If you’re planning on switching to a renewable energy source like solar power, you’ll want to get the most out of your Solar PV system. You may even hope that solar panels last forever. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case – but solar panels do last a pretty long time. And they’ll keep providing value long after installation, in many different ways: including lower energy bills, a more comfortable home and even an extra income source.
Still, at Caldor Solar, we understand that installing solar panels on your roof is a big decision. Even if you’re up and running in no time (which we can help with), it involves a structural change to your home, and a financial investment.
So before you commit, it’s important to know how long your panels might last. That way, you can figure out how long it’ll to recover what you paid, and you can budget accordingly.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- The expected life of solar panels: including panel efficiency and deterioration
- Types of solar panels: their yield and their lifespan
- Your estimated return on investment: and whether it’s worth it
- 5 ways in which solar panels add value to your home: for continued ROI
- How to optimise the life of solar panels: 4 tips to make solar panels last longer
How Long Can Solar Panels Last?
The average life of solar panels is between 25–30 years. Although Britain’s first ever solar panel, created by a science teacher, was uncovered in 2010 – still working after 60 years! (Psst…for more interesting solar facts, check out this post).
Bear in mind, solar panels don’t just bite the dust overnight; their efficiency starts to peter out slowly. So you may find that the lifespan of PV panels is much longer than 30 years, provided they remain physically intact. They just won’t work as well – or produce as much electricity – which is why manufacturers recommend replacing them at this point in their life cycle.
The lifespan of your panels can be affected by factors like your initial installation service, how well you look after them and the types of solar panels you have installed:
- Monocrystalline solar panels are known as the most durable, with the highest yield (18–23%). Composed of single-crystal silicone, they’re best for homes with limited roof space and can last over 30 years.
- Thin-film / Amorphous solar panels are cheaper, but their yield is only 8–12% and they may not last as long (20–25 years). They also need more space to generate the same amount of electricity.
Our mono black panels are designed to blend into your roof seamlessly – and we draw upon our 15 years of industry experience to provide a quality installation service that’ll keep them performing well over the course of their lifespan. We even have a performance warranty in place that guarantees an output of 80% after 25 years – that’s how confident we are in the panels we provide.
So, what happens to solar panels at the end of their life? Unfortunately, we don’t have a huge amount of data around this – as PV technology is still relatively new here, with the majority of solar panels in Ireland under 10 years old. Yet, while it’s hard to predict exactly what will happen after 25 years or so, we do know there’ll be a slow decrease in efficiency.
How long do solar panels actually last in terms of performance? Well, this 2012 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found the average solar panel degradation rate to be 0.5% each year – meaning your solar power output could still function at around 89% of its original output, even after 25 years. What’s more, this degradation rate has improved a lot over the past decade, as this study from our top solar panel provider, JA Solar, reveals.
When Do I Get My Money Back?
If you’ve spent upwards of €3,000 towards your solar panel installation, you might be wondering how long it’ll take to break even and see energy savings. While typically, homeowners will enjoy payback after 8 years, they may see a return on investment in as few as 5 years.
So after installing your Solar PV system, you could have another 20 or 25 years with your solar panels running at near peak performance, at zero cost. You could even start earning money, tax-free, when you export your unused electricity back to the grid…although this perk may change over the coming years. (More on earning from solar in the next section.)
Basically, solar panels will pay for themselves: and you don’t have to wait all that long for payback to happen.
How Solar Panels Continue Adding Value
Across Ireland, homeowners and businesses are joining the solar revolution. Aware that they can cut or even cover their electricity bills through the sun’s power, the move to solar has really gained traction over the past few years. And with a range of SEAI grants now available towards installation costs, plus extra grants and green incentives from the Irish government, it’s a great time to make the switch.
Here are 5 benefits you can enjoy during the lifespan of your solar panels
1. Greater Energy Independence
By harnessing the power of the sun, you’ll be reducing your reliance on fossil fuels. You’ll have backup power in times of power outages (especially if you consider buying a solar battery) and you’ll have a greater awareness of your energy consumption: how much you use and when you use it most.
With knowledge comes power – and once you become aware of the ways in which you use electricity, it’s easier to make small lifestyle changes towards a cleaner, greener household: whether that’s switching to LED bulbs or only boiling the amount of water you need in a kettle.
2. Lower Electricity Bills
Homeowners who switch to solar typically do some kind of energy consumption assessment first. So even before installing solar panels, they’re likely to have already reduced their energy bills by making a few simple changes to their use of appliances, like we mention above.
But once your panels are up and running, you can start generating your own electricity – or at least, your own solar energy (DC power), which is then converted into usable electricity (AC) with an inverter. Meaning you can cut your electricity bill in half or cover a significant portion of your household’s energy consumption with solar.
This of course, depends on the system you use, how many panels you have and how much energy you consume: but for the average home in Ireland, which uses around 4,200 kWh of electricity per year (source: CRU), you could be covering from 40–60% of your energy needs with a typical 3 kW solar panel system (source: SEAI)
3. Reduced Carbon Footprint
Thanks to the lengthy lifespan of your solar panels, you can rest assured knowing that you’ve reduced your household’s carbon footprint in a significant way, for a few decades. Over the course of 25–30 years, your PV system will have produced enough clean energy to offset the energy that was used to make them in the first place – this is known as energy payback time, or EPBT.
By generating your own source of energy, you’ll also be cutting down on your carbon dioxide emissions and contributing to a greener, more sustainable future. And if you’ve got kids, this is a great opportunity to teach the next generation about the importance of renewable energy.
4. Extra Income
If you like the sound of lower electricity bills, you’ll love this one – did you know that you can actually get paid for having solar panels? Well, kind of…you can earn money when you sell your excess electricity (which you haven’t used) back to the national grid.
The Irish government introduced this incentive, called the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), in February 2022 as part of its Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS). Homeowners can receive up to €200 per year when they export their unused electricity, tax-free. (This figure is per person, so if you have 2 different names on your electricity bills, you could potentially earn €400, tax-free.)
In addition to this tax-free payment, you could earn even more, depending on your supplier’s export unit rate and how much electricity you actually export (which can vary greatly between households). But for a rough example, if you export half of the electricity your panels generate (say, 2,750 kWh) and your supplier offers €0.20 per kWh, you could earn an additional €550 per year.
Combined with grants of up to €1,800 towards the cost of their initial solar panel installation, that may make the switch to solar more feasible for many households in Ireland.
5. Increased Home Value
While some homeowners may be concerned about solar panels affecting their insurance, the upside of this is that your home value is likely to increase. After all, as we’ve discussed above, solar panels can bring lower energy bills, less CO² emissions, a more energy-efficient, comfortable home and an additional income source – all of which are very attractive to prospective buyers.
So if you think you may sell your home within the lifespan of your solar panels, this is another factor to bear in mind: not only will you get to enjoy the benefits of your solar panels when you’re still in your home, you’ll continue benefiting from them when you leave.
How To Make Solar Panels Last Longer
If you’re starting to see how much value solar panels can bring you over the course of their life, you may wondering how to optimise their lifespan.
Luckily, it isn’t too complicated. You can help your panels perform better, for longer, with a simple maintenance plan.
4 tips for optimising your panels
- Choose The Right System: Like trying to put a square peg in a round hole, there’s no point in installing a Solar PV system that doesn’t suit your home. That’s why it’s so important to find a good solar installation company in Ireland: so you get high-quality panels that will last you for longer.
- Focus On Placement: Temperature, weather conditions and environment all matter in your solar panels’ lifespan: and how long a solar panel will last depends on how well you look after them. Ideally, your panels should be unobstructed and kept away from any overhanging trees or branches that could scratch their surface (Psst…for more on where to put your panels, check out this post)
- Keep Them Clean: Make sure each panel is clean and free of debris. Solar installers can advise you about this during installation as again, how long the solar panel will last might depend on where you place them.
- Get Expert Help: Your panels might need occasional servicing or repair, especially if you notice any issues in power generation. At Caldor Solar, we offer both technical support and ongoing maintenance. Our great customer service lasts long beyond installation – that’s why we’re one of the leading solar companies in Ireland.
That’s pretty much all you need to do. Before installation, your solar panel provider will have done all the heavy lifting in testing your panels to ensure whatever conditions they’ll be operating within. You should also get a substantial warranty for further peace of mind – at Caldor Solar, our performance warranty for homeowners extends to 25 years.
Final Thoughts: Are Solar Panels Worth It?
Although solar panels can bring a lot of happiness to your household – with lower energy bills, a reduced carbon footprint and greater control over your electricity use – it isn’t a “happy-ever-after” kind of story. It’s more like: “happy for a few decades…then you may need to replace them”. (Less catchy, but true!)
Still, a lifespan of 25–30 years is pretty impressive, especially considering the many ways in which solar panels add value to your home. That’s free electricity for up to 3 decades, people! Plus, as solar technology continues to improve, the life expectancy of PV systems is likely to increase even more.
Finally, if you choose a trusted provider like Caldor Solar – where we install high-quality panels, and offer ongoing technical support/maintenance – you’ll make savings within a few years, which can continue long into the future.
To discover a sustainable solar solution that suits your home, and your needs, get in touch – we can talk you through your options and arrange a free home assessment, too.
Liked This Post? Then Maybe You’ll Like These:
- 101: Solar Panels Product Overview
- Do Solar Panels Work in Winter?
- Can You Power Your Whole House With Solar Panels?
JOIN THE SOLAR REVOLUTION TODAY…
ABOUT CALDOR SOLAR
Caldor Solar are solar power pioneers in Ireland, specialising in both residential and commercial solar panels. Check out our testimonials and online reviews to learn more. Or chat with us on 01 253 3349 for a personalised quote for your home.