How Long Do Solar Panels Last For

Most solar panels last 25 years with an average annual degradation rate of 50.
How long do solar panels last for. 1 however this doesn t mean the panels on your roof will stop producing electricity after a couple of decades. Of course that number is just an estimate. Yes you read that right. To put your mind at ease studies have proven solar panels can last anywhere between 25 to 30 years or sometimes more.
The general answer for monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels is 25 years. The great news is that with proper maintenance your panel may actually run for as long as 40 50 years. Solar panels do not go bad and very rarely are they faulty or break. Especially because your panels will not stop working after 25 years they just won t work as well.
The official word from seia solar energy industries association is that the average lifespan of a solar panel is between 20 and 30 years. At vivint solar however we work with the best manufacturers and they re so confident in their panels that they offer 25 year warranties. A panel s degradation rate materials temperature coefficient warranty and caliber of installation all influence how long it ll hold up over time. Chances are if you installed a roof top solar system today it would last longer than your roof.
However this doesn t mean that they stop producing electricity after 25 years it just means that energy production has declined by what manufacturers consider to be a significant amount. Properly maintaining your solar panels will help ensure they last longer. There are a myriad of factors that impact the vitality of solar panels and the profitability of your system. However the assurance from manufacturers in the shape of a long term warranty suggests that the lifespan of solar panels is at least two to three decades and likely even longer.
As a general solar industry rule of thumb solar panels last about 25 30 years. Some solar panels are built to last 10 or 15 years while some perform for decades.