Solar panels don’t last forever. But what determines when and why solar panels die?
The truth is that solar panels don’t typically die in the traditional sense. That is, they remain operational decades after they’re installed, but not as well as they did back when they were new. The slow decline in the panels’ energy-generation capability is known as its degradation rate. When panels produce less than 80% of the energy they did when they were new, they’re considered failed, and most solar installers will recommend that they should be replaced.
Since all manufacturers make their panels slightly differently, degradation rates vary. Typically, panels degrade at a rate of 0.55% annually. In other words, after one year, your panels will be less than 98% as efficient as they were when they were first installed. After 10 years, the panels will produce 92% as much energy as they did when they were new. Panels made today can achieve degradation rates as low as 0.3% per year, though you’ll pay more for panels with lower degradation rates. Most panels remain productive long after their typical 20 to 25 year warranty period expires, even if they have average degradation rates.
The degradation rate is partly determined by the type and quality of a panel’s solar cells. Solar cells are at the heart of every solar panel, and convert the sun’s light into usable electricity. Crystalline silicon cells tend to degrade at about 0.5% annually, while thin-film solar cells tend to degrade at rates closer to 1% each year (though advances in thin-film cell technology have led to steady drops in their degradation rates).
Location is another major factor that can affect your panels’ lifespan. If you’re located in a temperate zone, your panels will likely last longer than they will at a higher latitude, where seasonal expansion and contraction can cause stress and introduce microcracks. Panels that have to bear a snow load might also have some years shaved off their life, since snow can bend the frame that surrounds the panel, exposing the panel’s internal components to moisture and ice and, in some cases, dislodging the panels from the frame entirely. Ice and snow can also loosen or bend the mounts that hold the panels, increasing the likelihood that the panels themselves will be damaged.
At the other end of the temperature spectrum, panels that are constantly hot also pose a problem. Panels are tested under a standard temperature of 25 °C and produce optimally in that temperature range. Temperatures over 25 degrees will accelerate panel degradation. Other weather conditions like hail (which can cause cells to crack) and humidity (which can cause panel corrosion) also threaten panel longevity.
Other design choices like the inclusion of premium trim can add years to the useful life of your solar panels. This trim can prevent the introduction of water vapor and other contaminants that can lead to corrosion and make it harder for the solar cell within the panel to transmit energy. For the same reason, panel failure rates are lower when electrical insulation, thermal insulation, and other moisture barriers are laminated together within the panel. Another feature that affects panel lifespans is the anti-reflective coating. A high-quality anti-reflective coating protects the solar cell and increases its efficiency.
In rare cases, issues may begin with the panels’ processing and assembly. For instances, panels are manufactured with “latent cracks” that are imperceptible during the initial quality control and shipment phases, but appear after installation. Impurities in the laminates that are used to bind the cell can lead to cell corrosion. And like all electronics, solar cells are vulnerable to short-circuiting at cell interconnections－a phenomenon that is more common in thin-film cells than in their crystalline silicon counterparts. These types of issues are typically covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, which usually covers the cost of a replacement panel as well as the labor required to install it.
Improper installation, additionally, can shorten the panels’ lifespan. This could mean that the panels aren’t connected correctly or that they’re damaged during installation. Issues arising from improper installation are usually covered by the installer’s Workmanship Warranty.
Typically, the bigger failure issue with most solar installations is not the panels themselves, but the inverters. Central and string inverters (which comprise 96% of all inverters in use today) need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years. Microinverters, on the other hand, have lifespans comparable to most solar panels and may even come with manufacturers warranties as long as 25 years.
Unless you pick up and move to a more temperate location, there’s little that needs to be done to extend the life of your solar panel. The panels themselves have no moving parts, which means they are exceptionally durable. Removing leaves, snow, and other debris is usually recommended. But the best thing you can do to ensure your panels produce clean, free solar energy for decades to come is to choose a trusted installer and a reputable panel manufacturer.
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