25-30 years. This is the average lifespan of solar panels for homes and companies, their expected longevity, and the long-term warranty of most solar providers nowadays.

After this period, this capacity is expected to have decreased 20-25%, with a degradation rate of 0.5% per year approximately, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). However, with the proper conditions, materials, and maintenance,
solar panels last indefinitely, operating over 80% of their total capacity even for decades.

But why do solar panels degrade? How long do solar energy panels last in the best conditions and how to make them last? When should you replace them? In this article, we’ll answer all these questions and teach you how to preserve them for a lifetime.

Why Do Solar Panels Stop Working? Life cycle analysis of solar panels

Photovoltaic panels (PV) reduce their output naturally due to the Light Induced Degradation (LID) at the 0.5% mentioned above. In addition, solar panels degrade for several factors, including:

• Climate.
• Materials.
• Module-type.
• Maintenance.
• Racking system.
• Manufacturer.
• Solar installer.

Severe weather conditions such as heavy winds, snowstorms, and high temperatures can generate mechanical loads that can deteriorate the panels in the long run.

UV rays  shouldn’t drastically affect the lifespan of your solar panels, even after decades, and the rough Texan weather. The degradation expected from the sunlight is 1-3% in a lifetime.

In other words, the lifespan of your solar panels can increase when counting on the best materials, and above all, the right solar energy company.

How to Make Your Solar Panels Last Longer?

Preserving your solar energy panels is easy, cheap, and fruitful. Not to mention, the right maintenance is the safest bet to ensure your solar system will work at its best for decades.

Let’s see how to preserve them in 4 simple steps:

1.      Clean them Properly

Solar panels last for decades with little maintenance. As a matter of fact, you just have to clean it every little once in a while and that will be enough to keep it in good conditions, free from dirt, dust, debris, nests, and bird droppings.

For the cleaning process, you only need to wash it with water and a little soap.  Just shut down your equipment, wash it off with a hose, clean, rinse and wipe it out.

Always wash your panels from the ground and call your solar company if:

• Your solar panel is too high.
• The roof is slippery.
• You don’t have the right equipment.

We recommend leaving this job to an experienced company that will take all the safety measures to do it properly. Actually, in order to prevent accidents it’s better if you leave it to the professionals. That’s why solar energy providers have the perfect equipment to do it safely for you.

2.      Protect the Panels from the Shade

The shade is counter-productive for solar systems and it can speed up the solar panel degradation rate.

The panels should be installed in a clear area. If necessary, you can trim the surrounding trees to prevent them from covering your panels.

3.      Make Maintenance Regularly

Solar panels are easy to clean, but in order to keep the system working at its full capacity and prevent damages through the years, maintenance is necessary.

I suggest you to call your solar energy company and let it carry out  that work. Your solar installer should offer a long-term maintenance service after the installation is finished. If you’re not sure about how to pick a solar contractor, you can read or guide to choose a solar company in Texas.

4.      Evaluate the Performance of Your Panels

This is the most reliable method to make sure your panels will work seamlessly, evaluate degradation in short and long periods, and judge how much energy they generate.

But how?

Through a solar energy management app, you can control your generation record, your everyday energy use, set up alerts for your solar system, and more. This way, your solar equipment will stay under control, reducing your bills and preserving your system at its highest productivity.

Enjoy the Benefits of Solar Panels in the Long Term

The question ‘how long do solar panels last’ is clear, but what about the advantages?

Extending the lifespan of your solar energy panels will result in:

• More savings: Because your system will keep dropping your electric expenses for decades.
• More ROI: Because solar energy panels for homes will generate return of Investment (ROI) Un approximately 8 years, while the ROI for companies is expected between 4 to 8
• More durability: Because solar energy panels can last from 30 to 50 years operating. In other words, there’s no need to replace your equipment in a lifetime.

At Erco Energy, we guarantee the highest standards, personalized attention, innovative solutions, and assistance to ensure that your solar panels will last indefinitely.

From the installation processes to the management and the maintenance of your project, our goal and maximum priority is to provide you with the renewable, sustainable, and reliable solutions you need. This way, making your projects efficient, innovative, and durable.

If you want long-lasting panels that keep running at their best capacity for decades, request your quote today. We offer different pricing plans adjustable to your budget and your necessities.

Going solar in Texas?

At this point, with the solar alternatives growing and establishing in Texas, you might’ve heard of how sustainable solar energy for industries and families, and how many benefits it can represent at all scales.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) listed Texas as the second-highest state for solar electric capacity in its market insight report, with the equivalent of over one million houses using this resource (9,000 MW per year and growing).

On the other hand, the 2021 winter pushed countless business owners, homes, and families, to look for more sustainable alternatives, skyrocketing the solar alternatives in the state.

Considering this, how to choose a solar company in Texas? How to wisely invest in modernizing your energy consumption without risking your budget?

In Erco Energy, we’ve crafted the all-in-one guide to picking a solar company to help you ensure your investment.

So going step by step…

1. Determine What Type of Solar System You Need

Solar energy englobes three main systems:

1. On-grid Solar System: A grid integrated by solar panels and your current utility system, able to reduce your energy consumption up to 100%, and able to generate ROI in 6 years for companies and ROI in 8 years for homes. (or even less).
2. Off-grid Solar System: This is a standalone system that doesn’t require the electric grid to work and is backed up by a set of batteries.
3. Hybrid Solar System: This combines electric power and renewable energy, joining solar panels with the electric grid, fortifying both with a set of batteries that keep running at nighttime and outages.

Energy Storage

If you already have a solar system, you should rely on the power of energy storage to exploit its potential. This service gathers three different scales:

• Residential;
• Commercial & Industrial;
• Utility-Scale.

Alike solar panels, energy storage consists of on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid systems.

Before going solar in Texas, make sure to investigate which one is more suitable for your necessities.

2. Analyze The Services

Many companies sell solar energy or install solar panels, but the majority do not offer both services as a whole.

Solar sellers tend to outsource the installation services. The result? Lack of communication between providers, delays, excessive and unjustified fees, uncertain warranties, faulty equipment, and even accidents.

The best choice is to opt for a specialized provider who manages every single step of the process, from quoting and planning to installation and maintenance. This is the contractor you want to run your project in the long-term.

In addition, check if the provider offers solar storage solutions and management resources, such as programs and apps, to help you manage and control your energy use.

Lastly, the contractor should not only focus on the short term. It should also focus on long-term services, including maintenance, assistance, and follow-up. The most trustworthy providers can assist you for a lifetime.

3. Check Credentials, Licenses, and Records

Thanks to the boom of renewable energies in the last years, you need to double-check your provider is accredited and has all the required permissions to sell and install solar energy. Considering this, make sure the company is certified by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

Once you ensure the enterprise is legal and has the proper certifications, you need to stick to the expertise.

In these cases, the local player fully dedicated to renewable energies, which is concentrated in one area and disposes of more specialized services, is the best choice.

4. Consult Reviews

When choosing a solar company in Texas, ask for previous projects and records. Also, take a look at the clients’ reviews to discover what you can expect of the company you want to hire.

After all, one of the best ways to tell a company is or is not reliable is by hearing out its clients. This way, you’ll know exactly what to expect beforehand, even without requesting quotes. 

5. Analyze the Quote Carefully

Once you’ve determined what kind of equipment you need, checked reviews and background, and contacted the specialist, it’s the moment to analyze the cost of the project and its sustainability in the future.

One of the most critical points about how to choose a solar company in Texas –and in any state– is the quote. Here, the specialist should give you a well-detailed quote describing services provided, technical specifications, costs, warranties, and estimations.

In short, the quote should include:

• Solar panel model along with the number of panels to be installed.
• Energy Offset.
• System price.
• Estimated savings and ROI.
• Maintenance details. (If the company offers it)
• Energy storage (depending on the project you request).
• Additional services (such as Energy storage and EV charging).

Go Solar with Erco Energy

In Erco Energy, we are empowering Texan families and companies with the cleanest energy, offering cutting-edge solar technology and equipment at their disposal.

We’ll guide you through every step of the process, from the pricing and the installation of your solar system to the management and maintenance of your equipment, guaranteeing permanent assistance to your project even years after finished.

And to help you manage your photovoltaic resources masterfully while reducing your costs, we also offer Erco App, a simple but versatile mobile app based on AI, which will give you absolute control over your resources while adding some extra savings thanks to energy efficiency recommendations.

Our team is committed to understanding your necessities and requirements to provide you with the services and the assistance you need, the assistance you can trust for a lifetime. Request your quote today and take your energy consumption to the next level.