Most solar panels have an expected lifetime of 25 years, with very little maintenance required. The individual components have lifetimes of ten years and up. The cost of maintenance and extended warranties will be an important factor of the project’s financial analysis. After the system’s useful lifetime is over, it can easily be removed, but we hope that the system will continue to be upgraded as technology improves. Who knows, maybe Needham’s 400th birthday party will be solar-powered!
What happens to the solar panels when they break or wear out? Who covers maintenance?
