How long can solar panels last?

This depends on the material of the solar panel. First of all, if the surface material is PET, it is about 3-5 years, ETFE is about 5-6 years, and glass is about 20-25 years. The years mentioned here are not After this time, it will not work, and the usage time of the solar panel will decrease as its conversion efficiency decays. After these years, it may still work, but the power generation efficiency is only 10-20% compared to before.

It has been studied before that solar panels naturally produce less power over time. This reduced power output is called the degradation rate. The median solar panel degradation rate is about 0.5%, which means that solar panel power generation will decline at a rate of 0.5% per year.

There are various ways to increase the power generation efficiency of solar panels and extend their lifespan. Some of these methods include:

Reduce the use in extreme weather, the temperature is too high or too low weather will damage the internal structure of the solar panel to a certain extent.
Keep the surface of the solar panel clean and tidy, and do not have debris or destructive materials on the surface, otherwise, it will easily cause scratches and affect the power generation efficiency of the solar panel. The buildup of dirt, pollen, leaves and bird droppings can affect the efficiency of your solar panels. While rain is usually enough to clean your panels, if you find that your panels are not working at full capacity, you may want to consider professional cleaning.
Make sure your panels are regularly monitored and maintained. Routine maintenance inspections will help keep your solar system's panel performance, meters, inverters, and other components operating at maximum efficiency
Material selection, choose a suitable solar panel material, good quality can be used for a long time.