What is the useful life of a solar panel?

 

Even though manufacturers state a 25 year warranty, a solar panel typically lasts approximately 30~40 years. During that time, most systems require little or no maintenance beyond removing gritty dust, leaves or snow, and removing other debris blown in by the winds.

In general, the life of solar panels depends on the quality of the solar panel technology used and the quality of the overall installation. If they are not adjusted properly, the permanent vibrations of the winds loosen the screws and they come off.

Annually, solar panels lose about half a percent in overall performance. That means that after 30 years of operation, solar panels will still be operating at nearly 90 percent efficiency.

The amount of electricity a solar panel produces depends on three factors: the technological efficiency of the solar cells, the size of the solar panel, and the amount of sunlight reaching the panel directly.

5 years ago we were proudly installing solar panels or modules with 330 watts of power, and in 2022, the commercial design of any installation is based on using 535 or 540 watt solar panels, for sure and without any fear of being wrong. In two years from now we will install individual panels of 1000 watts.

What will happen with this technological advance with the millions of less powerful panels already installed over the last 25 or 20 years? Solar panels that occupy 4 times more space than one of new technology.

To gain more power with less space, the business policy of these energy producers is to replace them. There are already recycling companies that offer to disassemble them, collect them and take them to industrial mills where they separate their components and grind them, thus taking advantage of the glass, silicon and aluminum of the frames.

I disagree with that solution. There are more than 1.5 billion people in the world without access to electricity. An old, low power panel (180, 200, 220 watts for example) will still work.

A single panel of those, at least guarantees us enough electricity to light a house for 20 more years.

The United Nations or some international humanitarian organization should propose to collect them and send them to those millions of homes that today continue to light up with diesel or oil-based lamps.

Lenin Cardozo. Engineer and environmentalist. Installer of photovoltaic systems