31 Oct 2026 · Panels
What makes a solar panel "good"?
A good panel makes power reliably for years. Check its output for its size, how it handles heat, and both warranties: the product warranty covers defects, and the performance warranty sets how much output it should keep as it ages. Ask your installer to show you both on the datasheet.
What makes a solar panel "good"?
A good solar panel makes electricity reliably for many years, not just on the day it's installed. Most panels are sold on their specifications, but the things that matter most over the life of a system are how much power the panel makes for its size, how it copes with heat, and what happens if it fails or loses output.
Output for its size. A panel's rated power (its watts, measured in lab conditions) tells you how much it can make in ideal sunlight. Efficiency tells you how much of the sunlight hitting it becomes electricity. A more efficient panel makes more power from the same roof space, which matters on a small or awkward roof. Compare panels on the same roof area, not just on price per watt.
How it performs in heat. Panels produce less power as they get hotter, and Australian roofs get very hot. Each panel's datasheet lists a "temperature coefficient," which shows how much output drops for each degree above the standard test temperature. A smaller number means the panel holds up better in summer. Ask your installer to show you this figure on the datasheet for the panel you're considering.
Two warranties, two jobs. Panels usually come with two separate promises:
- The product warranty covers defects, such as a faulty cell or a failed frame, for a set number of years. Smarter Solar's own standard asks for at least 12 years of product warranty before a panel brand is shown on a plan.
- The performance warranty states how much output the panel should still produce as it ages. It's usually written as a percentage of the original output at a set year, and it's the one that tells you how much power to expect in later life. Read the exact percentage and year in the maker's document, not in a sales pitch.
Local support you can actually reach. A warranty is only as good as the company that honours it. Check that the manufacturer has an Australian office, contact or named warranty agent listed on its own website, and that the manufacturer has been around for a while.
What Smarter Solar does with this. Your plan looks at your roof, shading and electricity use to show what size of system could suit your home. It shows panel brands that meet our published standard. No brand pays to appear, and the plan isn't a recommendation of any one panel.