As the climate crisis continues, solar energy is gaining popularity as an alternative source of energy for the home and businesses. Besides being a greener alternative, it is also cost-effective, allowing you to get ‘free’ energy from the sun for decades. The obvious question to ask is, how long would a solar panel efficiently power your needs before the end of its life?
Unlike complex machinery, solar panels do not operate at 100% for a specific period of time before completely dying on us. Instead, solar panels slowly degrade with a reduction in efficiency as time and elements take their toll on the panels. Being simple contraptions with zero moving parts, solar panels are a reliable energy source despite being subjected to the harsh conditions of the outdoors.
Every solar panel has a solar degradation rate - the rate at which it gradually loses efficiency as time goes by. Generally, an industry average rate of 0.5% efficiency-loss per year is considered normal. This means that it would take 10 years for an average solar panel to go from being 100% efficient right after installation to becoming 95% efficient. Not bad, considering solar energy is free, regular, and abundant. However, at some point, a solar panel reaches a point of being too inefficient to power your needs. When a solar panel reaches about 85% efficiency, its ‘useful’ life is over and manufacturers will recommend replacing the panels.
The reason panels degrade is usually due to micro-cracks that develop as the panels flex with temperature variations and due to other factors. These tiny cracks make it more difficult for the free flow of the electrons and as a result, not all of the energy that a panel produces makes its way into your home or business. At some point, it makes more financial sense to replace the panels, especially in business applications where a steady supply is essential.
So how long do solar panels last? The useful lifespan of solar panels lasts anywhere between 25-30 years. That’s enough time for the panels to pay you back for the cost of initial installation in the form of free energy from the sun. It is also enough time for the panels to generate enough clean energy that offsets the energy required to produce them in the first place. Therefore, enough time to make solar panels an economically and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil-based energy sources.
As with any other technology, the better you buy, the better your experience with the product. Established manufacturers of solar panels have worked out ways to minimize degradation, utilizing the best manufacturing, installation, and maintenance practices. If you’re on the lookout for a reliable partner that can fulfill your solar power needs, Sterling and Wilson Solar is the right partner for you. It is one of the leading solar EPC and O&M solutions providers in the world with a presence across 25 countries and a portfolio of 252 solar power projects.
