Solar Panel Degradation Values

Solar panel degradation rates are constantly improving as solar panel technology gets better over the years and degradation rates below 1 are common throughout the industry.

Solar panel degradation values.

Phono solar produced in nanjing china and kyocera corp. So as you can see the sunpower solar panels x and a series solar panels even the lower wattage ones have a higher efficiency than the most efficient solaria panel. The mean average degradation rate was 0 8 to 0 9. Based in japan but produced in tijuana mexico were the top performing manufacturers with less than 1 5 degradation.

Since these panels have a higher efficiency they can produce more. 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. 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. Even their 360 watt panel only comes in at 19 9 efficiency compared to sunpower s lower wattage 335 model.

In the years since this 2012 study was conducted more efficient technologies have been developed and many newer panels have just a 0 5 percent yearly decline in energy output or better. 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. On average solar panels degrade at a rate of 1 each year.