Tuesday, March 19, 2024

What Is The Lifespan Of A Solar Panel

Do Solar Panels Need A Lot Of Maintenance

What is the expected lifespan of a solar power system?

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.

Which Type Of Solar Panel Lasts Longest

Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar panels last for a long time, with lifespans that go beyond their 25-year warranties. However, there are pros and cons to both.

First, lets see how you can tell them apart.

Monocrystalline silicon panels are the most efficient type of panel for harvesting solar energy. They are dark, with solar cells shaped like squares with cut-off corners.

However, their high efficiency comes doesnt come cheap, as they are typically more expensive than polycrystalline panels.

Monocrystalline silicon panels

Solar panels last about 20 years, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The great news is that, with proper maintenance, your panel may actually run for as long as 40-50 years.

Polycrystalline silicon panels

Polycrystalline silicon panels, on the other hand, are blue in color. They look as if they have shiny confetti inside, which are actually silicon crystals. Between these crystals, there are gaps that trap some of the electrons, which make these panels less efficient than their monocrystalline counterparts.

Improving Solar Panel Lifespans

In order to extend solar panel lifespans, we must learn why they degrade. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have used machine learning to take crucial steps toward increasing the lifespan of solar panels and potentially lowering solar energy costs for manufacturers and consumers.

Machine learning allows researchers to quickly and accurately read thousands of images of solar cells as they break down and fail over time. Until now, solar panel manufacturers had to rely primarily on single, static photos of the PV cells after they had failed. Allowing researchers to see how and where the PV cells have failed will be the key to advancing solar panel diagnostics and accurately predicting future failures.

Another initiative underway is increasing the lifespan of solar inverters. The solar inverters on panels usually last between 10-12 years and typically need replacing at least once over the panels lifetime. The power inverters are crucial for safe and efficient operation of solar panels. Extending the lifetime can have significant advantages to the cost and function of a solar system.

Recommended Reading: What’s The Best Solar Panels

Ways To Increase The Lifespan Of Solar Panels

Generally, solar panels appear to be extremely durable and come with a good warranty. During their production, each solar panel passes through extensive and rigorous quality tests. These tests ensure that solar panels are capable of withstanding extreme wind, rain, hailing, and other natural phenomena.

In order to increase the lifespan of a solar panel, the first thing to consider is the choice of a qualified installer. Such a service provider must offer solid customer care. Moreover, you must only buy the panels that come with robust warranties.

Talking about the warranty, you should ask about both the equipment as well as performance/efficiency warranties.

It will allow you to claim a replacement in case any kind of defect appears after a few years of installation.

In addition, by maintaining your solar panel, you can lower the degradation rate. Besides, here are some of the tips that you should follow to ensure that your solar panels last for a longer period.

What Causes Degradation In Solar Panels

Solar panel lifespan

There are many different factors that contribute to solar panel degradation, but many of them focus on something thats pretty hard to control – the weather.

One common way microcracks form is through thermal cycling. When its warm, just about everything expands. When its cold, things contract. Solar panels arent immune to this, and its that constant back and forth that put them under strain and create those little cracks.

Similarly, strong winds can cause flexing of the panels – also known as a dynamic mechanical load. But as long as your solar system is installed by experts and youre using panels of good quality, this shouldnt be a major contributor to degradation. Extreme cold and hot weather, humidity, and snow and ice also slowly contribute to solar panel degradation, as do solar system components with different voltage potentials.

Another question we get is does sunlight cause degradation? – the very thing that makes solar panels tick! Thankfully, most solar panel manufacturers create panels with UV blockers that protect the panels from most damage, but yes – the sun itself does contribute to degradation.

In fact, your panels degrade at one of the highest rates just hours after installation when theyre first exposed to the sun and its UV rays. This is known as light-induced degradation . Your panels can degrade 1 to 3% in this short amount of time, but after that, degradation slows way down.

Read Also: How To Get Into Solar Energy

Regularly Get Your Panels Checked And Maintained

Broken glass, cracked panels, and loose connections are the top three issues that you can have with your panels over the years. Electrical faults are more difficult to discover, but if you suspect something is wrong with your solar system, have the company check your power output. If you see a large difference from the same month in previous years, you might be dealing with an electrical issue.

Read Also: What Can You Run Off A 100 Watt Solar Panel

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.

You May Like: How To Be Sole Proprietor

What Is The Expected Lifespan Of A Solar Power System

The key components susceptible to failure are the solar panels and inverter. However, high quality products tend to have long lifecycles which are reflected in the long warranties available, particularly for solar panels.

A solar panel is relatively a simple device with no moving parts. Solar panels typically have 25 year output warranty and depending on the quality of the panel can be expected to last beyond this. Also solar panels which are exposed to wind, fluctuating temperatures and weather do deteriorate and each year produce a little less electricity. Cheaper panels, with less UV stabilized backing sheets, cheaper sealants and framing can deteriorate faster and more rapidly.

LGs warranties generally predict an average of 0.6% loss of power each year after the 1st year and thus, at the end of the 25 year output warranty period the solar panel may have lost up to 16.4% of its initial power rating. This means is where a high efficiency LG solar panel would produce 315 watts, the same panel in 25 years might only produce 261-269 Watts. In reality, for most less productive quality panels, they may start at 250-260 watts and then degrade to 200 watts per panel after 25 years. For cheaper panels coming out of China the rate of degradation is much quicker taking 5 years to lose 20%+ of their output capacity. There are cheap panels with rates of complete failure after just 12 months. See Cheap Shoddy Solar Panels

WATER DAMAGE IN ISOLATOR

Will The Entire Solar Power System Last 25 Years

Lifespan of a Solar System & Solar Panel Degradation

Not exactly. Solar panels are just one component of a solar power system. While good panels will last beyond 25 years other components like the inverter will need replacing. In addition, a system that has not been installed to the highest of standards with quality components is more likely to fail well before the panels pass their use by date.

Read Also: How Much Is A 4kw Solar System

Why Is Solar Energy Important For The Future

Solar energy is completely renewable. It eliminates the use of fossil fuels, which are the primary source of greenhouse gases and the leading engine of global warming. The energy emitted by the sun is abundant and available everywhere. Solar is completely sustainable and environmentally friendly in nearly every way.

Prolonging Pv Module Life By Improving Inverter Maintenance And Manufacturing

Module Behavior, Apr 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Beck Ireland, Staff WriteR- Prolonging PV module life by improving inverter maintenance and manufacturing

  • In comparison to the decades-long warranty for the cells, mean time to first failure for inverters is estimated to be between five and 10 years .- Reasons inverters fail in the article
  • Luckily, there are maintenance procedures that can extend the life span of the inverters. Electricity performs better under cool conditions, Haney says. By cleaning off the heat sinks, you allow it to run cooler, which is more efficient.
  • An issue that energy output of PV drops below that required by the inverter and it muct be changed
  • The inverter accounts for 10% to 20% of the initial system cost, according to a report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory , Golden, Colo., in conjunction with Navigant Consulting, Inc. , Burlington, Mass. However, because inverters generally need to be replaced every 5 to 10 years, they result in investment in a new inverter three to five times over the life of a PV system.

Recommended Reading: How Much Is It To Get Solar Power

Can You Make Your Solar Panels Last Longer

In general, solar panels are extremely durable. Most manufacturers test their panels to confirm that they can withstand high winds and heavy snow loads, and many solar panels are specifically tested to ensure that they can withstand falling hail. Additionally, solar energy systems dont usually have moving parts, and they require little to no maintenance.

The best way to keep your solar panels working long-term is to work with a reputable installer that offers solid customer service. Its also important to purchase solar panels that have robust warranties many panel manufacturers offer 10 to 12-year equipment warranties for their panels that cover defects and environmental damages, as well as production warranties usually lasting around 25 years that guarantee your panels will produce above a certain amount of energy for your home.

Nevertheless, keeping your solar panel system well maintained can lead to a lower degradation rate each year and can promise longer panel performance. Here are a few actions you can take to make your solar panels last longer:

How To Extend Their Life

What is the Lifespan of Solar Panels?

Solar panels have been designed and built to handle as well as endure harsh and unpredictable weather conditions over prolonged periods of time. This is why solar panels are so durable and little to no maintenance is required over the course of their life. Generally speaking, if you keep the panels clean and in good condition, they should be working at high levels of efficiency for quite some time.

It is also important to check the panel output on a regular basis, either via the inverter or on your monitoring system. This means that if the output turns out to be less than the expected amount, you will be able to find out why that is quickly, and get your panels back to running at optimum levels of efficiency.

It is also incredibly important that you ensure your solar panels are installed correctly, allowing them to run effectively and to the best of their capabilities. This is why you should always use an MCS accredited company for the installation of your solar panels, and you should ensure your installer is a qualified and experienced professional. The other reason for this is that if your panels are damaged during installation or not connected properly, and you used an MCS accredited company, you will be covered by the warranty and a repair/replacement can be arranged immediately.

You May Like: What Insurance Companies Cover Solar Panels

What Is ‘solar Panel Degradation Rate’

Over time, solar panels lose their ability to absorb sunlight and convert it into solar energy due to factors such as hotter weather and the natural reduction in chemical potency within the panel. This is what is referred to as the degradation rate.

The lower the degradation rate, the better the panel. When a solar panel has a lower degradation rate, it will produce more energy over its lifetime.

Degradation rates vary from one brand to another higher-quality panels have a lower degradation rate versus lower-quality panels. This is important to keep in mind when doing a solar panel comparison since it might make more sense in the long run to spend more money on higher quality panels.

According to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study, premium modern solar panel manufacturers such as Panasonic and LG offer panels with degradation rates as low as 0.30% per year.

The worst degradation rate is .80% a year, but as a benchmark, you can expect an average degradation rate of .50% a year for any panel.

Panel type
17.53% 82.47%

For most Tier 1 solar panels, the degradation rate is .30% meaning that each year, the panels performance is reduced by .30%. Over 25 years, that adds up to a total of 6.96% meaning your panels will operate at 93.04% of their original capacity in 2045.

If you invest in Tier 2 solar panels, your panels will degrade .50% each year and at the end of a 25-year warranty, they will operate at about 88.67% of their original capacity.

What Is The Future Of Solar Energy

In the coming years, technology improvements will ensure that solar becomes even cheaper. It could well be that by 2030, solar will have become the most important source of energy for electricity production in a large part of the world. This will also have a positive impact on the environment and climate change.

Don’t Miss: Does Residential Solar Make Sense

What Will Happen To My Panels In 25 Years

In fact, nobody really knows. Theres little amount of data available as PV technology is rather new. Most panels installed are barely 10 years old. Anyway, there are several promising signs for the future of solar panels.

Technology is continuously improving, meaning that panels installed today are likely to live longer than the 25 years period prescribed to them. Many expect the modern generation of panels to last up to 30-40 years, which is good news for buyers as they will be able to cash in a bigger amount of earnings.

Stat Faqs Part : Lifetime Of Pv Panels

Lifespan of a solar panel?

The Solar Technical Assistance Team receives many interesting and broadly applicable questions from state and local governments. The STAT FAQs blog series will highlight pertinent information as it relates to questions STAT receives. The focus of Part 2 in the series is the productive lifetime and degradation rate of solar PV panels.

Question: What is the productive life of solar PV panels, and do they produce the same amount of electricity year-over-year?

Answer: The productive life of solar panels and the electricity production from these panels over time depend on factors such as climate, module type, and racking system, among others. The reduction in solar panel output over time is called degradation. NREL research has shown that solar panels have a median degradation rate of about 0.5% per year but the rate could be higher in hotter climates and for rooftop systems. A degradation rate of 0.5% implies that production from a solar panel will decrease at a rate of 0.5% per year. This means that in year 20, the module is producing approximately 90% of the electricity it produced in year 1.

Figure 1. The normalized frequency and cumulative probability of PV degradation rates

Also Check: What Is The Current Efficiency Of Solar Panels

Do Solar Panels Ever Wear Out

On average, solar panels degrade about 1% in efficiency each year. Their lifespan can be affected by poor installation, such as a faulty racking system or exposed wires, or physical damage from inclement weather. Solar panel life spans can also vary depending on the type, how regularly the panels receive inspection and maintenance, how they were installed, and your environment. You can tell solar panels are on the decline when they begin to produce less light and electricity.

What Do Manufacturers Say

Manufacturers usually offer solar panels along with a 20-25 years of warranty. The warranty itself also guarantees that your panels should still produce at least 80% of their initial output peak rate after 20-25 years . This means they expect no more than 1% decrease in efficiency per year.

Life expectancy of solar panels is usually a difficult topic to discuss as there are very few of them installed for long enough time to be thoroughly analysed. For instance, in the UK more solar PV panels have been installed in the period 2006-2008 than in all previous years combined.

Looking at the global picture, theres only a tiny portion of panels older than 10 years. Hence, its really hard to really put a correct lifetime period for solar panels.

Don’t Miss: How Much Sun Needed For Solar Panels

Lifespan Of Solar Panels

Installing solar panels is a big investment, even with tax incentives to ease the financial strain. Because of the investment and their constant exposure to the elements solar panels need to be able to withstand extreme temperatures, from the blistering hot summers of Arizona, to the bitter cold winters of upstate New York. But how long will a solar panel provide energy for your home, and what is a typical solar panel lifespan? It depends on the type of solar panel installed, and the quality of crystalline the manufacturer uses.

For example, crystalline solar panels, either mono- or polycrystalline, typically lose about half a percentage of efficiency per year, which is known as the rate of degradation. The good news is that the rate of degradation is decreasing as technology improves. Most likely, the solar panels your contractor installs will be made using crystalline silicon, simply because it is well suited for residential needs. However, if you opt for thin-film solar panels for their flexibility, be aware that their lifespan is known for being shorter than that of a crystalline solar panel by about five to ten years.

Popular Articles
Related news