Solar repowering guide shows installers how to tap into the aging rooftop market

If you installed solar panels ten or more years ago, the panels themselves are probably still working fine, but the equipment around them may not be. Parts like string inverters (which convert the power your panels make into electricity your house can use), rapid shutdown devices, and monitoring hardware tend to wear out well before the panels do. Add in the fact that many early solar installers have gone out of business, and a lot of homeowners with older systems no longer have anyone to call for repairs or warranty help.

This has created a growing business opportunity that solar companies are now organizing around, called "repowering" — upgrading or replacing the aging components on an existing system rather than tearing it out. One industry group, Tigo Energy, says its equipment has already supported more than 11 megawatts of these repowering projects, including one partnership with over 1,000 inverter replacements. Beyond basic repairs, repowering can also mean adding newer monitoring tools, boosting performance with upgraded electronics, or preparing a system to handle battery storage, home backup power, or an electric vehicle charger.

For homeowners, the takeaway is that an aging solar system does not necessarily mean starting over. If your setup is a decade or older, or if your original installer is no longer in business, it may be worth asking a solar contractor whether your system is a candidate for this kind of upgrade rather than a full replacement, especially if you are interested in adding battery backup or EV charging down the road.