Here at the Eco Renewables Group, we know how important it is to get your money’s worth out of a product. For that reason, we only provide solar panels with a minimum warranty of 25 years. After all, solar panels are an investment for the future, so the last thing you want is to be replacing them frequently. So, how long should your solar panels last? And what about the other components?
Manufacturer’s warranty
The manufacturers warranty for solar panels usually guarantees them for 20-25 years. Not only does this mean that they shouldn’t need replacing, it also means that they should be performing at at least 80% efficiency after the 20 years are up. This means that solar panels should be expected to last a suitable length of time.
Real world evidence
A manufacturers warranty is one thing, but is there any real world evidence? Well, not for the UK. But this is only because the vast majority of solar panels are only 10-15 years old, and this is the same scenario across the globe. In fact, in the UK, more solar panels were installed between 2006 and 2008 than ever before. So while these solar panels are still performing well, they are only half way through their life expectancy.
Having said that, way back in 2002, a solar panel plant from the 1980’s was uncovered in Switzerland. Tests on this found that it was 11% less efficient than it was at the time of its installation, 20 years earlier.
This information gave us a good indication of what you can expect from a solar panel. Essentially, as the solar panels age, they will become less efficient at generating electricity from the sun. This however, is something that researchers and developers are still exploring and with huge developments in technology, most experts predict that modern solar panels will be still be efficient after 35-40 years!
For more information or advice about solar panel installations, contact the professionals today at the Eco Renewables Group.
