subject: How Long Do Solar Panels Last? Long Enough To Pay For Themselves Time And Again! [print this page] Many home owners are apprehensive about installing solar panels in their homes as they are worried about the longevity of the products. What if they give out after just a few years? The initial investment can never be recouped. As it turns out, those worries are unfounded.
Solar panels have been manufactured since the 1970s (or earlier). In those days, solar panels were used by a wide range of people - hobbyists, engineers, missionaries, etc. They were placed outdoors to generate electricity for smaller appliances that required low amp.
A home owner who bought a solar panel in 1980 found that it is still working well today after over thirty years! That is an incredible story and says a lot about the quality of the manufacturing. If solar panels are built to last over 30 years back in the 1970s, there is no reason to doubt the durability of solar panels that are built with today's manufacturing technology.
The concept of installing solar panels in home is a simple one: Solar panels can harness energy from the sun and this energy can be used to power home appliances and other things within the house. With the use of solar panels, home energy costs can be reduced 100%! How is this possible?
With widespread adoption of solar panels, the cost of installing such panels has dipped drastically over the years. And as technology improves, these panels are able to produce more power than ever. Thirty years ago, panels may have just been able to produce 30-watts of electricity. And the cost was much more prohibitive. A single panel could cost close to $300 (not a small amount in those days). Today, prices are a lot lower, and the power production is far greater. In recent years, home owners are able to install solar panels that generate 185 watts, 215 watts and 230 watts. Now, solar panel installers are asked to install panels that produce up to 250 watts of power!
Producing power is not good enough for home owners to decide whether to install solar panels or not. One crucial factor needs to be taken into consideration - durability of the panels. If the panels fail to perform after a few years, home owners may not be able to justify the investment that the plonk down on the panels. So durability is key for the concept of energy savings to become a reality.
Fortunately, as mentioned earlier, outdoor panels have been known to perform well even after being in service for over thirty years. In fact, solar panel installers back up this fact by offering 30 year 80% reduction guarantee so that home owners can have peace of mind when installing solar panels. Realistically speaking, it is not unreasonable to expect the panels to continue working after 40 years or more.
