Businesses are starting to take notice of renewable energy and solar panels as an alternative way to power their facilities and make them more sustainable. Solar energy is without a doubt a very good way to transition to sustainable energy and this transition will also reduce energy costs sometimes reducing them to zero.
To gain the best from solar panels it is important to understand how long their lifespan generally is, from here you can decide if fitting solar panels to your business premises is a good investment for the future.
In this article we will look at the life expectancy of solar panels and how to extend this lifespan:
Reasons Why Solar Panels Degrade
Solar panels can sometimes degrade earlier than expected for numerous reasons.
Solar panels may degrade a lot quicker than expected when they are exposed to extreme climate changes, are installed incorrectly, or experience heavy soiling from debris and dirt. Another reason for solar panels to degrade quicker than expected is because of the parts used when manufacturing the panels, as some technology is more supreme than others.
Panel Degradation Rate Explained
Over their lifetime solar panels will degrade thus they will incur reduced ability to absorb light emitted from the sun, which in turn will see less energy being converted by the solar panels. This adverse effect is called “degradation rate” and is brought on by factors such as hot weather, and the natural degradation of components that make up the solar panels.
Solar panels that are constructed with a low degradation rate will ultimately last longer, thus they will produce far more energy over their lifetime than that of a solar panel with a high degradation rate. By shopping around you will find that the better the brand the better the quality. thus, the better the quality solar panel, the lower the degradation rate.
Weather
The weather plays a crucial role in how long solar panels last.
If there is a storm that causes trees to down and damages the solar panels, the anti-reflective coating may get damaged. Large hailstones can damage the glass, and heavy snowfall may pose a threat to the structural integrity of the panels.
Most manufacturers do test the solar panels against extreme weather, but obviously, extreme weather will cause degradation over time.
Installation
The majority of solar panels are built to be durable, after all, why would you install solar panels with high degradation? However, special care must be taken when installing solar panels and activating them for the first time. Great precautions must be taken when assessing the area where the installation will take place, after all a damaged roof will only higher the degradation rate of the panels.
Further information
For further information in regards to solar panel degradation please contact one of our expert members of staff who will be pleased to provide information.
