When it comes to installing a renewable energy system in your own home, you are going to make sure that the juice is worth the squeeze.
Luckily, solar panels are one thing you can buy and rely on for decades to come – with most companies guaranteeing them for 25 years.
If a company is prepared to guarantee something for 25 years you know it will certainly last longer than that. In fact, most good quality solar panels will still be functioning at 80% of their initial efficiency quarter of a century after they have been installed.
So what happens to solar panels after 25 years?
Not a lot really!
Although your panels will have lost some of their efficiency after 25 years, they will keep going for twice as long as that with degradation occurring at just 0.5% a year.
What affects the lifespan of Solar Panels?
There are many factors that affect the lifespan of a solar panel and most of them are easy to avoid or at least make allowance for.
Solar Panels can be affected quite badly by high temperatures so ventilation is extremely important for keeping the panels cool. This is one of the reasons rooftop installations are such a good idea.
Degradation
Degradation is the natural process of components starting to wear out inside your solar panel.
Don’t worry though, the rate of ‘decay’ is around 0.5% year on year according to research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the US so this process takes over half a century before your panels become unusable.
Heat
If the sun is splitting the trees and cracking flagstones, you can bet your bottom dollar it’s having an effect on your solar panels. The more sun there is, the harder the cells are working and the quicker they will degrade.
However, in the UK, this is not generally a massive problem!
The temperate weather in the UK is just about perfect for both protecting, and prolonging the lifespan of, your solar panels. Most solar panels installed in the UK are still functioning at 95% even after 20 years. So, the British weather is perfect if you are looking to install a PV system in your home.
Angle of install
Not something one would immediately consider is affecting the lifespan of your solar panels but the lower the angle of your install the more chance there is of damage from dust, debris and wildlife.
A panel that is installed on a flat roof, or outside the recommended angles of 20 – 50%, is more likely to suffer damage or collect dirt and dust.
Research into the perfect angles for installations have proved that, even if the panels are tilted at 30 degrees, an average of 1% of energy is lost from dust collecting on the surfaces of the panels.
Dust and Debris
As we have mentioned above, anything collecting on a panel can affect just how efficient it is.
Any scratches to the surface of the panel are going make that panel just a little less able to convert the sun’s energy into electricity, so having the panels at the best angle to avoid collecting dust, dirt or being sat on by birds and other animals is going to prolong the lifespan of your system.
What maintenance do Solar Panels need?
Very little is the immediate answer.
Solar panels have no moving parts, so you don’t get the usual wear and tear that something like a boiler or car engine would have. You don’t need to have your panels serviced and you don’t need to have bits replaced so, unless there is an accident of some kind, your panels will continue to work for decades.
However, it’s always best to ensure your panels function at their very best with just a few simple tips.
Test your system
Any problems in the efficiency of your system will be flagged up with a simple test of the system.
The simplest test is to just check the lights on the inverter during the day. When the system is running perfectly the light on the front of your inverter will be green. If the light has changed to either orange or red, then there is a problem in the system.
If this is the case it’s best to call the manufacturer, or a qualified professional, to perform a more in depth test and isolate the problem before it affects any other part of the system.
We suggest checking the inverter every day.
You can also speak to your installer about a full testing system.
Cleaning
As mentioned previously, dust and dirt can affect the efficiency of your solar panels – either by blocking the sun’s rays or by scratching the surface of the panel.
Luckily, rain is very common in this green and pleasant land of ours so panels are often washed down automatically by the weather.
However, more stubborn soiling can be caused by passing birds and even sap from nearby trees. If this is the case then the panels need to be cleaned either by installing an automatic system or hiring a professional cleaner.
If you are doing the cleaning yourself then ensure you don’t use any abrasive chemicals or hard brushes as the idea is to clean the panels without scratching or damaging them.
How to make solar panels last longer?
By following the advice in this blog!
- Keep your panels clean
- Regularly test your system
- Keep your panels free of shade
- Clear the panel area of trees and branches
- Discourage birds from landing on your roof
