Solar panels degrade mainly due to normal wear and tear over time due to exposure to UV rays and adverse weather conditions. The degradation rate is included in the performance guarantee of a panel. All solar panels slowly degrade over time, which means they produce less electricity with the same amount of sunlight. How and why does this happen? Various external factors (such as weather) wear down panels and negatively impact their ability to produce electricity.
Solar panels slowly degrade when in use. The rate varies in part depending on the severity of the conditions in which the panels operate. Very high temperatures or severe frost will cause faster degradation, partly because thermal stresses induce microscopic cracks that alter electricity flows. You can count on most photovoltaic solar panels to last 25 years before they start to degrade noticeably.
Most solar panel companies offer a standard 25-year warranty for the expected lifespan of solar panels. After 25 years, your solar panels won't necessarily need to be replaced; however, their ability to absorb sunlight will be reduced. Like anything else of value you buy, solar panels last longer when they are well maintained. Panels can degrade more quickly if they are dirty, have debris, or do not undergo regular maintenance.
Degradation of solar panels is caused by external factors that are unavoidable, such as exposure to UV rays and climate changes. Therefore, degradation is completely normal and is expected to occur. When solar panels degrade, their power is reduced. Degradation rates differ, however, most quality panels still carry up to 90% of their production efficiency after 20-25 years.
The degradation rate of solar panels is factored into the product performance guarantee. If you live in an area with cold temperatures, heavy rains, snow and hail, you may find that your solar panels degrade faster. First of all, as long as you have charge controllers (which is highly recommended), there's no big reason to cover your solar panels when they're not in use. On the other hand, if you find that your electricity bill is going up because your solar panels no longer work, then it's probably time to replace them.
The implication of increasing levels of bright sunlight is that any underlying decline in the efficiency of solar panels will be disguised. In fact, from October to March there was a greater percentage drop in solar panel production than in summer. Solar panels are generally quite easy to maintain because they are built to withstand weather events such as snow, hail, and wind. If you haven't yet purchased your solar panels, you may want to consider portable solar panels, especially if you think you'll need to cover your solar panels once you have them.
Solar panels aren't immune to this, and it's that constant coming and going that puts them under pressure and creates those little cracks. With only 0.25% degradation per year, SunPower solar panels will maintain 92% energy production at the end of their expected 25-year lifespan. However, a study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows a more accurate picture of the degradation of solar panels. While solar panels lose some percentages immediately due to LID, the degradation rate slows down significantly for the rest of their useful life.
While solar panel degradation is not ideal, a good quality solar panel will have low degradation rates that won't affect your system's performance too much. .
