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With the rising price of electricity in Australia and climate change on everyone’s minds, more and more people are turning to solar panels, also called photovoltaics or PVs, to generate affordable and sustainable energy.
Before investing, you should know how long your photovoltaics will last. The good news is that they will last long when you choose quality models, use a reputable installer, and perform minimal maintenance.
We will explore how long your PVs should last, what affects their lifespan, and what you can do to help ensure a maximum return on your investment. Let’s get started!
What Is the Average Lifespan of Solar Panels in Australia?
How long your photovoltaics will last depends on a few factors. However, on average, with minimal maintenance, your photovoltaics should last between 20 and 30 years and may even last up to 40 years.
It’s important to understand that your photovoltaics won’t suddenly stop working after about 25 years. Instead, the solar panel degradation rate reduces photovoltaic efficiency, which means they simply produce less and less energy over time.
Solar Panel Degradation Rate
The average solar panel degradation rate or the amount of efficiency photovoltaics lose over time, is about 0.5% per year. That average rate will vary with the type of PVs you have, their quality, climate, and other factors.
It means your panels will be about 2% less efficient after four years than the day they were installed. After 25 years, they will be about 12.5% less efficient than when they were first purchased.
What Factors Affect The Lifespan of Solar Panels?
Solar Panel Type
There are many types of photovoltaics. The most commonly used ones are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film. Polycrystalline and thin film models have lower energy efficiencies, producing less power per surface area than monocrystalline models. They also have a higher degradation rate and are more likely to be damaged by thermal cycling, so they tend not to last as long. This is why monocrystalline is the best choice overall.
Solar Panel Quality
Even though monocrystalline PV panels tend to have the best longevity, not all monocrystalline models are built the same. Choose a reputable manufacturer, like EcoFlow’s Solar Panels, that makes top-quality PVs and offers good warranties, showing that they stand by their product.
Solar Panel Installation
It’s a good idea to use a reputable installation company that offers a warranty on its work. A properly installed quality racking system will prevent the panels from slipping or cracking. Poorly installed panels can move and even fall off your roof, especially in high winds.
Local Climate and Environment
The local climate and environment can significantly affect your solar panel’s longevity. The most significant factor is how temperature affects PV efficiency, which starts decreasing above the optimal temperature of 25°C (77°F).
Furthermore, if you live in a desert climate with hot days and cold nights, your photovoltaics will be more affected by thermal cycling, the expansion and contraction of materials with temperature.
It can cause more micro-cracks to form, reducing PV lifespan. Passive cooling systems and added ventilation will help protect them. Also, monocrystalline PVs perform best in hot climates since they have lower temperature coefficients, meaning they lose less efficiency with temperature increases than other models.
If you live in a humid climate, your climate effects are much more variable. High humidity may cause debris to build up on the panels if it’s not accompanied by good rainfall to wash it off. High heat combined with humidity can also reduce efficiency. However, humidity can also help cool the panels in some cases, reducing the temperature effect.
Finally, living in an area prone to hail or severe weather can also reduce solar panel lifespan. If your area is prone to hail, there are steps you can take to protect PVs from hail.
How Can You Make Your Solar Panels Last Longer?
Choose Reputable Installers
It’s always best to hire a professional to install your photovoltaics, ideally, one who offers a warranty on their craft. Professional solar installers will have the necessary electrical skills and knowledge to mount your racking systems securely.
Use High-Quality PV Panels
Since there are many different types and manufacturers, choosing the right photovoltaics for your home is essential. Research your PVs and manufacturer, and check their warranties to see if they stand behind their products.
Clean Your Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics require very little maintenance besides occasional cleaning, which depends mainly on your climate and environmental conditions. If you live in a rainy climate, the rain may be sufficient to clean them.
However, if you notice bird droppings or a tree dropping leaves on them, you should clean your photovoltaics to keep them operating efficiently and prevent hot spots from forming that could damage them. For those in the drier parts of Australia or those experiencing drought, you should have them cleaned once or twice yearly.
Regular Maintenance
Other maintenance that should be done once a year is to check all the wires, connections, and the racking system mounts to ensure everything is secure. Also, check under the panels to ensure no birds or animals have been building nests under them or chewing on the wires.
Warranties & Guarantees on Solar Panels
Since photovoltaics degrade over time, some manufacturers will offer poor warranties. Choose a manufacturer offering good warranties to show that they stand behind their products. But even with a reputable manufacturer, warranty periods will vary, so be sure to read your specific product’s warranty policy.
EcoFlow Rigid Solar Panels, like the EcoFlow 400W Rigid Panels, come with a 10-year warranty, which is considered the best industry standard, so you know that they stand by their product. EcoFlow Portable solar Panels will naturally have shorter warranty periods since they are intended to be moved around frequently, increasing the chance of damaging them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Photovoltaic panels should generally be replaced after about 25 years because of the solar degradation rate, which causes them to lose about 0.5% of their efficiency annually. At 25 years, your PVs will still work, operating at 87.5% efficiency. However, eventually, they will not generate enough power to run your home.
Consider replacing your photovoltaics after about 25 years. Since they lose about 0.5% efficiency each year, after 25 years, they will be running at 87.5% of their original efficiency. Recycling options for PVs are getting better every year; find your nearest recycling facility to dispose of them.
Final Thoughts
Solar panel type, quality, installation, and your local climate and environmental conditions will all affect the lifespan of your photovoltaics. On average, however, PVs lose 0.5% efficiency per year, so after 25 years, they will operate at 87.5% of their original capacity. While they will continue working, they will eventually no longer produce enough power for your home.
Choosing quality PVs like EcoFlow’s Solar Panels, performing routine maintenance and cleaning, and using cooling systems or other methods to protect them from severe weather can all help extend their useful lifespan.