Degradation of solar panels

The degradation of solar panels includes a series of impacts, through which photovoltaic modules reduce their efficiency year after year. Aging is the main factor affecting the degradation of solar panels, which can cause corrosion and delamination, as well as affect the performance of photovoltaic materials.

Other degradation factors that affect photovoltaic modules include light induced degradation (LID), potential induced degradation (PID), outdoor exposure, and environmental factors. There are several tools and techniques used to determine solar panel degradation, including visual inspection, infrared thermal imaging, electroluminescence (EL), and performance calibration.

The impact of solar panel degradation

The degradation of solar panels is caused by aging, which not only affects large photovoltaic devices, but also exists in every rooftop photovoltaic device worldwide. That’s why homeowners with rooftop photovoltaic systems and households consuming solar energy from the grid are paying attention to it.

Considering a well maintained photovoltaic system with ideal conditions, the appropriate degradation rate of solar panels is estimated to be 0.5% per year. However, in some extreme cases, the degradation rate of solar panels may reach 1.4% or 1.54% per year.

These pieces of information emphasize the importance of installing high-quality photovoltaic modules manufactured by reliable companies and maintaining solar cell arrays. Taking all preventive measures will ensure that the degradation rate of solar panels is minimized and the service life of photovoltaic systems is longer.

The higher the degradation rate, the higher the energy loss experienced by the photovoltaic system throughout its entire lifecycle. Solar panel manufacturers typically establish a reference for degradation rates, and each component type typically has a performance guarantee chart indicating the percentage of expected production relative to years.

Solar panels with an annual degradation rate of 0.5% may approach 87% of their first year output at the end of their service life. Meanwhile, the annual degradation rate of low-quality solar panels installed under harsh environmental conditions may reach 1%, reducing their production to around 75% of the first year’s production.

Considering the limited lifespan of solar panels, it is important to note that they can be recycled and reused for grid operations, electric vehicle charging stations, and other applications.

The better news is that researchers are currently working to extend the lifespan of photovoltaic modules and develop technologies to reduce further degradation of solar panels. We believe that the products of photovoltaic modules in the future will definitely have comprehensive improvements compared to the models we are currently using.

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