The solar panel manufacturers They usually offer performance guarantees of about 20-25 years, a point from which the irremediable degradation of materials significantly reduces their ability to produce energy. Or that’s what they have done to believe.
Short. A new analysis of solar panels installed in Switzerland between 1987 and 1993 reveals that most follow 80% of their initial nominal power. The study is based on six photovoltaic systems in operation for more than 30 years in all types of altitudes.
Research, published in the EES Solar MagazineNot only confirms that solar panels can last a lot more than 25 years, but do so with such a low degradation that invites you to review priorities: are we balancing well efficiency, cost and materials?
A degradation much lower than the typical. The researchers studied thoroughly from solar panels in low altitude roofs to facilities in alpine areas. On average, the panels lost only 0.24% of power per year.
It is a value significantly lower than the usual range of the crystalline silicon: 0.5 to 0.6% per year, depending on the weather. In other words, these 35 -year modules degrade much more slowly of what the industry today assumes as usual.
The secret is not the climate, but the materials. The weather can make a difference. In colder alpine environments, despite receiving more radiation, the degradation of the panels is slower due to the least thermal stress. At low altitude, where the surface of the panels can reach 80 ° C, Metallic contacts can run and lose conductivity for the degradation of the encapsulant.
However, the secret of these panels is their solid construction. The modules analyzed are from the family of AM55 arc models and Siemens SM55, which stand out for the quality of their materials: thicker frontal glass, high quality encapsulants, very resistant rear sheets, robust aluminum frames and crystalline silicon cells somewhat thicker than the current ones.
The moral of the study. Today’s photovoltaic industry has no point of comparison with that of the early 90s. The panels are much cheaper and achieve greater efficiencies. But in return, they use thinner silicon wafers, thinner glass and lighter designs.
The conclusion of the study is not that before better panels, but that manufacturing materials have a great influence on long -term performance. Although they cannot compete with the current price, betting on robust and quality materials can make the useful life of a solar panel exceed 50 years in temperate climates.
Image | Ebrar Özkalay et al.
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