How long do roof top solar panels last?

Some factors that affect solar panels&#; lifespans&#;such as climate and extreme weather events&#;are beyond your control. Still, there are ways in which you can increase the longevity of your solar panels.

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Quality

As the breakdown among solar panel Tiers shows, the quality of your panels makes a significant long-term difference to the output. For an indication of what type of output you can expect, look at the production warranty offered by the manufacturer. Companies that offer 25 or more years are willing to stand by their products for a long time&#;and that&#;s a good sign for you.

Installation

By working with an experienced installer to get your solar panels in place, you can feel confident that the racking will support the panels long-term. If improperly installed and wired, your solar panels may degrade faster. Many of the best solar companies also offer maintenance checks to make sure the system is operating properly and to catch any issues before they turn into larger problems.

Climate

When it comes to solar panels, the lifespan and performance of your solar panels are significantly influenced by the climate where you install them. As such, you should be aware of how weather conditions and other factors affect the efficiency and longevity of your panels.

For instance, the hotter it is where you live, the more likely your solar panels are to degrade over time. Heat causes solar panels&#; materials to break down faster than in colder conditions. Other weather elements such as humidity, hail and high winds can also negatively impact your solar panels and cause additional damage to other parts of the panel.

Maintenance

Besides the savings potential and the environmentally friendly benefits, one of the biggest selling points of solar panels is that they are quite low-maintenance. If you want to extend your solar panels&#; lifespan, however, it can help to take care of them. For example, debris that accumulates on solar panels not only blocks access to the sun, but can also cause scratches and chips on the panels that lead them to break. To avoid situations like this, it&#;s wise to regularly clean off your solar panels or install solar panel critter guards.

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If you want to learn more, please visit our website FAQ of solar panels.

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A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that, on average, solar panel output falls by 0.5% to 0.8% each year. This rate of decline is called the solar panel degradation rate. 

The degradation rate of your solar panels tells you how much electricity you can expect them to produce in any given year of their useful life. To determine the projected output of your solar panels, multiply the degradation rate by the number of years since installation and subtract that number from 100%.

For example, a 0.8% degradation rate means that in year two, your panels will operate at 99.2% of their original output; by the end of their 25-year useful life, they will still be operating at 82.5%. A slightly more durable panel with a degradation rate of 0.5% will likely produce around 87.5% of its original output in year 25. 

Solar panel degradation rates are constantly improving as solar panel technology improves. Degradation rates below 1% are now standard throughout the industry, but premium manufacturers like Maxeon offer rates as low as 0.25%.

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