When considering solar energy for your home or business, one of the most common questions that strikes – is how long solar panels actually last.
Understanding the lifespan of solar panels is essential for both financial planning and long-term sustainability. So, this blog will assist you by explaining everything you should know before getting the solar panel installation done in your space.
Solar Panel Degradation Rate
Solar panel degradation rate refers to the gradual decrease in efficiency and power output over time, typically around 0.5% per year. Factors like sunlight, temperature fluctuations, humidity, and material quality contribute to this decline. After 25 years, panels usually retain about 87.5% of their original capacity. However, improvements in technology have reduced degradation rates, ensuring better long-term performance.
Average Lifespan of Solar Panels
Solar power is a great investment for homeowners and businesses. If you’re one of those looking to reduce their carbon footprints and save looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save on electricity costs, installing solar panels could be the best choice. However, you must know that the longer your solar panel works, the more you save on electricity bills. As per NREL research, in 2021, solar panels lose 0.5% to 0.8% of their efficiency yearly.
In general, solar panels last between 25 to 30 years. However, if talk about the lifespan of solar panels so, one thing that is very evident is that it completely depends on several factors. Some of them are panel type, installation quality, solar maintenance, and environmental conditions.
Factors That Affect Solar Panel Lifespan
Now, it’s time to go through the factors that influence solar panel lifespan in detail:
how to maintain solar panels
Quality
If the quality of your solar panel is good, your system will surely last a long time. So, choose wisely and prefer companies with more expertise and experience. Don’t overthink how to maintain solar panels; just choose quality products and clean them when needed.
Installation
Choose the experience solar installers. Most of the reputed solar installers offer maintenance checks to ensure your system is working properly.
Climate
One of the factors that influence the lifespan of solar panels is climate. So, you should know that weather conditions can affect the efficiency of your panels.
Tips for Maximizing the Lifespan of Your Solar Panels
Undoubtedly, everyone wants to get more out of their investment. The same goes for solar panel installation. You want to invest in a piece that lasts a long time, right? But for this, you’ll need to check out the tips below, as they could be valuable to you, as well as solar system maintenance.
Cleaning
If your solar panels are clean, they efficiently absorb sunlight, which is good for your save on electricity. However, you need to make sure that you are aware of the thing that some solar panels require weekly cleaning and others require monthly cleaning. It depends on where you live and the environmental conditions in your area.
Maintenance
Your well-maintained solar panel will undoubtedly last longer. For instance, if you do not clean your solar panels regularly, they can degrade. So, it’s better to have regular solar panel maintenance and not to let your hard-earned money be wasted. In this way, you can make your solar panel work last longer.
Reputable Solar Installers
The most crucial thing in the whole journey of your solar panel lifespan is solar installers and equipment. Always choose professional solar installers, as they have years of experience and expertise in this work. Reputable solar installers will definitely help you in determining the location for optimal solar energy production.
In a Nutshell
Overall, solar panels are a one-time investment, so it’s your responsibility to invest wisely. With that, you should also keep several factors mentioned above to make your investment worthwhile and increase the lifespan of solar panels. So, don’t delay in getting your solar panel installation done with a reputable and reliable partner.
