In an era where being green is a mission for all, taking a leap into renewable energy generation is a fantastic investment for the planet and your purse strings. The installation of solar panels, or photovoltaics (PV), is no new thing. Yet it remains a popular way to transform your home or business property into a mean, green, electricity producing machine.
Solar panel installations are also built to last, meaning you get to reap the rewards of this renewable energy resource for years to come. But, how long can you expect your solar PV system to last?
On average, solar panels last a whopping 25 to 30 years, making it a worthy investment for any home or business property owner. Some premium solar panel systems could last much longer.
The long-term rewards that go hand-in-hand with solar PV could also pay dividends, even if you choose to sell up and move on. Solar panels increase a residential property’s value by up to 14% according to the latest research, with a property’s eco credentials increasingly important to would-be buyers.
Even with age, well maintained solar panels are capable of delivering between 80 and 90% of their original output. Thankfully, maintaining your panels for a longer lifespan and consistent output requires very little effort.
We recommend cleaning your panels thoroughly once or twice yearly. You should also monitor and maintain the surrounding area to make sure your panels remain free from obstructions. During cleaning, be sure to inspect your panels for damage.
Knowing when it’s time to replace your solar panels is crucial to making the renewable energy generator work for you for the long term. Visible damage is of course a major tell-tale sign, but so too are drops in efficiency.
Monitoring the output of your solar PV system is important at every stage, whether your panels are newly fitted or have been in place for some time. Integrating an optimiser into your system will ensure this can be done in real time to optimise the performance of panels and improve the longevity of your wider system.
Regular monitoring saves energy too, reducing your electricity costs and generating you more money when selling unused energy to the grid.
For further advice on solar panel lifespan, maintenance or replacement, contact our team today.