Homeowners who are looking to go solar have a lot of questions. It’s a big decision and serious investment, so, naturally, they want to understand every last detail about buying and owning a new solar system. Questions range from “How much will my system cost?” to “Do my panels work in bad weather?”
At Blue Raven Solar, it is our goal to educate our customers and answer any and all questions before we help them make the switch.
Today, we’ll be answering one of the most popular customer questions:
How long will my solar panels last?
This is a huge question when it comes to buying versus leasing solar power systems. If solar panels didn’t last that long, you’d be at risk of being stuck with an ineffective and broken down system that becomes more of an expensive hassle than a money-saving necessity. Luckily, this isn’t the case.
Buying a solar system is an investment that won’t die on you in a few years. But let’s dig into the details on the life expectancy of solar panels.
How Long Do Solar Panels Last?
Solar panels are made to last several decades. In fact, the first modern solar panel is still producing energy more than 60 years after its creation, which is pretty promising. Every year, solar panel manufacturers discover new tech to incorporate into their panels, making it impossible to know exactly how long the latest and greatest panels will last.
Despite this uncertainty, most solar installers provide their customers with warranties of 10-25 years. These warranties can guarantee energy production, cover install repairs, and protect your panels from defects or malfunctions.
Thus, it is safe to say that your panels will last for many years and probably several decades, providing you with a powerful source of renewable energy. However, it’s important to ask and answer this question: Will solar panels maintain their energy production throughout their lifetime?
Just like any product, gadget, or source of energy production, solar panels will slowly become less efficient at producing electricity, no matter the brand or provider. This reduction in production, known as solar panel degradation, occurs when tiny cracks build up within the solar cells, causing electrical connections to deteriorate. These “microcracks” are caused by humidity entering the system, freezing of the solar cells, flexing from heavy winds, UV damage, and thermal cycling, which occurs when materials within the solar panel expand and contract at different rates due to temperature change, straining the joints between materials and causing deterioration.
Left out in the elements, all solar power systems are prone to normal wear and tear. However, with proper installation and simple maintenance, most solar panels can avoid major degradation and failure. In fact, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that most solar panels have degradation rates of only 0.3-0.8% per year, depending on panel quality.
This means that over a 25-year span, a panel is expected to have an energy production rate that starts at 100% efficiency and drops incrementally to about 80% efficiency by the end of that time span. So even after 25 years, you can still count on your system for a significant power output. Fortunately, with careful attention and proper maintenance, you can increase the life of your solar panels and prevent serious degradation.