What is the duration of the solar panels?
There is no doubt, the main reason to install solar panels is none other than the savings that they can provide. Because, in addition to being a clean, renewable and non-polluting energy source, the money that you will stop spending each month is significant. In fact, the Organization of Consumers and Users points out that an average household cansave around 400 euros with these facilities.
However, there is an aspect that usually worries users when it comes to installing these systems or not: the price of solar panels. It is true that it is usually high, yes, but in our post 'How much is saved on the electricity bill with solar panels?’ We tell you that the investment can be amortized quite quickly. And today we add a new element to the equation that will dispel all your doubts: the duration of the solar panels.
Solar panels: how long do they last?
Before worrying too much about solar panels, you should keep in mind that with them you will considerably reduce your electricity bill. And once you have amortized the investment price, you can enjoy 100% free energy. In this sense, the most frequent is that the amortization takes you between 5 and 8 years. From there, it is normal to wonder how long the panels will continue to work.
The answer will surprise you, since The duration of the solar panels is between 25 and 30 years in most models. In other words, once you have amortized the investment, you will have around 20 years left to continue enjoying energy without having to spend a single euro more.
Why do they lose performance?
When we say that solar panels last between 25 and 30 years, it is because they degrade over time.Each year the boards lose around 0.8% of performance, which means that after 20 years they will offer 20% less production. In other words, the solar panel will continue to work but will only offer 80% of the production it gave on the first day.
At present, there are high-quality panels that have managed to reduce this rate of degradation to tiny percentages. In fact, there are some that only degrade by 0.3% each year, which allows them to continue after 25 years with a performance of more than 90%.
How to make your photovoltaic panels last longer
In this sense, many people wonder if it is possible to make their panels last longer than this time. And it is that, if we take into account the solar panels price, each extra year that we can get will be very well received. In addition to carrying out correct maintenance from time to time, the most important factor for your plates to last longer has to do withuse a trusted experienced installer.
On the other hand, you should also pay attention to the guarantees offered by the panels, since there are many high-quality brands that offer guarantees of more than 20 years. Apart from all this, there are some things that could also help increase its durability:
Keep them free of dirt.
Periodically check your cables and electrical connections.
Check that they are well anchored.
Avoid having trees or other elements that can cause large shadows.
