Your guide to solar warranties in Sydney

When investing in a solar power system for your Sydney home, the warranty is one of the most critical documents you’ll receive. It’s your peace of mind and protection for a significant financial outlay. However, it’s not a single warranty but a bundle of separate guarantees covering different parts of your system.

A comprehensive solar warranty package includes:

• Solar Panel Warranties: Covering the panels’ physical integrity and their power output over time.

• Solar Inverter Warranty: For the device that converts solar energy into usable electricity for your home.

• Battery Warranty: If you’re including energy storage.

• Workmanship Warranty: The guarantee from your installer covering the quality of their work.

Understanding how each of these works is key to choosing a reliable solar installer and ensuring your system delivers value for decades.

Typical solar panel warranty in Australia

Solar panels come with two distinct warranties, and it’s essential to understand the difference between them. Good quality panels should last at least 20 years, and some manufacturers now offer product warranties for 25 years or more.

• Product Warranty: This covers defects in materials and manufacturing. Think of it as the guarantee against the panel itself failing due to a fault in its construction. Standard product warranties in Australia range from 12 to 25 years.

• Performance Warranty: This guarantees the panel will maintain a certain level of energy production over time. All solar panels degrade slightly each year, and this warranty ensures the output won’t fall below a specified level. Most panels come with a 25 or 30-year performance warranty.

Here’s a simple breakdown of what each solar panel warranty type covers:

The Girl Next Door’s Pro Tip: The product warranty is arguably the more important of the two. A complete panel failure is a clear-cut claim, whereas proving a panel’s underperformance can be more complex. Look for manufacturers with a long product warranty and a physical presence in Australia for easier claims processing.

Best solar panel manufacturer warranties in Australia

When assessing panel warranties, the manufacturer’s reputation and stability are as important as the warranty’s length. A 25-year promise is only valuable if the company is still around to honour it. Reputable brands available in Australia offer comprehensive warranties and have local support teams.

Here are some of the top brands and their typical warranties:

Solar inverter warranty periods in Australia

The inverter is the workhorse of your solar system, converting the DC electricity from your panels into AC electricity for your home. Because it works hard every day, it’s often the first component that may need replacing.

A standard inverter warranty is typically 5 to 10 years. Many premium brands like Fronius and Sungrow offer a 10-year warranty as standard. Leading brands such as SolarEdge often provide a 12-year standard warranty, which can be extended to 20 or 25 years.

Understanding solar battery warranty

Solar battery warranties are more complex than other components. They usually cover a period of years (typically 10), a certain number of charge/discharge “cycles,” or a total energy “throughput”—whichever comes first.

• Tesla Powerwall: Offers a 10-year warranty with a guarantee of at least 70% energy retention.

• Sungrow SBR: Comes with a 10-year warranty, also guaranteeing a specific level of retained capacity.

The Girl Next Door’s Pro Tip: When comparing battery warranties, look for the ‘cycle life’ rating and the end-of-warranty retained capacity, not just the number of years. A 10-year warranty is less valuable if you exceed the warrantied cycle count in year seven or if it only guarantees 60% of its original capacity.

The crucial solar installation workmanship warranty in Sydney

The workmanship warranty is your installer’s guarantee on the quality of their own work. This is a direct reflection of the solar installer company you choose and is critically important. It covers issues arising from the physical installation, such as:

• Defects in wiring and connections

• Problems with the mounting system

• Roof leaks caused by the installation process

In Sydney, a typical workmanship warranty lasts between 5 and 10 years. While a 5-year warranty is a common standard, a 10-year warranty demonstrates greater confidence from the installer in their team’s quality and processes.

Case Study: A Family in Penrith The Sharma family was dealing with quarterly electricity bills approaching $700. They installed an 8kW system using Trina panels and a 10kWh Sungrow battery. The total cost was $17,000, but after federal rebates, their out-of-pocket expense was closer to $14,500. Their annual savings now exceed $2,500, placing them on a clear path to a payback period of under 6 years. Their last bill was just the daily grid connection charge.

How Australian consumer law protects your solar system warranty

Beyond any warranty provided by a manufacturer or installer, your entire solar system is protected by Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The ACL provides automatic consumer guarantees that products must be of acceptable quality, fit for purpose, and last a reasonable amount of time.

This means if a component fails prematurely—even after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired—you may still have rights to a repair, replacement, or refund from the installer who sold you the system. Crucially, the installer cannot simply direct you to the manufacturer; they are responsible for resolving the issue.

Industry accreditation and warranty guidelines

To ensure high standards in the solar industry, it is vital to choose an installer accredited by the proper governing body. For many years, the Clean Energy Council (CEC) was the primary organisation for accrediting solar installers and designers. However, as of February 2024, this role has transitioned to a new, dedicated body called Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA).

SAA has taken over from the CEC to manage the accreditation scheme that ensures installers and designers are trained to meet stringent safety and quality standards. A key requirement for SAA-accredited installers—a standard previously upheld by the CEC—is the provision of a minimum five-year, whole-of-system warranty. This warranty is crucial as it covers the operation and performance of the entire system, including workmanship and all components, giving you a single point of contact for any issues.

Making the right choice

Choosing a solar installer in Sydney with a robust warranty package is fundamental to a successful long-term investment. Look for an SAA-accredited installer that offers a 10-year workmanship warranty and uses high-quality panels and inverters from stable, reputable brands with strong Australian support.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options, we can help. Our team has analysed the technical specifications and warranty documents for hundreds of products. We can connect you with a trusted local expert who meets these high standards.