Generally speaking, the average lifespan of a normal solar PV system is approximately twenty-five years. However, in the case of solar inverters, the picture is a bit different. In most cases, solar inverters have a general life expectancy of not more than ten years.
Although the general estimate of a solar inverter is around ten years, there have been instances where it has lasted for around twenty years or even more. Most of these inverters require regular maintenance for smooth operation. They may also require occasional repair.
Any solar inverter malfunction can cause an absolute shutdown of the entire PV system. In such cases, neither the usable power can be generated nor there is any refund of customer investment.
The inverters generally get replaced after every ten years. The replacement costs are pretty expensive. It can cost up to 10% of the capital cost of the entire project.