It turned out that solar panels degrade dramatically after 10 years of use instead of the claimed 25 years
Researchers from the Czech Republic conducted a study in which they found that after 10 years of use, solar panels begin to break down when the promised service life is 20-25 years of operation.
The researchers collected monitoring data on 85 solar power plants built in the Czech Republic in 2009-2010. The main cause of panel failure was identified as delamination of the photovoltaic panels. All of the panels studied were installed at an angle of 35 degrees, and most were coated with EVA TPT laminate. If the siloxan coating is not renewed after 10 years, after another year the entire panel will have to be replaced.
Savings on frames also resulted in a shorter lifespan - they were loosened as well as the distance between the frames and the photopanels was shortened. Also the panels were connected in series to increase the voltage, which contributed to the degradation processes.
This sounds like consequences from going cheap. I have a couple of surplus panels that are over fifty years old and still outputting about 80% of their rated power when kept clean.
Hmm. My panels come with a 25 year warranty, I think. I wonder how to get someone to evaluate them. That said, our production is still in line with previous years during current year 7. But worth keeping an eye on.
This was interesting to me too:
The Fig. 5 shows expenses for replacement of damaged inverters which rise sharply as well after about 10 years of operation.
I also know our inverter came with a 10 year warranty. We should have it looked at around year 8 and make sure it’s running right, and/or make a claim on that.
Yikes! Several questions:
- What do manufacturers say?
- Are these all from one manufacturer?
- Is there any monitoring, maintenance & repair that can be done?
- These are 10-12 year old panels, has the manufacturing process changed at all? viz. Kitec vs PEX
Comment: It’s hard to tell from the original pics exactly where these failures are happening, it looks like a stress crack in the frame?
