Solar panels last 25-30 years while inverters last 10-20 years.
Solar Panels
Generally, solar panels last about 25-30 years. However, this doesn’t mean that they stop producing electricity after 25 years – it just means that energy production has declined by what manufacturers consider to be a significant amount. Solar panels can continue to work for many decades, given they aren’t physically damaged by wind, debris, or any other external factors. This is primarily because solar panels don’t have any moving parts – they rarely break from within and are usually only damaged by outside forces like natural disasters.
Inverters
Solar inverter lifespan can vary as most string inverter life expectancy ranges from 10 to 20 years whereas some microinverters and DC optimizers are rated to last 20 to 25 years. However, if you’re looking for off-grid battery-based PV inverters, you can expect much shorter lifespans ranging from 2-10 years depending on the manufacturer and usage.