How long do solar panels last? In a nutshell, quite a while

10 mins 10 Oct 2020

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Everything in the world is relative. Humankind has been existing for about 300,000 years already, but that's literally nothing compared to our 4.5-billion-year-old Solar System. So, there are two answers as to what the average life expectancy of solar panels is: in the context of the Solar System – relatively short, in the context of the human lifespan – relatively long.

25 years of successful operation are just the start

Investing in solar energy is a long-term, well-rewarded commitment thanks to a relatively long solar panel's life expectancy. All solar panels are designed to last 25 years before they start to noticeably degrade. But don't worry, you won't necessarily need to replace them after the 25-year period is over. Read this article to find out how you can benefit from manufacturer's warranties, what solar panel degradation means, and what to do to make your panels work half a century.

30-year performance warranty: at least 80% of rated output

A solar panel's performance warranty ensures that the panels will produce at least 90% of their rated output in year 10 and at least 80% in year 25 or 30. In fact, it is closely related to solar panel degradation rate, which will be discussed further in the article.

>80%

of solar panels last longer than their warranty

Most solar panel manufacturers provide a linear performance warranty. It specifies the expected performance of the solar module year on year and represents a continually decreasing performance guarantee. Thanks to that, the guaranteed performance of the solar panel is higher at every point in time than with the standard tiered warranty, which sets a minimum performance for a longer period of time and does not vary from one year to another.

Note that the manufacturer's performance warranty is about each separate panel's performance, not about the output of your system as a whole. Say your system is properly installed and gets adequate sunlight, but its production is below the desired output. A faulty solar panel is likely to be the cause. And this is when your manufacturer's warranty would kick in.

10-year equipment warranty: no failures for a decade

An equipment warranty, also known as product or workmanship warranty, typically guarantees 10-12 years without failing. It covers the integrity of the panel itself and protects you against defects in material, premature wear and tear, as well as environmental and workmanship issues. against problems such as manufacturing defects, environmental issues, etc. The manufacturer may choose to repair or replace the product at their discretion.

This type of warranty does not cover the cost of labor to diagnose and or replace the equipment, as well as the shipping costs to deliver replacements on site. Contact your solar installer to learn if these costs can be covered by their workmanship warranty.

Always check the manufacturer's warranty terms before purchasing solar equipment

A warranty will only remain in force as long as your system is designed appropriately. For example, if your inverter isn't a good match for your system, it may short-circuit your equipment, and the warranty will not cover the damage. Read How to size a solar system for your home and follow our step-by-step guide to design a perfect system. You may also void your warranty if you have your panels repaired by an unlicensed worker or if you accidentally step on them while walking on your roof.

To do that you need to decide what appliances (light, kettle, TV, etc.) you want to run and for how long. After that you should check the specification chart in your appliances for power rating (Watt), multiply each by the time (Hour) you typically use them per day and sum them up. Read How to design a solar system for home? | A1 Solar Store to learn how to figure out your daily energy consumption.

Grid-tied system

Take your recent utility bills for any three-five months
Find the arithmetic mean of kWh/day

Off-grid system

Take three-five highest utility bills for the past year
Find the arithmetic mean of kWh/day
Add 20% to this number

Beware of degradation! No less than 1% per year

Degradation rate is the rate at which solar panels lose efficiency over time. For instance, if a panel has a degradation rate of 1% per year, it will be 10% less efficient after 10 years of operation.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the average solar panel degradation rate is around 0.8 percent. Of course, this metric largely depends on the materials and technologies used by the manufacturer and varies from 1% to 0.5%. Some premium manufacturers like Panasonic, SunPower or Q CELLS, offer degradation rates as low as 0.3%. Solar panel degradation rates are constantly improving as solar panel technology gets better over the years.

0.8%

is the average solar panel degradation rate

To clarify on what degradation rate exactly is, let's take a 300W solar panel with the specified 0.8% degradation rate. In year two, such a panel will operate at 99.2% of its original output, which is 297.6W. In year three its efficiency will be 98.4%, meaning 295.2W output. So, to determine the projected output of your solar panels after a certain number of years, you can multiply the degradation rate by that number of years and subtract that number from 100%.

Actually, solar panel degradation is what performance warranty is about. But, as you might notice, performance warranty never guarantees 100% efficiency. Why is it so? Solar energy does have no thermodynamic limitations, since it is converted directly into electrical energy avoiding a step involving heat. However, there are still some issues limiting solar panel efficiency, such as indirect band gaps, resistive losses, etc.

Double your solar panel's lifespan with proper maintenance

Generally, solar panels are pretty easy to maintain because they are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and all types of precipitation, such as snow, hail and wind. Moreover, they hardly ever need to be repaired since there aren't any moving parts that could break down.

Even though solar panels don't require that you give them daily spit and polish, you can extend their lifetime by routine care and quality maintenance. To maintain and extend the lifespan of your solar modules, you can follow these simple rules:

Work with a trustworthy solar installer that provides routine maintenance checks. They can alert you to any quality degradation in the panels or any issues with the racking, wiring, etc.

Pay attention to other elements of your solar system (inverters, batteries, optimizers, etc.). Make sure they are all of matching technical characteristics and work properly without any abnormalities. Since everything is interconnected in your system, failure of practically any component might damage the panels.

Keep your panels clean and wash them with water if they are dirty. When dust or sand isn't removed for too long, it can cause microcracks and scratches on the solar panel. They, in turn, if left unchecked, can multiply and break the panel.

Remove any debris, such as fallen tree branches, and snow loads. They are even more harmful for solar panels than dust or sand because they put more pressure on PV modules. Moreover, snow left on the panels can freeze and cause the panels to get microcracks from extreme cold

50-Year

life expectancy is feasible when solar panels are properly used and maintained

Maintenance does influence how long solar panels last on average. The tips above will help you reduce any strain on the solar panels and ensure that your panels harvest as much sun as possible and last for decades.

Illustrations – Zhenya Artemjev