Estimated Useful Life Of Solar Panels

A solar panel is relatively a simple device with no moving parts.

Estimated useful life of solar panels.

To put your mind at ease studies have proven solar panels can last anywhere between 25 to 30 years or sometimes more. For monocrystalline silicon the most commonly used panel for commercial and residential pv the degradation rate is less than 0 5 for panels made before 2000 and less than 0 4 for panels made after 2000. Biomass combined heat and power. With degradation rates of under no more than 25 per year sunpower panels have been found to produce not only more power in the first 25 years but continued to produce at over 80 efficiency even into year 40.

10 to 25 yr. A recent study of sunpower panels indicates that they have a useful life of over 40 years. Ground source heat pump. According to seia solar pv systems have life expectancies of upwards of 30 years.

30 to 40 yr. 25 to 40 yr. System useful life years. 20 to 30 yr.

However this doesn t mean that they stop producing electricity after 25 years it just means that energy production has declined by what manufacturers consider to be a significant amount. Normally the depreciable life of solar panels is 85 of the full solar system cost which may be depreciated roughly as follows. Solar panels typically have 25 year output warranty and depending on the quality of the panel can be expected to last beyond this. Also solar panels which are exposed to wind fluctuating temperatures and weather do deteriorate and each year produce a little less electricity.

Most solar panel companies will provide a standard 25 year warranty for the expected life expectancy of the solar panels. However their ability to absorb sunlight will be reduced. The industry standard life span is about 25 to 30 years and that means that some panels installed at the early end of the current boom aren t long from being retired. 1 however this doesn t mean the panels on your roof will stop producing electricity after a couple of decades.

However even if the panels are guaranteed by the manufacturer to last that long what about the rest of the components that make your solar array work. As a general solar industry rule of thumb solar panels last about 25 30 years. 20 yr for interior components 100 yr for ground loop. That means that a panel manufactured today should produce 92 of its original power after 20 years quite a bit higher than the 80 estimated by the 1 rule.

After 25 years your solar panels won t necessarily need to be replaced.