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OKIsItJustMe

(19,938 posts)
4. A 25 year warranty is fairly common nowadays
Tue Jan 31, 2012, 05:09 PM
Jan 2012
http://www.google.com/search?q=25%20year%20solar%20panel%20guarantee

http://www.brightstarsolar.net/2010/06/life-expectancy-of-solar-photovoltaic-panels/
[font face=Times, Serif][font size=5]Life Expectancy of Solar Photovoltaic Panels[/font]

[font size=3]You’ve bought into the idea of generating electricity through solar means, so now what? Naturally, any homeowner or business interested in photovoltaic power wants to know how long these panels will actually last. Since solar modules have no moving parts, they actually can last a pretty long time. Typically, solar panel manufacturers issue a 20 or 25 year warranty on panels, but most installers say they can endure more than 40 years with proper care.

Andy Black, one of the leading solar financial analysis experts and instructor, recently published his report on the lifespan of solar panels. His analysis showed that the first solar panels manufactured about 40 years ago are still creating power at about 80% of their original power. From that study combined with his other analysis, he concluded that most solar panels will lose about a half percent a year in efficiency.

This new information should affect how homeowners and businesses analyze a solar investment. If you spread the investment over 30 years (or 40 years) rather than 20 years, the return on investment is much more substantial. Thereby, those who investment in solar power can feel more secure that they are making the right decision.

Although the solar array on your home will likely not be worth as much as new panels with the same wattage in 25 years, it should have paid itself off many times over and will still be producing free power for your home. There is no reason to buy new panels if the ones you already have are still producing enough power for your needs.[/font][/font]
15-20 years? FBaggins Jan 2012 #1
AFAIK, current estimates assume 30 years. immoderate Jan 2012 #2
A 25 year warranty is fairly common nowadays OKIsItJustMe Jan 2012 #4
This shouldn't be a shocker to anyone XemaSab Jan 2012 #3
maybe, but I bet it is phantom power Feb 2012 #8
I’m sorry… OKIsItJustMe Feb 2012 #9
that PV is e-waste, involving carcinogens phantom power Feb 2012 #11
So, what you’re saying is… OKIsItJustMe Feb 2012 #12
Can't use lead in consumer products One_Life_To_Give Feb 2012 #13
From the OP OKIsItJustMe Feb 2012 #14
RoHS Regulation (Directive 2002/95/EC) One_Life_To_Give Feb 2012 #15
The panels being referred to by the OP predate 2006 OKIsItJustMe Feb 2012 #16
Yet that would be Ex-post-facto One_Life_To_Give Feb 2012 #17
“Tests show that 90% of existing solar panels last for 30 years, instead of the predicted 20 years.” OKIsItJustMe Jan 2012 #5
Hmmm… OKIsItJustMe Jan 2012 #6
Hmmm… (Again) OKIsItJustMe Jan 2012 #7
So manufacturers have to justify why they recycled less than 85% of production volumes at 15yr mark? One_Life_To_Give Feb 2012 #10
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Outdated Solar Panels Con...»Reply #4