Average Solar Panel Degradation

A ssuming all other variables are held constant e g.

Average solar panel degradation.

Most solar panels last 25 years with an average annual degradation rate of 50. According to an analysis by the national renewable energy laboratory nrel some premium panel manufacturers offer degradation rates as low as 0 3 per year. For the above example a 0 8 degradation rate means that in year two your panels will operate at 99 2 percent of their original output. That s backed up by the solar panel manufacturer s warranty which guarantees 90 production in the first ten years and 80 by year 25 or 30.

No degradation in any of the other equipment consistent insolation values and weather year to year etc the annual degradation is the percent difference between each year s production. Solar panels do not go bad and very rarely are they faulty or break. Properly maintaining your solar panels will help ensure they last longer. By the end of their 25 year useful lifespan they will still be operating at 82 5 a slightly more durable panel with a degradation rate of 0 5 will likely produce around 87 5 as much electricity as it did when it was first installed.

On average solar panels degrade at a rate of 1 each year. And while other brands have higher degradation rates of up to 0 8 per year that s still a yearly average degradation rate of only 0 5.