Performance declines as solar cells experience degradation due to unavoidable circumstances like uv exposure and weather cycles.
First solar panel degradation.
First solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic pv solar solutions which use its advanced module and system technology.
The company s integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil fuel electricity generation today.
First solar s series 4 tm and series 6 tm modules generate more energy for your solar plant with a module proven to deliver significantly more usable energy per nameplate watt than competing technologies.
Today first solar is producing cdte modules with 16 efficiency and a manufacturing cost below usd 0 46 watt.
Through first solar or customer selected third party industry leading module warranty1 25 year linear performance warranty 10 year limited product warranty industry s first and only hidden cell cracking warranty 86 0 90 0 94 0 98 0 100 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 years power output 420 450 watts 17 efficiency 98 0 5 warranty start.
From raw material sourcing through end of life module recycling first solar s renewable energy.
The different independent studies that tackled the question of solar modules degradation end up with an average of 0 8 per year.
Factory rated power doesn t always equate to performance in the field.
Although crystalline solar power panels are often sold with 25 to 30 year lifespan guarantees those 30 year old modules won t be performing as well as they did on day 1.
However a study conducted by the national renewable energy laboratory nrel shows a more accurate picture of solar panel degradation.
When amorphous silicon a si modules first became commercially available nrel began to report degradation rates that were substantially higher than 1 year for single and tandem junction modules although the continuous testing time rarely exceeded 1year implying that some of this was the initial light induced degradation 33 34.
Significantly more energy in real world conditions.
With an average of 3 5 after 9 years the degradation of the 16 modules tested would translate into an annual degradation of less than 0 4 which would position aleo in the very good performers among its peers.
Technology for the real world.
First solar has test programmes and quality.
Manufacturers realize this so solar panels come with a power output or performance warranty that usually guarantees 80 production at 25 years.
Most solar installers build into contracts an expected photovoltaic efficiency degradation rate that typically doesn t exceed 20 over the contract s term.
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.
On average solar panels degrade at a rate of 1 each year.
