The current issue of home power magazine directly answers this ...
www.home-power.com

It is a myth (your understanding) , panels recoup there cost in about 2-3
years and will last much longer than 25 years. The 25 years , is the
manufactures warranty for 80% power generation .... The panels will last
until they suffer physically damage, the silicon will deliver power well
past our or our children's life times ...


"mike" wrote in message ...
I once read that it takes more energy to make, deliver, install a solar
panel than the total energy you get out of it over it's 20 year
lifetime. If that's true, (small scale PV) solar makes little sense
from an environmental standpoint.

mike