Mission Solar

• Affordability
• Warranty Coverage
• Design Options

Affordability

The biggest advantage of the Mission Solar platform is the cost savings homeowners can get through ordering U.S.-made solar panels versus what some of the other big manufacturers offer. While the big tech companies can offer more in terms of efficiency, the cost for a more efficient panel can cost thousands of dollars more. Mission Solar has worked to keep panels affordable and accessible for homeowners across the states.

Most solar panels will cost homeowners over $20,000 on average, lingering more in the $25,000 range for most average property sizes. Mission Solar, on the other hands, offers its premier product for $18,000 with cheaper versions available for purchase. 

Warranty Coverage

It is standard for a manufacturer to offer an equipment warranty. These warranties generally last 25 years in length and cover a host of issues including replacement and repair work and parts. Mission Solar offers this typical equipment warranty as well; however, it offers a second warranty on all of its panels not commonly available through other manufacturers. 

Mission Solar also offers a 25-year power warranty covering production and functionality of its solar panels. This dual warranty covers nearly aspect of the solar panel that has potential for flaws providing additional security for homeowners that invest in Mission Solar products. 

Design Options

Another unique aspect of the Mission Solar product is the fact that the panels themselves are modular to fit design specifications of a certain home or property. Other mass produced panels come in standard shapes and sizes and it is up to the installers to make those measurements work. Additionally, Mission Solar clients can make aesthetic choices to better suit the home. Again, this is not available through other panel providers. 

• Performance Degradation Rate
• Smaller Manufacturing Operation
• Efficiency and Wattage

Performance Degradation Rate

One key metric that solar panel clients are interested in is the performance degradation rate. This rate determines what percentage of performance or power produced that the panel can generate over time. The average performance degradation rate hovers around 0.2 percent to 0.5 year over year.

With Mission Solar products and panels, the average performance degradation rate comes out to 0.8 percent which is one of the highest degradation rates on the market. That means that Mission Solar panels work less efficiently at a faster rate over the lifespan of the panels in comparison to other panels on the market. 

Smaller Manufacturing Operation

The other solar panel manufacturers commonly known in the renewable energy industry have massive manufacturing operations with plants in multiple countries scattered throughout the entire world. That is not the case with Mission Solar. The entire manufacturing operation is based in San Antonio, Texas. As a smaller manufacturing operation, Mission Solar is unable to mass produce in the same ways that other manufacturers are and so there are fewer installers who work with Mission Solar to install its systems. 

Efficiency and Wattage

Performance degradation is not the only underperforming metric associated with Mission Solar. Unfortunately, the solar panels also lack efficiency and wattage metrics as well. While it is not a drastic difference, Mission Solar does not meet the industry averages in these areas.

Efficiency ratings for Mission Solar hover around 18.2 percent to 19.3 percent, and the best MIssion Solar panel in terms of wattage maxes out at 350 W. Both of these metrics are below the industry average, although not by much.