comparing apples to oranges!

We developed a scoring system to help you compare different companies' warranties. We'll reveal which solar panel companies offer the best warranties, explain our scoring system, and discuss the important factors to consider.

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Key Takeaways

  • Solar panel warranties vary by manufacturer and type of panel. Choosing a solar panel brand should depend on several factors, including cost, efficiency, power output, performance, and warranty.

  • A standard solar panel warranty should come with at least ten years of protection.

  • Typically, solar panel warranties won't reimburse any labor costs associated with installing new equipment or shipping fees for new equipment.

  • The most important warranty characteristics to compare include product warranty terms, power guarantees, labor warranty terms, transferability and bankability, and the availability of an extended warranty.

  • Based on our ranking system, SunPower has the strongest overall warranty, with Panasonic, REC, and CertainTeed close behind.

A solar PV system represents a multi-decade investment. Your return on that investment directly relates to the amount of electricity your solar energy system generates year after year: The more you produce, the less you need to buy from your utility. Warranties are important because if the panels in your solar system degrade quickly over time, you'll derive less long-term value from your system than if your panels degrade more slowly.

A solar panel comes with two warranties. The product warranty covers the equipment and typically guarantees at least 10-12 years without fail. The power or performance warranty often guarantees at least 90% production at ten years and 80% at 25 years.

While deciding which solar panel to buy should be based on many factors, including cost, efficiency, power output, and performance, warranty is an important consideration. 

We compared nine of the top solar panel companies' warranties against each other and the industry standard. Based on our ranking system (explained below), SunPower offers the strongest solar panel warranty, with Panasonic, REC, and CertainTeed close behind.

Rank
Company
Score
1SunPower23
2Panasonic21
3REC17
3CertainTeed17
5Q CELLS14
6Silfab14
7Aptos Solar13
8Solaria13
9AXITEC6
-Industry standard1

Please note that warranties vary by product for some companies. The scoring system is based on the highest-performing company product for each factor. Higher ranks indicate stronger warranties.

Solar panel warranties aren't exactly straightforward, so we developed a scoring system to facilitate comparison between warranties from different solar panel companies. Each warranty factor has a unique scale determined based on its importance. The warranty factors include:

  • Product: How many years does the warranty cover the integrity of the equipment itself?

  • Power at year 25: What percentage of initial power output is guaranteed at year 25? This is also often referred to as a performance warranty.

  • Labor: Is the work needed for diagnostics, repairs, or replacements covered by the manufacturer's warranty? Is it up to a certain dollar amount?

  • Shipping: Is transporting any components needed to be diagnosed, fixed, or replaced covered?

  • Extended product warranty: Can you extend your product warranty by paying more?

  • Extended 30-year power warranty: Does your power warranty extend to 30 years (either automatically or at an additional cost)?

  • Transferable: If you sell your house, how easy is it to transfer your warranty to the new owner? Do you have to complete any paperwork, or does it transfer automatically?

  • Bankability: What happens if the company goes out of business or stops manufacturing panels? Will your warranty still be covered? We use several metrics here, as bankability can be challenging to quantify. First, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) is an industry-standard tool; Tier 1 panels are considered the most bankable. Second, PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) conducts independent testing to assess the quality and bankability of panels and releases a list of top scorers. And third, we evaluate if companies have a separate warranty reserve, escrow, or insurance company that backs their warranties.

  • Inverter: Does the warranty extend to the inverters in the system?

  • Racking equipment: Does the warranty cover the racking equipment for the system?

Score
0
1
2
3
4
5
Product<15 years-<20 years<25 years-25+ years
Power at year 25<85% at year 25-<90% at year 25-<92% at year 2592% at year 25
LaborNoSometimesYes, up to a costYes--
ShippingNoSometimesYes---
Extended product warrantyNoYes, not automatically----
Extended 30-year power warrantyNoYes, not automaticallyYes, automatically---
TransferabilityYes, with exceptionsYes, but you have to file paperworkYes, automatically---
BankabilityLittle information available Additional certifications; Third party testing; or established counter-partyTop performing PVEL scoreBNEF Tier 1; has cash reserve; has escrow; or has an insurance policy--
InverterNot covered-Covered---
Racking equipmentNot covered-Covered---

We assessed and scored every company across each factor and weighted each factor based on importance, meaning they don't all have the same number of available points. We then summed the individual factor scores to determine the overall company score. The higher the score, the better the warranty.

We'll explain what each of these warranty factors means and how each company performed.

Also known as a materials warranty, a solar panel product warranty covers the integrity of the equipment itself. If any of your solar panels have a defect or mechanical issue or experience unreasonable wear and tear, that's where your product warranty comes into play.

Fortunately, when issues like this happen, it's usually evident "out-of-the-box": You or your installer should be able to tell that something is amiss from the get-go and fix the problem quickly–even before the panel makes it onto your roof! 

As you're shopping around for the perfect solar panel, you should expect each one to come with a product warranty, and of course, longer product warranties are more favorable. These days, most manufacturers offer at least ten years of coverage under a product warranty, while some premium options have 25 or 30 years of protection against product defects. 

Best product warranties

The following companies all offer 25-year product warranties. In addition, their warranty extends to the complete system, including inverters and racking equipment, and in the case of CertainTeed, asphalt roof shingles:

  • SunPower: with SunPower microinverters

  • CertainTeed: when installed by Gold installers

  • Panasonic: under AllGuard Warranty, bundled with Enphase microinverters

Company
Product
Inverter
Racking Equipment
Product + Inverter + Racking Equipment Score
SunPower25 yearsYes, 25 years for SunPower microinvertersYes9
CertainTeed25 yearsYes, 25 years for microinverters/power optimizers, 12 years for string inverters with Gold installersYes and also covers asphalt roof shingles; roofing penetrations from the solar installation does not void the roof warranty9
Panasonic25 yearsYes, 25 years if panels bundled with Enphase microinverters in AllGuard warrantyYes with AllGuard warranty9
Solaria25 yearsNoNo5
Silfab*25 yearsNoNo5
REC**25 yearsNoNo5
QCELLS25 yearsNoNo5
AXITEC15 yearsNoNo2
Aptos Solar15 yearsNoNo2
Industry standard10 yearsNoNo0

*Silfab's 25-year product warranty pertains to systems installed by a properly registered and qualified Silfab installer; Silfab still offers a 12-year product warranty for other installers.
**REC's 25-year product warranty pertains to systems installed by a REC Certified Solar Professional; REC still offers a 20-year product warranty for other installers.

Whether you're talking about cell phones, televisions, or other home appliances, you can expect the performance of electronics to degrade over time; unsurprisingly, solar panels are no exception to this rule. Because of this, solar panel companies offer a power (or performance) warranty, guaranteeing that their products won't fall below certain output levels after set periods. 

Every power warranty has two core components: the term and the warrantied degradation rate. 

Term

Like their solar panel product warranty, manufacturers also offer a power warranty for a set time. Frankly, there's not a ton of variability regarding power warranty terms; nine times out of ten, your panels will come with a 25-year power performance warranty. However, some manufacturers–like Silfab–offer 30 years of protection.

Degradation

Solar panels degrade at slightly different rates depending on the technology used to capture sunlight, the structure of the silicon cell, and the way the panel aggregates the electricity within the panel (e.g., the layout of the actual circuitry of the solar panel). Most solar panel manufacturers will guarantee at least 80% of the original output by the end of the warranty term, or about 0.7% degradation each year.

You'll notice that most warranties expect the highest degradation (2-3%) within their first year. Interestingly, panels degrade at the highest rate when first exposed to solar radiation, and after an initial adjustment period, the panel's degradation levels to a more stable rate.

After year one, manufacturers typically ensure that power output won't fall an additional 0.5-0.7% each year of the warrantied term (or, if you're Sunpower, as low as 0.25% each year). When comparing one panel to another, remember to look at the guaranteed output by the end of year 25 and the protected degradation rate from one year to the next. 

Also, remember that a warrantied degradation rate differs from what you'll experience in real-life conditions. All solar panels undergo stringent testing to evaluate performance, and when manufacturers establish their power warranties, they stick to conservative numbers they feel confident in. For any warranted degradation rates you're considering, consider it the upper limit of expected degradation throughout the warranty period.

Best power warranties

The following companies all have power warranties that guarantee at least 92% output in year 25 for at least one of their products:

  • SunPower: DC panels

  • Panasonic: EverVolt panels

  • REC: Alpha panels

Company
Power
Power Score
SunPower92% EC, 90% AC at year 255
Panasonic92% EverVolt, 90.76% HIT at year 255
REC92% Alpha, 86% REC N-Peak & TwinPeak 4, 80.7% REC TwinPeak (60-cell), 85.5% TwinPeak (72-cell) at year 255
QCELLS86% G10+, 85% for all other panels at year 252
Silfab85.1% at year 252
Aptos Solar85.1% at year 252
Solaria86% at year 252
AXITEC85% at year 252
CertainTeed85% at year 252
Industry standard80% at year 250

A solar panel manufacturer may provide a product or performance warranty of 25 years that will cover a replacement panel should you need it. While the manufacturer may cover your replacement part, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll cover the labor and shipping costs necessary to re-install that equipment.

Labor for diagnostics, repairs, or replacements

Most manufacturers do not reimburse for the labor associated with replacements or repairs of their products. This addition to a warranty is a moot point for some solar shoppers: Many local installation companies will cover maintenance and repair costs within their own warranty agreement. That said, installer warranties also vary from one company to the next and often only cover their own work – not maintenance costs for properly-installed equipment. 

While most manufacturers won't pay for labor, some companies do! The best solar panel warranties will cover these costs entirely or up to a certain amount (e.g., $600 over your warranty term).

A small number of solar panel manufacturers offer an extra safeguard by tacking on their own workmanship warranty coverage. When applicable, it's typically only an option if you work with specific installers in a manufacturer's certified network: they're putting their brand name and reputation behind their work and want to make sure they can stand by the installer performing the installation. 

Shipping of parts

Say your solar panel breaks, and you can get a free replacement panel under your manufacturer's material warranty – but what about shipping that part to you or your installer?

This is an aspect of the solar maintenance process often overlooked in panel warranties. Many manufacturers will cover the material costs associated with the replacement part but not necessarily the fees to ship the equipment. Or they may be able to ship the product to a local or regional distributor but require you or your installer to get that product to your home. As with labor fees, some may offer to cover shipping but have an upper spending limit for what they can pay.

Best labor and shipping warranties

The following companies cover labor for diagnostics, repairs, or replacements without a cost limit as long as the initial installation was conducted by an installer certified in the company's network; they also cover shipping of components:

  • SunPower: 25 years for SunPower-affiliated installers

  • Panasonic: 25 years if installed by a Panasonic Authorized installer and registered through Panasonic within 60 days of the Warranty Start Date

  • CertainTeed: 25 years for Master installers, 15 years for Certified installers

Company
Labor
Shipping
Labor + Shipping Score
SunPower25 years with SunPower affiliated installersYes5
Panasonic25 years if installed by an authorized installer and registered within 60 days of warranty start dateYes5
CertainTeed15 years for Silver installers, 25 years for Gold installersYes5
REC25 years for REC Certified Solar Professional installers for systems <25 kW (10 years for systems 25-500 kW)No information available3
QCELLS25 years, up to $250 in labor costs for solar panels registered through Q.PARTNER program and less than or equal to 25 kW*No2
Aptos SolarNoYes2
Solaria25 years, up to $300 for the first visit and no more than $200 for the second visitNo2
SilfabNoSometimes1
AXITECNoNo0
Industry standardNoNo0

*Q CELLS also offers an additional $250 labor coverage for battery storage systems.

Let's say you need to submit a warranty claim – how easy is it to do so? And will the manufacturer stand by its warranty?

When you're comparing one solar panel warranty to another, consider the following:

  • How old is the company providing the warranty? There's a difference between a 100-year-old company offering a 25-year warranty and a 5-year-old company offering a 30-year warranty – both exist in the solar industry. Is it a bankable company, and do they have insurance policies or an escrow to ensure their warranties will be upheld even if they go out of business?

  • Who is on the hook for actually fulfilling the warranty? Does the manufacturer have a parent company or subsidiary that backs the warranty or processes claims?

  • How easy is it to make a warranty claim? Does the manufacturer allow you (the product owner) to submit the claim directly, or do you need to contact your installer? Does your installer need to come to your property and perform a diagnostic assessment before submitting any claims?

  • What happens if you move? Does the warranty automatically transfer to the new system owner, or is it more complicated?

Best warranties for bankability & transferability

The following companies are all highly bankable, meaning they're either BNEF Tier 1 or have a separate cash reserve to ensure warranties are paid out. If you move and need to transfer your warranty to the new owner of your home, you won't have to fill out any paperwork – the warranty will automatically transfer throughout the warranty period:

  • Aptos Solar: 1% cash customer reserve for every panel sold

  • Q CELLS: BNEF tier 1

Company
Transferability
Bankability
Transferability + Bankability Score
Aptos SolarAutomatically transfers to new system ownersExtensive third-party testing; 1% cash customer reserve on every panel sold to ensure warranties are paid out5
QCELLSAutomatically transfers to new system ownersBNEF Tier 1 company; top-performing PVEL score; backed by Fortune Global 500 company Hanwha5
SunPowerMust fill out transfer paperworkBNEF Tier 1 company; large warranty reserve separate from the balance sheet; top-performing PVEL score4
RECMust fill out transfer paperworkBNEF Tier 1 company; top-performing PVEL score4
SilfabAutomatically transfers to new system ownersTop-performing PVEL score4
SolariaAutomatically transfers to new system ownersConducts additional third-party testing3
PanasonicMust fill out transfer paperworkPanasonic Life Solutions is a well-established counter-party with a diversity of products2
AXITECAutomatically transfers to new system ownersLittle information available2
CertainTeedSolstice system can be transferred only one time in first 10 yearsISO, IEC, ISO certifications on manufacturing facilities & inspectors in facilities1
Industry standardMust fill out paperworkLittle information available1

Some companies offer extended product or power warranties to give you added peace of mind. To be eligible for the extended warranty, you may need to choose an installer in the company's network, select a specific financing partner, or pay a fee.

Best extended warranties

Of the nine companies on our list, one offers an extended product warranty, and three offer power warranties that extend to 30 years.

  • Silfab: automatically guarantees 82.6% at year 30 (no cost)

  • Aptos Solar: for a fee, increases the product warranty from the 15-year baseline to 25 years and guarantees 82.4% at year 30

  • Solaria: via a select finance partner, guarantees 83.5% at year 30

Company
Extended Product Warranty
Extended 30-year Power Warranty
Extended Product + Power Warranty Score
SilfabNo*Yes, automatically guarantees 82.6% at year 302
Aptos SolarYes, to 25 years at a costYes, 82.4% at year 30 at a cost2
SolariaNoYes, 83.5% at year 30 via a select finance partner (contact Solaria or installer directly to take advantage)1
SunPowerNoNo0
PanasonicNoNo0
RECNo*No0
QCELLSNoNo0
CertainTeedNoNo0
AXITECNoNo0
Industry standardNoNo0

*Silfab and REC both technically offer extended product warranties as well, but these are automatically applied if the installation is done by an installer in their certified network at no cost to you; thus, these are reflected in the product warranty score.

While we don't specifically include the claim process in our scoring system, we think it's important for you to understand!

Typically, you'll file your warranty claim through your installer–but what happens if they go out of business? We contacted all nine solar panel companies to understand if it's easy to contact someone if necessary.

Company
How To File A Claim
Customer Service Location
Phone Number
Hours
What To Expect
Aptos SolarFirst contact installer, if customer can't reach installer, submit claim in writing by mail to Aptos SolaSanta Clara, CA408-931-60548:30am - 5:00pm PST Mon - FriAfter a menu, will likely send you to voicemail
AXITECContact AXITEC in writingLogan Township, NJ856-393-78008:30am - 5:00pm EST Mon - FriNo menu, straight to a person
CertainTeedContact installer or contact CertainTeed directly through website or over phoneMalvern, PA800-345-11458:30am - 5:00pm EST Mon - FriMenu, a person will likely answer after prompts
PanasonicContact installer or Panasonic directly and submit claim form with required photos via email-Only online--
QCELLSEmail or write to claims department if in purchase agreementIrvine, CA949-748-59968:00am - 5:00pm PST Mon - FriAfter a menu, will likely send you to voicemail
RECNotify installer, need proof of original purchase and must include description of defect and product's serial number in claimAcross the United States877-890-8930No hours listedNo menu, straight to a person
SilfabContact installer, installer will submit a return merchandise authorization on your behalf, can also contact Silfab directly via email or phoneBellingham, WA360-569-47338:30am - 5:00pm PST Mon - FriAfter a menu, will likely be placed on an automatic hold
SolariaEmail or write to claims department directlyFremont, CA510-270-25078:00am - 5:00pm PST Mon - FriAfter a menu, will likely send you to voicemail
SunPowerNotify installer and contact SunPower directly by phone or via emailPhillippines800-786-769324/7Menu, a person will likely answer after prompts

A solar system is a long-term investment: Typically, they last 25 to 30 years! And while solar panels generally need very little upkeep and rarely break, a strong warranty can give you peace of mind when you go solar. What's the best way to make your solar system last? Choose an excellent installer! On the EnergySage Marketplace, you'll receive up to seven quotes from our network of vetted professional installers, offering equipment with some of the best warranties. If you're looking for a specific panel brand, make a note in your EnergySage profile. 

If you represent a solar panel company and don't see your company's warranty included in this article, please contact editors@energysage.com.

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