First Solar Panel Degradation

First solar has test programmes and quality.

First solar panel degradation. 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. 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. Performance declines as solar cells experience degradation due to unavoidable circumstances like uv exposure and weather cycles. 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.

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. From raw material sourcing through end of life module recycling first solar s renewable energy. Factory rated power doesn t always equate to performance in the field. Today first solar is producing cdte modules with 16 efficiency and a manufacturing cost below usd 0 46 watt.

This study took a look at the degradation rates for almost 2 000 solar systems across the world in a variety of climates and found that monocrystalline. Technology for the real world. The company s integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil fuel electricity generation today. Furthermore first solar recently announced that they have produced a thin film pv module with full area efficiency of 18 2.

However a study conducted by the national renewable energy laboratory nrel shows a more accurate picture of solar panel degradation. Significantly more energy in real world conditions. Most solar installers build into contracts an expected photovoltaic efficiency degradation rate that typically doesn t exceed 20 over the contract s term. On average solar panels degrade at a rate of 1 each year.

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. First solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic pv solar solutions which use its advanced module and system technology. The different independent studies that tackled the question of solar modules degradation end up with an average of 0 8 per year.