The Average Lifespan Of Solar Panels
Solar panels are a wonderful investment, given that they can be expected to last for 25 years with strong performance and capacity. This is great to know if you are considering buying solar panels. After 25 years, you may need to start thinking about replacing them to ensure that your homes energy needs are met by solar energy.
Like this blog post on how long do solar panels last? Be sure to check out our other interesting articles on the rest of our blog today.
Key Takeaways On How Long Solar Lasts
Before investing in solar panels, you have questions about how long solar panels last. Knowing how long you can count on getting the maximum amount of solar power from your array helps you calculate when the PV system will begin paying for itself. It will also allow you to plan ahead regarding long-term home energy costs.
Solar technology is constantly improving so how long solar systems last should increase with better PV panels. For right now, its about 25 years.
There are many factors some under your control and some that arent which influence your solar arrays performance. This article discusses many of them.
When you follow the tips offered to optimize the functional life of your solar panels, youll be more likely to benefit from home solar power for decades to come even after your warranty expires.
Can You Extend The Lifespan Of A Solar Panel
Solar panels are generally pretty easy to maintain because they are built to withstand weather events like snow, hail and wind. Because solar panels do not require moving parts, they also have a less likely chance of breaking down or needing to be repaired.
Even though solar panels can be fine if you just leave them alone, you can extend their lifetime by routine care and quality maintenance. To maintain and extend the life of your PV system, you can follow these simple steps:
Following these steps will reduce any strain on the solar panels, making them work less hard, to ensure that your panels last as many years as possible.
Maintenance will also alert you to any early issues that can be covered in your warranty. If you notice anything off about your solar panels, make sure you contact your provider to get the replacement parts necessary to keep your system running with ease. By keeping your solar panels clean, it’ll help them last longer and absorb more sun.
You May Like: What Are Tesla Solar Panels Made Of
Does Solar Panel Spoil
Solar panels last longer if cleaned regularly
You can do your bit to keep your solar panels clean and dirt-free, but a solar specialist will test the energy generation of the entire system, including the individual solar panels and the inverters, to make sure they are maintaining efficiency.
Note that while the efficiency of solar panels will your solar system is not going to suddenly stop working completely. Power generation will decrease gradually over the years.
For example, if your solar power system generated 40kWh of electrical energy a week when new, you might find this is reduced after a year to 39.8 kWh.
The mean annual degradation rate of the solar panels is around 0.5%, so the energy generation of the solar system loses 0.5% per year.
This means the output after 25 years will be:
Power output when new 40kWh – x 25) = 35kWh
35kWh is 87.5% of 40kWh.
Your panels should still work at about 90% of their original output after 20 years, but each manufacturers warranty will specify the details.
A study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory examined the degradation rates of 2,000 solar systems around the world in different climates.
The findings included that monocrystalline panels produced before 2000 were degraded by 0.4% per year, which is less than half the rate used for warranties.
According to a 2012 study by NREL, the average degraded rate of a panel is between 0.5% and 0.8% per year.
What Is The Solar Panel Degradation Rate
The solar panel degradation rate on average is 0.5% per year.This is the rate at which your panel efficiency reduces over time.
Basically, it shows the quality of your panel the smaller the rate, the longer your panel will keep its properties. A degradation rate of 0.5% per year means that, after a standard 25-year long warranted service, your solar panel system will provide 87.5% of its factory output.
However, manufacturers like SunPower have achieved degradation rates that are as low as 0.3% per year. This means that after 25 years, your panel will operate at 92.5% of its original output.Not too shabby for something that gives you free energy.
Related Articles:
Also Check: Can Solar Panels Power A House During A Power Outage
Maintenance Of Solar Pv
Solar really needs very little maintenance it is very much a fit and forget technology. One thing that will need work over the years is your inverter. Inverters have a life span of around 10 years, so these will need replacing at these time intervals to keep the system working. Micro inverters, which cost a little more to install initially, will last longer.
The panels themselves could well see some physical degradation they can yellow over the years and start to look tired, but the functional performance is not going to drop massively. But who knows how cheap solar panels will be in 20 years the way prices have decreased over the last few years, it may be worth your while installing a new system once your feed in tariff runs out.
What May Reduce Your Home Solar Systems Lifespan
Without Sunnova Protect, you may end up spending a lot of money over the next 25 years for the many potential issues that could arise with your solar panels and other system components.,
Listed below are repairs that could potentially be required at some point to keep your panels performing at their best.
Recommended Reading: How Much Do Solar Cells Cost
Why Is This Happening
The rate of degradation of a solar panel is conditioned by the type of panel and the natural forces we cannot influence or control. If we take crystalline panels, for example, they are more resistant than others and can withstand extreme cold and heat for more than two decades. On the other side, we have film panels which are much more sensitive and will start the process of degradation quite faster.
However, the weather conditions are the factor that affects them the most, so the location of your home can be a crucial thing that will determine their lifespan. The truth is that those panels which are subjected to often and a strong wind blows, heavy snow loads, the impact of falling hail, and exhausting heat will for sure gradually lose solar panel efficiency and structural integrity. But panels installed in a place with a favorable climate will degrade at a much slower pace.
Do Solar Panels Need A Lot Of Maintenance
No, solar panels dont need a lot of maintenance. You should, however, have them periodically checked by your solar provider. Just one inspection can discover problems such as mechanical or electrical faults. Dirt and leaves make your panels less efficient, so you also need to wash them off from time to time.
Don’t Miss: How To Select Solar Panel For Home
How To Hire The Best Solar Panel Installers
Hiring the right people to install your solar panel system is a massive piece of the puzzle.
Solar panel installation is not something that just anyone and everyone can tackle.
Theres a lot that goes into building a solar setup.
The right type of solar panels has to be chosen. The suitable inverters and battery systems need to be leveraged, but they have to be positioned correctly on the property and thats just the tip of the iceberg.
Finding the right experts to handle your solar installation needs is critical. Heres a couple of things youll want to keep in mind.
For starters, critically important that you choose installers that have a tremendous amount of experience with the solar panels you are looking to have installed in the first place.
Were not just talking about experience installing any old solar panels, either. We mean the exact kind of panels youre looking to put on your property.
At least two years of hands-on in the field experience installing and setting up these panels will make a world of difference compared to generalists in the solar panels world.
Secondly, you must make sure the installers handling your solar panels are fully licensed, fully insured, and certified to do this kind of install, too.
It may or may not be vital for you to work with installers with a C-10 speciality installers license, but itll give you a lot of peace of mind and a lot of extra security.
You wont get that inside information anywhere else.
Equipment Warranty And Performance Warranty
The average 25-year lifespan of a solar panel aligns with the typical warranty terms that many solar panel manufacturers offer. There are two types of solar panel warranties, and warranty terms can provide you with additional information about the expected life of a solar panel.
The first is an equipment warranty, which guarantees the panel against manufacturing defects. For example, an equipment warranty might guarantee that the panels wont fail for 10 or 12 years.
The second is a performance warranty, which guarantees that your panels will produce at least a minimum amount of electricity over a specific period of time. For example, a performance warranty might guarantee that your panels will produce at least 90% of their maximum production for the first 10 years, and then at least 80% of their maximum production for the next 15 years, for a total performance warranty period of 25 years.
Higher efficiency panels may also come with a better performance warranty, guaranteeing that they maintain that increased efficiency over time.
Recommended Reading: Who Is The Largest Manufacturer Of Solar Panels
Solar Panel Warranties And Longevity
Most solar panels come with a 25-year performance warranty that guarantees your modules will produce a percentage of their rated output after 25 years. While this warranty can be seen as inferior because it is hard to enforce, the performance ratio figure provides an insight into the anticipated degradation of the panel.
Is There A Difference Between European And Chinese Quality
Perth Solar Warehouse has made an interesting comparison of German made and average Chinese solar panels production to illustrate huge quality differences in the market. For example, under -40 to +85 degrees Celsius conditions german-made product has passed 9125 cycles test which equals 25 years while Chineses one has made 200 cycles examination which equals only 0.5 year. In other words, it was tested only to see if its working. Salt spray test also showed European dominance over Chinese production 100% in comparison to 2%. The average Chinese solar panel could work indoors, under mild conditions only, while those made in Germany operates fully even in extreme outdoor environment.
Thus, if production is bought from trusted, high-end manufacturer, one may assume that solar panel would last for even longer than from cheaper, yet questionable company. On the other hand, why would somebody, which is genuinely interested in renewable energy and solar in particular, buy a product from a company which is not in-line with sustainable rather consumerism way of life?
Germany companies give 20-30 years warranty, where Chinese only 10-12 years
Recommended Reading: How To Read A Smart Meter With Solar Power
Are Houses With Solar Panels Harder To Sell
Selling a house with your own solar panels is easier than selling a house with leased modules. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, households with standard 3.6 kW systems sold for about $ 15,000 more than households with smaller systems or without panels.
Are Solar Panels Affecting Your Homes Resale Value? Some studies have shown that solar systems increase the resale value of a home by as much as $ 6,000 per kilowatt of solar panels installed, or around 4.1% of home value. However, this can be quite different from one geographic location to the next, even for comparable houses with similar solar panel systems.
Joining A Growing Trend
A popular choice may not always prove the best way to go, but it makes the most sense when you consider using solar energy. The latest statistics from the Solar Energy Industries Association show some convincing evidence.
In 2020, solar systems provided 43 percent of the electricity-generating capability in the United States. SEIA projects a continuing trend that quadruples the number of solar installations within the next 10 years. Decisions to recognize the opportunity to save money and protect the planet define the current direction of energy options.
Also Check: Is It Better To Lease Or Buy Solar
How To Use Your Solar Panels After Installation
After your solar panels have been installed, its time to enjoy the benefits! Youll be generating clean energy and helping to reduce your energy bills. However, you will still have to pay for any energy you use that you dont generate yourself. Think of programming your appliances for daytime to get the best out of your system. You may even want to consider getting battery storage or other smart devices that let you make the most of your free energy.
Quantifying Durability: Solar Panel Test Centers
Sandia National Laboratories is contracted to manage the U.S. Regional Test Centers for the SunShot Initiative. RTCs are a network of five sites across the nation where solar panel technologies can be tested in a variety of climates and settings. Testing product performance increases the validity and bankability of emerging technologies. Increased confidence in the energy production can bring down financing costs, help communities embrace new technologies, and spur innovations in solar development.
Las Vegas, Nevada
managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory at the SolarTAC technology acceleration facility.
Recommended Reading: How Much Money To Install Solar Panels
Invest In Repairs And Maintenance
Make sure you keep enough funds aside to invest in repairs and maintenance. This type of investment is crucial because it can help extend your panels life to 25 years or more.
Many solar panel providers also give their customers free regular checks and repair assistance.
The installer can come by and check on your panels to check if they efficiently produce energy.
How Long It Is Covered By Warranty
Warranty period offered by manufacturers vary quite a lot. According to The Eco Experts, as new solar panels either monocrystalline or polycrystalline likely will last for 40-50 years, warranty is for at least half that time in the United Kingdom. Performance of the product is also included in warranty, it could not drop below 80% during the period.
Similar warranty is offered by many of Germany based companies they give from 20 to 30 years of warranty to a product and its performance. In comparison, Chinese companies for premium solar panels give only 12 years of product warranty and for average solar panels only 10. However, in both cases Chinese solar modules provides 25 years of performance warranty.
Also Check: How Much Does A 1000 Kw Solar System Cost
Can Neighbours Complain About Solar Panels
Its a great overview, but be sure to check with your local community. The great thing is that in most cases normal solar panels installed on your roof dont need permission from anyone, not even those annoying neighbors.
Are there any restrictions on solar panels? Solar access laws prevent HOAs from banning the installation of solar panels or entering into contracts that prevent homeowners from installing them. However, HOAs can usually make certain inquiries about a system, as long as they dont make the proposed solar system less effective or more expensive.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost
As we just mentioned a moment ago, the price for going solar is more affordable today than any other time in human history not just because the technology itself for solar solutions have become more affordable, but because of the great tax credit and tax breaks available as well.
On average, its going to cost about $12,000 for Americans to outfit their home and install solar.
This is after federal tax credit rebates, state incentives, and even financial incentives from local utility companies as well. Current federal tax credits for solar panels are good for about 26% of the entire system cost .
Local incentives can vary wildly , but you may be surprised to learn just how much youre able to save with local tax benefits when you decide to upgrade your energy platform with solar panels.
Of course, solar panels dont have to cost $12,000 they can be even more affordable than that .
Information from the Solar Energy Industries Association shows that its possible to get your hands on quality solar panels for as little as $5000.
Youll be sacrificing some power, some efficiencies and may pay a little bit more for your standard electricity rates even with power generated by solar this way. But youll be able to save a mountain of money upfront, too.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Energy Information Administration reports that some high-end solar panels and solar home installations can run homeowners $40,000 or more.
Recommended Reading: Is Home Solar Cost Effective
Maintaining And Replacing Batteries
Its important to consider maintenance and replacement costs if your solar power system includes a battery backup system.
Most lithium ion and sealed lead-acid batteries need periodic inspection. Depending on the specific brand of battery you choose, the manufacturers warranty typically lasts anywhere from three to 10 years.
You can help extend the life of your batteries by ensuring they are properly installed and inspected.
