Yash
A long solar panel warranty give peace of mind to the owner.
By now we must have understood the importance of solar panels in any solar power system.
They absorb the sunlight and convert it into electricity.
The most important energy conversion in any solar power system.
They have long operational lives.
The solar panel warranty assures the long operational lives.
The solar panels come with 2 types of warranties:
- Product Warranty
- Performance Warranty
Product Warranty
In the product warranty, the manufacturer assures the buyer that the solar panel will be defect-free in material and workmanship for a certain period (if installed in accordance with the guidelines mentioned in the warranty manual).
These defects could be damage to diodes, breaking connections, premature wear and tear of the solar panels, etc.
If any defect is found in the warranty period.
The company is liable to repair or replace the product or refund the equivalent price of the product prevailing in the market.
The longer the period, the better it is.
The product becomes valid from the purchase date of the solar panel.
Performance Warranty
The Performance warranty assures the buyers that their solar panels are going to produce a certain percentage of Pmax even after 25 years.
For example, a solar panel has a performance warranty of 25 years.
It says that the power output will reduce as follows:
In the first year, it would be
3% of Pmax
Then from the 2nd year till 25th year 0.5% per year.
It will look like as follows:
In the 25th year, the solar panel will produce 86% of its Pmax under STC.
Assuming you have a solar panel of 500 watts.
Then at the end of the 25th year after installation, it will produce 430 watts (86% of 500 watts).
This power output would be under standard test conditions.
You might be wondering why the degradation is the maximum in the first year.
Rather it should be the minimum because the solar panel is new.
It is because of the phenomenon of Light Induced Degradation (LID).
Let us look at the performance warranty of REC Solar Panel.
REC offers an excellent product warranty of 20 years on its standard product and 25 years on REC ProTrust.
Let us see the performance warranty. It is 25 years and degradation is 2% of its nameplate power or it will produce 98% of its nameplate power in the first year.
Thereafter, it will degrade at 0.25% every year till the 25th year.
If I draw the graph based on the given information, the performance degradation will look something as follows:
Read: Know the most efficient solar panels in the world
It will produce 92% of its Pmax in the 25th year.
Which is a very good value.
Reading the warranty between the lines: The Truth
1) The covering glass
The breaking of covering glass due to external factors or influence is not considered a product defect.
2) Scratches and stains
The outer appearance of the solar panel like:
- scratches
- stains
- rust
- discoloration
- and other signs of normal wear and tear that occur due to transportation, loading, unloading, and installation
are not considered defects as long as they do not affect the functionality of the solar panel.
3) Non transferable
The warranty is not transferrable by the original end-user.
Except for one case.
Assuming the original owner sold the house to another person along with the solar power system.
The system remained installed at the same location and the structure was not moved, or altered from its original location.
4) Fault detection and information time
Any defect in the system must be informed to the warranter without any delay and prior to the expiration of the warranty period.
Suppose you detected the fault in the system when the solar panels were in the warranty period but informed the warranter after the expiry of the warranty.
Then that defect will not be covered.
5) Charges excluded
The transportation charges, de-installation and installation charges, and labor charges are not included in the warranty.
6) Warranty of the replaced product
The warranty period of the replaced or repaired product will remain the same as the original product.
For example, a solar panel has a product warranty of 10 years.
After 7 years, the buyer detects a defect in the solar panel.
The warranter replaced it with a new solar panel. Then the warranty of that replaced product will not start afresh.
It will be limited to the original one from the date of the purchase.
And it will expire in the next 3 years.
7) The loss of power
The loss of power due to lightning, fire, flood, accidental breakage, and any accidents that do not arise under normal working conditions do not come under the warranty.
For example, the operating range of the solar panel is -40ᵒC to +85ᵒC.
Assuming a fire near the installation site whose heat affects the cells temperature of the solar panels and exceeds 85ᵒC.
Then any deterioration in the performance of the solar panels is not covered under the warranty.
8) Modifications
The damage that occurs due to the repair or modifications done by any third party other than the qualified professional from the solar panel company is not covered under the warranty.
Assuming after some time, the solar owner makes some modifications in the system size and the structure through the third party (which is not the one who had installed the original system).
Then any defect arising or degradation in the solar output later due to this modification will not be considered under the warranty by the original warranter.
9) Warranty claim
To claim any warranty the buyer must inform the original seller from where the product was purchased.
To process the claim the buyer must provide the original documents which he got at the time of purchase.
Conclusion
The solar panels are the most important component and constitute 35% to 45% of the system’s total cost.
Therefore, their quality and durability have to be assured by the warranter.
The solar panel warranties save the owner.
However, the buyer must understand the warranties’ limitations and must read between the lines to understand them completely.
The long product and performance warranties give the owner peace of mind.
And let him enjoy the smooth electricity for decades.
