Life span of Solar Panels – 6 Things you Should know

 

 [Sunlife]It is critical to understand what determines the longevity of solar panels. If you search the Internet and manuals, you will quickly find that the expected product life, which is stated over and over again, is at least 25 years. This expectation is based on a variety of criteria. First of all, most manufacturers of solar modules offer a 25-year performance guarantee, even if it is not a 25-year product guarantee. At the time when most subsidy schemes were based on feed-in tariffs, these contracts also mostly ran for a period of 20 years. Last but not least, some old systems are still in good use after up to 30 years.

In theory, therefore, solar panels can be expected to function well for two to three decades. [Solar Energy in Pakistan]BUT it should never be taken for granted. If someone believes that solar energy is all about putting solar panels on a roof and that this will ensure reliable solar power supply for two decades without any further action, then at best they can experience serious disenchantment and, at worst, financial problems.

So if you want your solar modules to have a long service life, you should know and consider the following 6 points.

1.    Quality of the components

 That is of course the core. Like any industrial good, the service life of solar modules is closely related to the quality of their components. Most solar panels are built with the following components, all of which are subject to potential failures:

- glass - it can break under mechanical stress, the coating on the front can deteriorate over time
- aluminum frames - poorly designed frames allow freezing in winter, Fractures under heavy loads such as snow ...
- solar cells - they can have microcracks, hot spots ...
- encapsulants - can delaminate

The best manufacturers over time have developed rigorous selection methods beyond what is normally required by international certifications such as IEC 61215. They typically use methods that simulate the stress that the solar panels will be exposed to during their expected life. The influence of temperature fluctuations, UV, humidity, and mechanical stress is tested in combination. All components react differently to the stress in the long term and so the first challenge to ensure a long service life of solar modules is to select the correct parts list. With a large number of suppliers in the industry, it is not enough to just rely on the supplier's established certifications and then find a good price. Without an established internal test and selection processes, the risks are significantly increased.

 

2.     Quality of the module

assembly Along with the selection of the components, the quality and know-how in assembly is of the utmost importance. So, it's not just about choosing the best components, but also ensuring that they harmonize perfectly with each other. Ultimately, the combination of the components will determine the behavior of the solar module during operation.[Solar Panel in Pakistan]

Quality is an ongoing story in our industry. The solar industry is still a young and burgeoning industry. It has not yet reached the level where high-quality standards are equally distributed across the industry, so you can choose your supplier with your eyes closed. The PV industry has been growing aggressively for a number of years and many manufacturers are trying to reduce costs in order to maintain margins in view of the enormous competition between the players. In such an environment, of course, not all products are the same, as compromises can result in the value chain at the expense of the quality and service life of the solar modules.

3.     Installation
quality If you buy the best solar modules, but they are poorly installed, this can also negatively affect the expected service life of the solar system. When it comes to installing solar modules, there are several elements to consider:

- Store and transport modules upright to avoid micro-cracks
- Check for any visible defects before installation
- Make sure handling does not cause damage
- Pay attention to Correct electrical connections
- Observe the inclination and clamping to ensure optimum self-cleaning and mechanical resistance
- Avoid shading in order not to unnecessarily load protective diodes in the module
- Carry out the wiring taking safety into account

4. The Degradation

 Once your modules are properly installed, their performance will decrease somewhat over time. That is normal and known. This is mainly caused by thermal stress and mechanical influences. With modern technologies, the degradation should be less than 1% per year.

Most manufacturers indicate this value within their performance guarantees. [Solar panel lahore] Normally, the degree of degradation should remain below that in reality.

5.    External Conditions

      Among the things that you cannot fully control are the climatic conditions under which the solar panels will operate. If you are in an extremely hot region or in a region with high humidity, it will affect the behavior of your solar panels.

6.    Maintenance

An old myth is that solar modules do not require maintenance. That is definitely not the right attitude. If you think that you own a power-generating asset and that you want to count on yourself for the next 20 years, it should really be a top priority.

First of all, you should combine your solar modules with a monitoring system. [Best solar panel company in pakistan] Without data, it is much more difficult to know if your installation is working properly and to identify problems if any. And ultimately, it's also fun to keep an eye on what the solar system is harvesting on the side. Then we recommend that you always keep an eye on your solar panels to see whether there is any shading (stuck leaves or dust ...), have them removed if necessary, and carry out regular maintenance work.

If you observe these 6 points, you will have a lot of fun with your solar system and you will reap at least the kilowatt-hours that you were promised when you bought it.