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If you&#;re considering an investment in solar panels for your home, it&#;s likely you&#;re wondering how long that investment might last. The industry term for solar panel lifespan is the &#;Degradation Rate,&#; which describes the output that all solar panels experience over time.
Solar cells degrade due to unavoidable circumstances, like UV exposure and weather cycles. When manufacturers began to realize that degradation rates were a problem, they improved their technology. However, solar panels created before this realization didn&#;t account for degradation rates and may be more susceptible to wear and tear.
Photovoltaic (PV) modules typically come with 20-year warranties that guarantee the panels will produce at least 80 percent of the rated power for 20 years. The general rule of thumb is that panels degrade by about 1 percent every year. An investigation was conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to determine if the 1 percent of degradation rule used by manufacturers was accurate or not.
The NREL analyzed the long-term degradation rate of a variety of PV solar panels, leveraging research from the past 40 years. Research found that the 1 percent rule was pessimistic for panels made prior to , and today&#;s panels, equipped with better technology and improved manufacturing, have better stamina. The degradation rate is actually less than 0.5 percent for panels made before , and less than 0.4 percent for panels made after . A panel manufactured today should produce 92 percent of its original power after 20 years, which is quite a bit higher than the 80 percent estimated by the 1 percent rule.
With the increased technology, new solar panels are expected to last for 25-30 years. After that time period, solar panels can drastically lose their efficiency.
In order to extend solar panel lifespans, we must learn why they degrade. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have used machine learning to take crucial steps toward increasing the lifespan of solar panels and potentially lowering solar energy costs for manufacturers and consumers.
Machine learning allows researchers to quickly and accurately read thousands of images of solar cells as they break down and fail over time. Until now, solar panel manufacturers had to rely primarily on single, static photos of the PV cells after they had failed. Allowing researchers to see how and where the PV cells have failed will be the key to advancing solar panel diagnostics and accurately predicting future failures.
Another initiative underway is increasing the lifespan of solar inverters. The solar inverters on panels usually last between 10-12 years and typically need replacing at least once over the panel&#;s lifetime. The power inverters are crucial for safe and efficient operation of solar panels. Extending the lifetime can have significant advantages to the cost and function of a solar system.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technology Offices are exploring power electronic concepts and device designs for solar that could extend power electronics&#; lifetimes and significantly reduce a solar energy system&#;s levelized cost of energy. This could help the solar industry reach $0.03 per kilowatt hour by .
With improved technology and longevity of solar panels, a solar PV system for your home is a great option for reducing your energy costs and reducing your carbon footprint. Our residential solar program is growing each day and we want you to be part of it!
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Solar inverters are a central component to utilizing solar energy. However, unlike photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which can last for decades with minimal maintenance (with only 0.5% output degradation per year), solar inverters have a finite lifespan. In this article, we&#;ll tell you how long an inverter lasts and how you can estimate the lifespan of the inverter you&#;re considering.
Solar panels are the power-generating part of a solar PV system and are relatively simple, reliable devices with no moving parts or other wear-prone components. The energy they derive from exposure to the sun is fed into a 12-volt battery bank.
Energy is stored in this deep-cycle lead-acid battery bank, so power is available when the panels are not generating current. How long will a deep-cycle battery bank provide power? The length of the battery run and power demand determines the discharge rate, along with the condition of the batteries.
For instance, a 600-watt solar panel can charge a 12V, 100ah battery with about three hours of sunlight. Panels of that size can usually provide over 180 amp-hours per day.
Inverters utilize a small portion of the deep-cycle battery power to operate, converting the Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC), making it usable for homes and businesses.
What Capacity Inverter Do You Need for Your Solar System?
The total capacity of the inverter(s) should be equal to the power-generating ability of the solar panels. Assuming a typical service of 100 amps, if your solar panel array can generate watts, you should purchase at minimum, a watt inverter.
In order to convert the current from DC to AC, inverters employ components such as:
, to filter fluctuating electrical current on DC lines
, such as MOSFET semiconductors, to convert DC to AC power
, such as the inductor and transformer to filter and smoothen electrical wave shapes for current compatibility with grid connection
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How Long Do Inverters Last?
Depending on the type, an inverter can last up to 25 years. Others can fail after only a few years.
All of the above components in an inverter are subject to electro-mechanical wear and temperature fluctuation stresses. In the case of capacitors, electrolyte evaporation is also a concern. Other causes of wear include:
Over and under-voltage
Over-current
Ultrasonic vibrations originating from the cores of inductive components
An inverter can fail outright if one or more components stop working, or it can cross a threshold of efficiency degradation, where it is no longer passing enough AC current to be viable. In both cases, the inverter must be replaced.
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External Factors Affecting Lifespan
As you can see, inverters are subject to a much greater variety of potential wear variables than the solar panels themselves. The specific wear not only varies types of inverters, but it also depends on:
Whether or not they are exposed to the elements
How much maintenance was performed over their lifetime (such as keeping vents clear for proper heat dissipation) and
Other factors that affect their
life expectancy
So, how long do inverters last? All of the above factors must be taken into account before answering that question, along with the inverter&#;s daily run time, which can differ according to where you are based and how much sun you receive.
We haven&#;t quite answered the &#;how long do solar inverters last&#; question yet, because there is another factor that we must consider, and that&#;s the type of inverter we&#;re dealing with.
How Long Does an Inverter Last
? It Depends on the Type of Inverter
String inverters are a cost-effective solution because only one inverter is required for a large array of solar panels, typically 5-10 panels in total. This simplicity also makes them easy to install and troubleshoot.
However, a string inverter can only deliver as much power as the weakest-performing solar panel in the array. Therefore, if one panel is shaded or covered in debris, the entire system is affected. Another disadvantage is that they are typically warrantied for only 8-12 years, which is less than half that of microinverters, which gives you an idea of their expected lifespan.
Microinverters are smaller inverters and are usually installed as one per solar panel. They function in a parallel circuit, so if one solar panel is obstructed or defective, it won&#;t affect the rest. In theory, then, a microinverter-equipped array can deliver consistently reliable power under most conditions. Another advantage is the longevity, with many having a 25-year warranty, though failure is possible before the warranty expires.
Here&#;s a chart of solar inverter warranties to give you some ballpark estimates:
Inverter Type Typical Warranties
String Inverter
5-12 years
Microinverter
20-25 years
DC Optimizers
20-25 years
Central Inverters
5-10 years
Battery Based Inverters
2-5 years
Other Considerations
Modified sine wave inverters make a more abrupt switch in polarity, so the sine wave has a stair-step pattern rather than smooth. Pure sine wave inverters apply a smooth curve to the AC current wave as the polarity switches back and forth.
Why is this important? This affects not only the lifespan of the inverter but has the potential to reduce the lifespan of your equipment.
Finally&#;
How Long Does an Inverter Last
?
The answer is&#; it depends. We hope we&#;ve given you a good idea of the variables involved, and how difficult it is to predict the lifespan of an inverter. With good maintenance and minimal exposure to harsh conditions, inverters should reach the upper end of the time spans listed above.
With + projects completed successfully, we certainly know how to install reliable solar power systems. Talk to us or send us a message to learn more about commercial and residential solar systems.
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