Hard solar photovoltaic panel service life

How long do solar panels last?

Surprisingly, solar panel lifespan has always been extremely good. Given they have no moving parts, there is rarely something that can go wrong within the solar panel itself, which means they can keep generating electricity for a very long time. However, what has improved is the level a solar panel will be performing at after 25 years of usage.

What is the lifetime of a PV module?

Therefore, in the manufacturers’ context, the lifetime of a PV module is often defined as the time required for a PV module to lose its initial STC power by 20% (so-called degradation limit) . For outdoor degradation evaluations, statistical methods are commonly used.

Are service lifetime and degradation models suitable for PV modules?

The latest scientific work shows that service lifetime and degradation models for PV modules are of specific use if they combine different modelling approaches and include know-how and modelling parameters of the most relevant degradation effects.

Can solar PV modules be tested for outdoor life-time prediction?

Testing of PV modules has generally been unrepresentative and insufficient for outdoor life-time prediction. Light produces various light-induced degradation (LID) effects, including those associated with bill of material (BoM) complexes, metallic impurities, and hydrogen.

Why do we need reliable service lifetime prediction of PV modules & components?

For example, reliable service lifetime predictions aid: PV module and components manu-facturers to provide more realistic warranties, PV project investors to make good financial decisions, and consumers to increase their trust in PV energy. More reliable service lifetime prediction of PV modules and components is still quite a challenge.

What is the end-of-life of a PV module?

An overview of potential module failures, influencing factors and effects can be found in a previous report of IEA PVPS Task 13 . End-of-life is defined differently for PV modules, depending on the specific context or issue. The end-of-life is typically dependent on the use of the PV module and the specific conditions of the PV power plant.