How Long Do Solar Panels Last?
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How Long Do Solar Panels Last?

TelGaAs New Rooftop Solar Array

So your company is looking at solar options but the price tag is expensive. You begin to wonder, will solar panels actually last long enough to make it all worth the investment? We get it. That’s why professionals at EnergyLink pulled together the facts on solar panels that will answer all of your questions and empower your company to make a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly change.

How long do solar panels last?

The short answer? A long time. As a rule of thumb, solar panels last about 25-30 years, according to EnergySage. But to be clear, it doesn’t mean that after the 25-year mark that they stop producing energy. Research shows that after 25 years, energy production has declined but hasn’t come to an immediate halt. As long as there isn’t any physical damage by wind, debris or other external factors, they will continue to work for many decades. That’s a benefit about solar panels, they don’t have moving parts so they rarely break from within. This means less maintenance for your company and a more cost-effective way to produce energy in the long-run. 

How to maximize the durability of solar panels? 

1. Use More Sunlight 

It sounds easy, right? If you want to get optimum results from your solar panel investment, you should use as much power as you can under the sun. A suggestion on how your company can do this is to adjust your cooling or heating devices that use solar energy to the desired temperature during the day. When the sun starts to set, you can switch them off to minimize electricity usage. Or, if you have inverters with energy storage capability, recharge them properly during the day to minimize power waste. 

2. Keep them clean

Debris can be detrimental to the life of solar panels. In fact, many surveys have proven that cleaning your solar panels once a year can maximize its efficiency by as much as 21 % and improve returns on your investment. It’s also recommended to clean your solar panels every 6 months to ensure they are free from dirt and rust. As mentioned before, as long as physical damage to your solar panels can be minimized, the lifespan can proceed 25 years. 

3. Regularly get them checked by your installer 

Overall, the best way to ensure your solar panels last a long time is to have your installer regularly examine your solar energy system.  This can expose potential issues and provide proactive solutions to issues that can occur over time like loose racking and exposed wires. An inspection of solar inverters and roof racking systems are also recommended. A typical central inverter for a PV installation will last between 10 and 15 years and therefore will need to be replaced at some point during the lifetime of your solar panels.

Are you wanting more information? 

Whether your company is interested in solar energy or you just want a more environmentally friendly or energy-efficient change, contact us to conduct a free energy audit to find out ways to improve your facility!

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