Applying deliberative-analytical approaches to study public acceptance of new technologies can empower citizens to align their normative ideals with real-world constraints and give policymakers more robust indications on feasible energy transition pathways. In this paper, we present the results from six informed citizen panels (n = 78) that elicited and assessed the informed preferences towards five locations of solar photovoltaics (PV) in Switzerland: rooftop and façade PV, infrastructure PV, and new open-space locations of alpine PV, agri PV, and floating PV. To form informed preferences, participants studied factsheets and participated in deliberative workshops with interactive group exercises. We repeated three measurements during twelve weeks to measure initial (uninformed), informed, and longer-term levels of knowledge, perceptions, and preferences of solar PV locations and their mixes. Informed participants preferred that PV on rooftops, façades, and infrastructure provide the bulk of new PV electricity needed in Switzerland by 2035. Although less preferred, open-space PV was not entirely written off as socially unacceptable alternatives. Variables of attitude, acceptance, and support were found to be generally stable over time, suggesting that panels had little impact on perception formation. While preferences shifted towards more diversified mixes of PV locations after information, the occurrence of rebound effects in the longer-term calls for cautiously interpreting the extent to which information and deliberation can profoundly change opinions in favor of previously undesired PV locations.