There are currently approximately 400,000 homes in the US with rooftop solar arrays and by 2024 solar panels may be more common than satellite dishes. In their white paper, “The Importance of Reliable Solar Mounting Systems,” Barry Cinnamon, Liz Oh, and a consortium of experts in the solar industry provide a manual on how to avoid problems like roof leaks, loose panels, and defective wiring.

One in 2,000 systems fails

They examined 20 systems in the San Francisco Bay area to gain additional insight. These systems were 10 years old and “still in very good shape.”

Only one in 2,000 panels are known to fail and almost all panels sold in the US are guaranteed to provide 80% of their original rated output after 25 years.

“While rare, damages from poorly installed solar racking can cost homeowners and installers several thousands of dollars. The good news is that by using proper components and taking a few extra steps, installers can prevent pretty much all of these problems,” said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Cinnamon Solar and primary white paper author.

Areas of Concern

There principal areas of concern are inverters and mounting systems.

“Since racking and mounting reliability is already very high among quality-focused installers, it’s very easy to get comfortable as an industry and let issues sneak up on us. We wanted to bring more attention to reliability in the racking space since problems there can give the industry a black eye and curb growth if ignored,” said Liz Oh, President of Solar Marketing Group and white paper co-author.

Top photo credit: illustration from Solar Panels Last 25 Years – But Will They Stay Safely Attached to Your Roof? The Importance of Reliable Solar Mounting Systems by Cinnamon Solar er al, March 2014