Solar Panel Warranty Australia: What’s Actually Covered

There's no single solar panel warranty Australia buyers can rely on — a solar system here usually comes with four separate warranties, not one: a product warranty on the panels, a performance warranty on their output, a warranty on the inverter, and a workmanship warranty from the installer. Each covers a different failure and each runs for a different length of time. The one most buyers overlook is the workmanship warranty, and it is often the one you end up needing first.

Get those four numbers in writing before you sign and you will know exactly who fixes what, and for how long, if something goes wrong on your roof.

What warranties come with a solar system in Australia?

Think of your system as three parts — panels, inverter and installation — each with its own cover:

• Product (equipment) warranty — the panel maker's promise the panel is free of manufacturing defects. Historically 10-12 years, now commonly 25 years on quality residential panels.
• Performance (output) warranty — guarantees the panel still produces a set percentage of its rated power years down the track, usually out to 25-30 years.
• Inverter warranty — covers the inverter that converts your solar into usable power. Often around 5-10 years, sometimes extendable.
• Workmanship (installation) warranty — the installer's cover for the labour: mounting, wiring, waterproofing and the fix-up if any of it fails.

Four warranties, three parties: the panel maker, the inverter maker, and your installer. Knowing who is responsible for what is the whole game when you need a repair.

What's the difference between the product and performance warranty?

They sound similar and get mixed up constantly. The product warranty is about defects — if a panel physically fails, delaminates or stops working because of how it was built, this is the cover that replaces it. The performance warranty is about gradual decline. Every solar panel loses a little output each year, and the performance warranty promises the panel will still generate at least a guaranteed percentage of its original rating at a given year.

Two panels can both advertise a 25-year performance warranty and still be very different. What matters is the guaranteed output figure at year 25 and the yearly degradation rate — a lower annual drop means more free power over the life of the system. Ask for both numbers, not just the headline year.

How long is the inverter warranty, and why does it matter?

The inverter is the hardest-working part of your system — it runs whenever the sun is up — so it is statistically the part most likely to need attention over the decades. Inverter warranties are typically shorter than panel warranties, which is why it pays to check the term up front and whether it can be extended.

This also matters if you plan to add a battery later. Many buyers choose a hybrid or battery-ready inverter now so storage slots in cleanly down the track. If that is you, read our solar battery page and confirm the inverter warranty and battery compatibility before you commit. Battery brands we install — such as Fox ESS, GoodWe and SolaX — each carry their own separate warranty on the battery itself, so treat that as another line item to check.

What is a workmanship warranty and why does it matter most?

Your panels can be covered for 25 years on paper, but a panel warranty does not pay for the ladder, the labour or the call-out to actually get up on your roof. That is the workmanship warranty's job, and it is the one people forget to ask about.

In Australia there's a baseline worth knowing. Under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code, Approved Sellers commit to a whole-of-system warranty of at least five years that covers the system operating as it should — which includes the installation workmanship. Some quality installers offer longer on their own workmanship cover. The gap to watch: if your panels are warranted for 25 years but the whole-of-system cover runs only five, from year six the express warranty on labour and call-outs may have lapsed. Even then, your Australian Consumer Law rights can still apply beyond any express warranty, so a later fix is not automatically at your own cost — it depends on the fault and how long the product should reasonably be expected to last.

A long panel warranty means little if the installer who has to honour the labour is only on the hook for five years — or is no longer trading. Longevity of the installer matters as much as the paperwork.

What can void your solar warranty?

Warranties have conditions, and breaking them can leave you uncovered. The common ones:

• Using an unlicensed or unqualified installer, which can invalidate manufacturer cover from the start.
• DIY repairs or letting an unqualified person work on the system.
• Skipping required servicing or inspections the manufacturer specifies.
• Adding equipment (like a battery or extra panels) in a way that isn't approved or properly documented.
• Damage from causes outside the warranty — that's usually a home insurance matter, not a warranty one.

The simplest protection is to use a licensed, qualified installer, keep every document and invoice, and get any later changes to the system done and recorded properly. That's also why it pays to compare solar quotes carefully rather than chasing the lowest sticker price.

How do you actually claim on a solar warranty?

Who to contact depends on how your system was sold. If one business both sold and installed your system, start there. If the seller and installer are different businesses, raise product faults — a failed panel or inverter — with the seller or manufacturer, and installation faults — mounting, wiring, waterproofing — with the installer. A local, still-trading installer is worth a lot here, because they will often coordinate a claim for you. You will generally need your original invoice, the system documentation and the panel or inverter serial numbers, so keep them somewhere safe from day one.

If the fault is a manufacturing defect, the manufacturer or seller is responsible for the part. Who pays the labour to diagnose and refit it depends on the specific warranty terms, the seller's obligations and your rights under the Australian Consumer Law — it is not automatically the installer's workmanship warranty. That is why the terms need to line up, and why it pays to read them: a part covered for 25 years is small comfort if it is unclear who has to come and fit it.

What should you check before you sign?

Run this quick checklist against any quote:

• Product warranty term on the panels — and is it the maker's own cover?
• Performance warranty — the guaranteed output at year 25 and the annual degradation rate.
• Inverter warranty term, and whether it can be extended.
• Whole-of-system and workmanship cover — at least five years under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code, longer is better.
• Who honours each warranty, and how established the installer is locally.

Solar is a 20-to-30-year decision, so the warranties are a big part of the value — not fine print to skim. See how eHomes handles quality and support on our solar panels page and read what customers say in our reviews.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a typical solar panel warranty in Australia?

Quality residential panels now commonly carry a product (defect) warranty of around 25 years and a performance (output) warranty out to 25-30 years. These are two separate warranties: one covers manufacturing faults, the other guarantees the panel still produces a set percentage of its rated power over time. Always confirm both terms in writing.

What is the minimum whole-of-system warranty for solar in Australia?

Under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code, Approved Sellers commit to a whole-of-system warranty of at least five years, which covers the system operating as intended — including the installation workmanship. Some installers offer longer on their workmanship cover. Separately, the Australian Consumer Law provides guarantees that can apply even after an express warranty ends, depending on the fault and how long the product should reasonably last.

What's the difference between a product and a performance warranty?

A product warranty covers manufacturing defects — if the panel physically fails because of how it was built, it gets replaced. A performance warranty covers gradual output decline, guaranteeing the panel still generates at least a set percentage of its original rating at a given year. A panel can have both, and they run for different lengths of time.

Can adding a battery later void my solar warranty?

It can if the work isn't done and documented properly, or if it's carried out by someone unqualified. Adding a battery through a licensed, qualified installer, with the change approved and recorded, keeps your cover intact. The battery itself also comes with its own separate manufacturer warranty, which you should check alongside your existing system's terms.

Who do I contact to make a solar warranty claim?

It depends on how your system was sold. If one business both sold and installed it, start there. If the seller and installer are different businesses, raise product faults with the seller or manufacturer and installation faults with the installer. A local, established installer is valuable because they'll often coordinate the claim for you. Keep your original invoice, system documentation and the panel and inverter serial numbers, as you'll generally need them to lodge a claim.