Solar Panel Degradation 0 8

Manufacturing quality has a huge impact on the rate of solar panel output degradation.

Solar panel degradation 0 8.

A meta analysis of 11 000 solar power installations found that the median degradation rate was 0 5 to 0 6 meaning for every panel that declined more slowly another declined more quickly. Nearly 2000 degradation rates measured on individual modules or entire systems have been assembled from the literature showing a median value of 0 5 year. However a study conducted by the national renewable energy laboratory nrel shows a more accurate picture of solar panel degradation. The 2012 nrel study.

The worst degradation rate is 80 a year but as a benchmark you can expect an average degradation rate of 50 a year for any panel. Photovoltaic degradation rates an analytical review 2011 a review of the existing literature has identified 2 000 uniquely measured degradation rates. Panel companies are only comfortable offering this guarantee because of a 2012 nrel study photovoltaic degradation rates an analytical review that found solar panels degrade about 0 5 to 3 each year barring any equipment issues. According to a national renewable energy laboratory nrel study premium modern solar panel manufacturers such as panasonic and lg offer panels with degradation rates as low as 0 30 per year.

The 3 first year degradation is quickly negated by the impressive 0 3 per annum degradation rate over 30 years. The review consists of three parts. This rate of decline is called solar panel degradation rate. Slightly different again but equal in terms of ranking criteria the panasonic hit also considers a 3 first year degradation while degrading at no more than an outstanding 0 2 per annum over 25 years.

On average solar panels degrade at a rate of 1 each year. With an average of 3 5 after 9 years the degradation of the 16 modules tested would translate into an annual degradation of less than 0 4 which would position aleo in the very good performers among its peers. The different independent studies that tackled the question of solar modules degradation end up with an average of 0 8 per year. Median degradation rates for these modules are 0 5 per year.

A long tail of lower reliability products increases the average to 0 8 per year. The difference between a cheaper panel that degrades at a rate of 0 8 and a more expensive panel that degrades at a rate of 0 4 can mean a significant losses in terms of kilowatt hours of energy over a 25 year period and of course you re going to have to replace the panels more often. A 2012 study by the national renewable energy laboratory nrel found that on average solar panel output falls by 0 8 percent each year. That s backed up by the solar panel manufacturer s warranty which guarantees 90 production in the first ten years and 80 by year 25 or 30.