Why do solar panels degrade?

Solar panels primarily degrade because of normal wear and tear over time from exposure to UV rays and adverse weather conditions. The rate of degradation is included in a panel’s performance warranty. There are different forms of mechanical and chemical degradation caused by the panel’s exposure to light, these include:

Why do solar cells have a higher degradation rate in the first year?

The reason there is a higher degradation rate in the first year can be explained by a phenomenon called light-induced degradation (LID). During the first few hours of exposure to sunlight, the solar cells experience a loss of performance due to the formation of boron-oxygen complexes in the silicon wafers that make up the solar cell.

How does sunlight affect a solar cell?

During the first few hours of exposure to sunlight, the solar cells experience a loss of performance due to the formation of boron-oxygen complexes in the silicon wafers that make up the solar cell. After a few days, the degradation rate lowers and remains steady for the rest of the panel’s useful life.

Why do solar panels lose power?

There are two main reasons for this. The first is that continuous exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays cause degradation in the solar cells, which in turn decreases the power output of the system. The second reason includes various factors such as weather that may cause damage to the solar panels.

Why do solar cells fail?

According to NREL, modules can fail because of unavoidable elements like thermal cycling, damp heat, humidity freeze and UV exposure. Thermal cycling can cause solder bond failures and cracks in solar cells. Damp heat has been associated with delamination of encapsulants and corrosion of cells.

How often do solar panels degrade?

Solar panel efficiency is higher than ever, but the amount of electricity that panels can generate still declines gradually over time. High-quality solar panels degrade at a rate of around 0.5% every year, generating around 12-15% less power at the end of their 25-30 lifespan. But, what are the reasons for solar panel degradation?