What is the accurate time to replace my solar panel?

Posted by annie mardel on February 23rd, 2021

Several things grow better with age- like high-quality leather, cheeses, wine, and so on. However, this isn't the case with some of the tools you decide to invest in. Several machines have a limited utility life, whether it's a tractor, complex machinery, or a car. 

Though the solar panel is an amazing long-term investment for many homes and businesses, solar panels are somewhat similar. Before deciding about the efficiency of your solar, you should understand its lifecycle.  Depending on the solar panel's quality and manufacturer, the can perform smoothly between 25 to 30 years. After installing these solar panels, the initial 25 to 30 years is termed as their "useful life"; however, panels can generate electricity for several years. 

What is a "useful life" from the perspective of a solar panel? Like the other mechanical equipment, these solar panels fail to perform 100% efficiently for their whole lives. Sometimes, they can stop functioning after initial thirty years. Rather, the electricity generation capacity of most of these panels can reduce as they age. This process is known as degradation. So, when you feel that it is time to replace the solar panel, you must get in touch with specialists for the job.

What is the degradation of solar panels?

Most of the solar panels can gradually degrade over the years. As a result, even from the same amount of sun rays, they're more likely to produce less electricity. How does this happen? Numerous external conditions such as wear down due to weather on the panels can harm the panel's capacity to generate electricity. 

Firstly, solar panels' degradation can occur via the microcracks that can occur within the solar panel's cells' silicon surface. These mini cracks can deteriorate the electrical connections, lessening the paths to take electrons from the sunlight. Thus, less amount of energy can pass through your home, inverter, or business. Other issues are discoloration and adhesion failures in the junction box. To fix the degraded solar panels, you can replace the solar panels with a new one. 

Benefits of considering replacing a roof with solar panels

While electricity rates are highly volatile, estimating the cost of electricity for a fixed period is complicated. However, to estimate the cost of power generated by solar rooftops, the task becomes very easy. Solar panels use sunlight for electricity generation. So, in comparison to traditional sources of energy, they pose very few environmental damages. Unlike conventional generators, these panels run discreetly while releasing less amount of toxic gases.