When you buy a home solar and battery system, the word warranty gets used as a selling point. Headline figures like 25 years get quoted to make you feel completely protected.
A complete installation does not come with a single blanket guarantee. It is covered by four or five separate warranties issued by different companies, each covering a different component, lasting a different period, and carrying its own set of rules.
Knowing what each one covers, how long it lasts and who is legally responsible if something fails is what lets you read the fine print on a quote properly. Our guide on how to read a solar quote covers the rest of the document.
The Warranties Bundled Into Every Solar System
Every standard residential system includes three distinct product warranties from the equipment manufacturers, plus an overarching workmanship warranty from the installation company.
Product Warranty (the Panels Themselves)
The panel product warranty covers physical defects, faulty materials and manufacturing flaws in the module itself. Water ingress, frame corrosion, micro-cracks or junction box failure caused by poor manufacturing all fall here.
This guarantee comes from the panel manufacturer, not the company that mounts the system. In Australia a 10-year product warranty is the industry-standard minimum, though it is not a condition of the Clean Energy Council approved products list. That list is about international safety and performance testing, not warranty length. Most mid-range panels offer 12 to 15 years, while premium manufacturers extend product cover to 25 or 30 years.
Performance Warranty (Power Output Over Time)
A performance warranty is entirely separate from the product warranty and does not cover physical faults. It guarantees how much power the cells will keep generating as they degrade.
Silicon cells slowly lose a fraction of their efficiency each year through heat, UV and environmental wear. The standard industry benchmark guarantees at least 90% of original rated output at year 10 and at least 80% at year 25. Premium modules often guarantee 85% to 92% at the 25-year mark.
A 25-year performance warranty is not an expiry date. Panels do not stop working when they turn 25, they simply generate slightly less than when they were new, which is why it is worth checking how long solar panels actually last alongside the written terms.
Inverter Warranty
The inverter is the hardest-working component in the system, converting high-voltage DC from the roof into 240V AC continuously. Because it handles high electrical loads and thermal stress, it is historically the most likely part to need service or replacement inside a 15-year window.
Standard string inverter manufacturers offer 5 to 10-year product warranties, with extended cover often available up to 15 or 20 years. Quality hybrid inverters and microinverters typically include 10 to 12-year standard warranties out of the box. At Guwing Green we spec hardware built for Australian conditions and backed by local support networks.
Workmanship Warranty (the Installer's Own Promise)
While the other three come from equipment manufacturers, the workmanship warranty is issued by your installation company. It covers the physical installation work: roof penetrations, mounting rack fixings, conduit runs, switchboard wiring and weather-sealing.
If a roof tile cracks during installation, an unsealed penetration leaks in heavy rain, or an isolator burns out because a cable terminal was under-torqued, the workmanship warranty covers the repair.
Under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code, Approved Sellers are bound to provide a minimum 5-year workmanship warranty on residential installations. Engineering-led companies typically go well beyond that minimum. Guwing Green backs every install with our own workmanship warranty, on top of the manufacturer cover on your panels, inverter and battery.
How Battery Warranties Actually Work
A home battery introduces a completely different warranty structure. Unlike panels, which sit passively in the sun, batteries are active electrochemical devices that degrade according to how hard and how often they are worked. Manufacturers write their warranties around three competing limits.
Years, Cycles and Throughput, Whichever Comes First
- Calendar time. The overall time limit, typically 10 years.
- Cycle count. The total number of complete charge and discharge cycles, commonly 4,000 to 6,000.
- Total throughput. The cumulative energy in megawatt-hours the battery is allowed to process over its lifetime.
If a 10 kWh battery carries a 10-year warranty capped at 28 MWh of throughput, that allows roughly 7.6 kWh of discharge a day. Use the battery heavily, charging and discharging twice a day to cover high loads, and you might exhaust the throughput cap in year six. Once that threshold is crossed the warranty ends, even though only six calendar years have passed.
Battery warranties also include a capacity retention guarantee, promising that at the end of the term the battery still retains a minimum percentage of original usable capacity, typically 70%.
What the Leading Batteries Actually Offer
| Battery | Warranty term | Capacity retention |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall 2 and 3 | 10 years, unlimited cycles for standard self-consumption | At least 70% at year 10 |
| Enphase IQ Battery 5P | 15 years or 6,000 cycles, whichever comes first | 60% of initial capacity |
| Sungrow SBR and SBH | 10 years, linked to throughput limits by module count | 70% capacity retention |
Review how those terms line up with your calculated battery payback period, so the system pays for itself well before the throughput limits are reached. Our full battery comparison puts these side by side on price and capacity too.
Why Accreditation Decides Whether Any of This Holds Up
A printed warranty document is only as valuable as the accreditation behind the installation. If a system is installed incorrectly or commissioned by an unaccredited worker, the manufacturer can legally reject your claims from day one.
SAA Replaced CEC as the Installer Accreditation Body
In early 2024 the Clean Energy Regulator transferred the accreditation scheme for solar and battery installers to Solar Accreditation Australia. The Clean Energy Council's role is now strictly limited to maintaining the approved products register.
If an installation company still advertises CEC-accredited installers, they are using outdated terminology. To qualify for federal certificates and keep manufacturer warranties valid, your system has to be designed and built by professionals listed on the SAA register. At Guwing Green, installations are handled by our own SAA-accredited engineers and installers.
What Can Void a Solar or Battery Warranty
- Unaccredited modifications or DIY changes. Having an unaccredited electrician alter system wiring, add unauthorised panels or relocate an inverter voids both product and workmanship warranties.
- Missing product registration. Some manufacturers require serial numbers registered online within 30 to 90 days of commissioning to unlock the full term. Skipping it can reduce cover to a baseline minimum.
- Loss of internet connectivity. Smart batteries require an active connection to receive firmware and thermal management updates. Some warranty terms specify that an extended disconnection can reduce the term.
- Incorrect environmental clearance. Installing an inverter or battery in direct afternoon sun, inside an unventilated enclosure, or without the fire-safety clearances required under AS/NZS 5139 can void thermal performance guarantees.
- Weather events and external damage. Product warranties cover internal manufacturing failures, not external accidents. Storms, hail, lightning, bushfire, falling branches and vermin damage are excluded, and belong on your building insurance policy instead.
Your Rights Do Not Stop When the Written Warranty Does
Many homeowners assume that once a written manufacturer warranty expires, all protection ends. In Australia that is not true. Under the Australian Consumer Law, consumer guarantees apply automatically to all solar panels, inverters and home batteries sold here, alongside and independent of any voluntary warranty.
- Products must be of acceptable quality, fit for purpose, and match their description.
- Consumer guarantees have no fixed expiry date. The law says a product must last a reasonable period, taking into account its cost, its nature and any representations made by the seller.
- If a panel or inverter fails after its written warranty ends but well short of what a reasonable consumer would expect from a major capital purchase, you may still be entitled to a repair, replacement or refund from the Australian retailer.
Retailers cannot hide behind fine print or redirect you to an overseas manufacturer. The company that sold you the system remains your primary point of contact.
Warranty Terms Can Also Decide Your NSW Incentive
Warranty documentation also governs eligibility for state incentives. Under the NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, home batteries have to satisfy strict warranty thresholds to access the ongoing VPP incentive:
- 10-year warranty requirement. To connect a newly installed battery to a VPP, the system must carry a written warranty of at least 10 years and guarantee at least 70% of usable capacity retained at the 10-year mark.
- Remaining warranty threshold for existing batteries. Connecting a battery you already own means it must have at least six years of valid manufacturer warranty remaining at the time of connection.
Choosing hardware with shorter or non-compliant warranty documentation can rule a property out of both the federal battery discount and the ongoing NSW payments. We check these thresholds against your chosen battery as part of every quote, so there are no surprises after installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does installing solar panels void my roof warranty?
Not automatically, provided the installation is completed by a licensed, accredited professional following standard building codes, using approved flashings, correct tile brackets and proper sealant methods. If an unaccredited installer damages tiles or causes leaks through improper penetrations, your building insurance and the installer's workmanship warranty cover the repairs, not the roofing manufacturer.
How long is a solar panel warranty?
Panels carry two separate warranties. The product warranty covers physical manufacturing defects and typically lasts 12 to 25 years. The performance warranty guarantees electrical output over time, usually promising at least 80% to 85% of original rated output after 25 years.
Are solar and battery warranties transferable if I sell my house?
Yes. Most major manufacturer warranties attach to the equipment at its original installation address and transfer to the new owner on sale. Workmanship warranties from quality installers also transfer with the building, though you should notify the installation company to update account records at settlement.
Does a solar or battery warranty cover storm or hail damage?
No. Hardware warranties cover internal manufacturing flaws and material degradation, not damage from extreme weather. Hail, storms, fire and falling debris are excluded and belong on your building policy, which is why it is worth reading our guide to solar panels and home insurance as soon as your system is commissioned.
Is Guwing Green an approved provider for the NSW Home Energy Saver Program?
Guwing Green holds the credentials NSW Government schemes look for in an installer, including SAA accreditation and NETCC Approved Seller status, and we are approved to offer access to the Home Energy Saver loan through Brighte and Plenti. Confirm with our team which lender you would be applying through before you sign a quote.
A Warranty Is Only as Good as the Business Behind It
Long guarantees written on paper mean very little if the installer closes down or the manufacturer has no customer support presence in Australia.
Every system designed and installed by Guwing Green is specified by SAA-accredited engineers and backed by our own workmanship guarantee. Request a proposal and our engineering team will walk you through the exact warranty terms before you commit.
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