Installing solar panels is a major financial decision, so its important to get an idea of how long youll continue to see a return on your investment. Though there is no definitive answer to how long solar panels will last – freak accidents or major storms do occur infrequently – its safe to expect returns for decades to come. Extensive research has shown that most panels will continue efficiently producing electricity for at least 30 years, and most will likely still be generating for years after!
Warranties
A good baseline for module longevity is about 25 years, which is the average performance guarantee warranty for most panels provided by the panel manufacturers. The majority of performance warranties on the market guarantee 90% of maximum output at ten years and 80% at 25 years. Many manufacturers also offer a workmanship warranty that covers any defective panel parts for the first ten years of operation. Better yet, many of Solar.coms installers go above and beyond the industry standard by offering a 20+ year workmanship warranty. In addition to manufacturer and performance warranties, we also offer a Solar.com production guarantee. We trust so strongly in our solar provider partners and our own system designs that we offer the industrys only triple coverage warranty, the TriGuard Guarantee.
You can also rest assured in knowing its highly unlikely that you would ever have to invoke your warranty. A 2017 study examining installations between 2000 and 2015 found an annual median failure rate of just five out of 10,000 panels. Trends forecast that the failure rate will continue to decrease with increasing technological advancements, which seems especially promising when considering that the failure rate was twice as high between 1980 and 2000. Similarly, the annual degradation rates of solar panels, which measures how much production efficiency they lose per year, is also decreasing. In fact, a recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that the median degradation rate for todays panels is just 0.5 percent per year, meaning that after 40 years the panels would still be producing electricity at 80% output.
Environmental Impact
Keep in mind that the climate conditions in which you live can positively or negatively impact the lifespan of your solar panels. Modules installed in cold climates with extreme snow loads and high wind often degrades more quickly than their counterparts in more temperate climates. However, panels in intense desert climates often have the highest levels of degradation and may even produce less efficiently on extremely hot days.
Modules are most effective when the temperature of the panels themselves is in the range of 59 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Within this range, they are often even more effective at the lower end. Because panels tend to heat up more than the actual ambient temperature (akin to how a cars glass will trap more heat on a hot day), theyll produce less efficiently even as outside temperatures reach levels within the upper bounds of the range. However, experts have found that module installations that allow for airflow underneath panels, rather than flush mounting on roofs, can be extremely effective at maintaining panel efficiency in hotter climates. Furthermore, though your panels may not be producing as efficiently on these extremely hot days, they are still generating energy!
Maintenance
Solar panels require very little maintenance to continue producing at optimal efficiency; however, removing debris like dirt, leaves, and bird droppings can improve your modules output. We recommend cleaning your panels once every three months. If you have tilted panels and live in a more temperate climate, your system will likely be washed by the rain and you might not need to do quite as much cleaning. Panels in desert climates may require a greater amount of cleaning due to the accumulation of dirt and debris.
Check out our SolarBook video on Solar Panel Maintenance
Its generally best to clean your panels in the morning or evening on cooler, overcast days. On hot days, the water will quickly evaporate from your panels and dirt may remain instead of getting washed away. If there is a great deal of debris on your module, youll need to make sure to remove it before proceeding. One of the easiest ways to keep your panels clean is by rinsing them down with a hose. However, you should never use hot water on cold panels. Additionally, refrain from utilizing products like RainX or rock salt, as well as metal or abrasive products. These can scratch the panels glass, leave streaks, or stain – all of which end up decreasing the production efficiency. If your panels are accessible, soapy water and a soft brush or good sponge are generally all thats necessary to remove buildup.
In most cases, its unnecessary to remove snow from your panels because it will eventually melt or fall off. However, for heavy layers of snow, using a leaf blower first can be an effective option for removal. Other options include spraying your panels with lukewarm water and using a long pole with a squeegee attachment. As always, safety is of utmost importance. Many homeowners will find that they can clean their panels from the ground by using a hose. If panel maintenance ever requires you to climb on your roof, please use caution!
To learn more about how long do solar panels last, maintenance, or anything in the world of energy independence, please feel free contact us.
Household solar monitoring systems change the abstracts of power generation and consumption into graphics and numbers you can scroll through on an app. Hardware connected...
Solar panels and backup batteries get all the attention. But there’s another important piece of equipment to the home solar equation: mounting systems. These sturdy...
Solar.com is committed to providing our customers with the best customer service experience in the solar industry. In light of the ongoing developments around the...
U.S. Installed Solar Capacity: 2 Million Milestone
According to the most recent data released by Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the residential solar market in...
Solar Subcontractors: Should I use one to go solar?
So, youre interested in starting a solar project and now youre wondering, “who should be doing the installation work?” Well, more and more companies are...
5 Most Popular Solar Panels Chosen by Homeowners in 2018
Homeowners demand a lot from the solar panels they select for their rooftop system. These panels need to look good and perform well over multiple decades! Here...
According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is on track to install 200 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2020. The country is fully embracing...
If you live in an area that experiences extreme weather like hurricanes, hail, thunderstorms, blizzards, heavy winds and more, then you should take the time...
If you have ever driven through a residential neighborhood in states like California, Arizona, North Carolina, or any of the other top states for solar,...
Hyundai and Panasonic are trusted brands and they’ve both expanded into the solar panel industry. Offering quality products for two different price points, each brand...
Should I Get a Solar Thermal System Instead of a PV System?
When you hear about installing solar, youre most likely hearing about PV (photovoltaic) solar cell panels. Theyve become standard in the industry. PV solar cell...
How Utility API Works With Your Utility and Solar Company
Utility API provides software to accelerate the clean energy movement. They do this, in part, by offering secure data on a homeowners energy usage to...
American Solar Panel Manufacturers - 2018 Complete List
There are many reasons why a consumer may want to purchase their solar panels from an American manufacturer or from American Solar brands. They want...
Solar panel mounts are a common component of almost every solar panel array. Although there are newer solar panel technologies coming out that do not...
Top 5 Solar Panels Selected Through Solar.com in 2017
Curious which solar panels are selected most on the Solar.com platform? As an online marketplace connecting quality solar companies to customers, we stay neutral...
SunPower Solar Panels vs. LG Solar Panels - 2018 Update
SunPower and LG are two of the top companies making solar panels. You’ve probably come across them in your research, and you’re wondering which will...
Solar technology has been in existence since 1876 when William Grylls Adams and his student researcher discovered that you can produce electricity by exposing selenium to...
Solar energy is taking shape across industries and geographies. Engineers at top solar panel companies are hard at work developing innovations making solar even more...
5 Reasons to Consider a Career in the Solar Industry
Solar energy, unfortunately, is still viewed as an alternate power source. However, in spite of this designation, it is quickly becoming the primary source of...
Amazon Has Finally Decided To Become A Leader in Renewable Energy
Back in 2015, Greenpeace did a sophisticated research project on the sustainability of the top tech giants in the United States. It covered many areas of sustainability,...
Most solar installation companies provide financial projections to homeowners estimating what their savings will be twenty or twenty-five years after the time of installation. But...
It’s International Women’s Day! Today we recognize and celebrate women all around the world. As a member of Solar.com’s female population, it’s necessary for me...
A Review of LG Solar Panels - When Brand Name Does Matter
LG is a brand you may already be familiar with. They are a South Korean multinational manufacturer that makes televisions, mobile devices, tablets, smartwatches and...
This paper highlights the importance of power tolerance when choosing solar panels. Power tolerance is a measure of how much electrical power a solar panel...
Gauging the Bankability of Small to Mid-Sized Solar Installers
The entire world is going green and moving toward cleaner sources of energy. California hosts a flourishing solar industry with a burgeoning number of solar...
At Solar.com, we believe in supplying quality equipment for our customers. In the last twenty years, solar technology has grown exponentially, costs have plummeted, and...
Elon Musk's Gigafactory Should Be Dictating Your Solar Equipment
All solar installations today should be thinking ahead to the not-so-distant future. The main question to be asking is whether your solar system will seamlessly...
We all know why people go solar: investment purposes, immediate savings, environmental concerns, and grid independence. But who are these people? One of Malcom Gladwell’s...
The following letter is from a very reputable company in Solar.com’s installer network to a homeowner who was unfortunately taken advantage of by an installer...
Bankability: What it Means and Why it is Important for Your Solar...
Homeowners who are considering solar typically overlook the manufacturer of their solar panels, despite this being one of the most important factors for the longevity...
The U.S. Department of Energy invests in new technology to revolutionize the landscape of solar data. Reliable solar grid data, the true performance of solar...