How Long Do Solar Panels Last Reddit

The panels will likely last much longer than that panels made in the 1970s are still in use.

How long do solar panels last reddit.

The general answer for monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels is 25 years. As a general solar industry rule of thumb solar panels last about 25 30 years. Yes you read that right. You can count on most photovoltaic solar panels to last 25 years before they begin to noticeably degrade.

At vivint solar however we work with the best manufacturers and they re so confident in their panels that they offer 25 year warranties. To put your mind at ease studies have proven solar panels can last anywhere between 25 to 30 years or sometimes more. The great news is that with proper maintenance your panel may actually run for as long as 40 50 years. Ok now you have the number of panels you want.

Remember to do the calculation for an entire year and remember that your first year will be 100 efficiency but that drops a bit over the next ten years to about 80. 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. Of course that number is just an estimate. According to a photovoltaic degradation rates study published by the national renewable energy laboratory nrel the mean average degradation rate for solar panels is 0 8 per year 25 years to 80 with the median falling to 0 5 and 78 of all installations examined showing less than 1.

Consumers and manufacturers alike are optimistic about solar panel durability because many products are outperforming their warranties such as the world s first. Polycrystalline silicon panels on the other hand are blue in color. This 2012 study found that solar panels typically degrade in energy output by about 8 each year and technology has only improved since then. However this doesn t mean the panels on your roof will stop producing electricity after a couple of decades.

Figure out how the panels will fit on your roof with plenty of space around them for access and fire code. Posted in the askscience community. Chances are if you installed a roof top solar system today it would last longer than your roof. Solar panels last about 20 years according to the federal trade commission.

39 upvotes 18 comments. How long do solar panels last. Most solar panel companies will provide a standard 25 year warranty for the expected life expectancy of the solar panels. Typical consumer warranties on panels are for 25 years.

Especially because your panels will not stop working after 25 years they just won t work as well. When you re considering investing in a solar installation wondering how long home solar panels last is a question that inevitably pops up.