Cost of Solar Panels, Lifespan & Maintenance of a System
Welcome to Part 2 of our Solar 101 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Dear landed homeowners and business owners who are thinking of whether to install solar on their premises, here is Part 2 of the most common FAQs that we have received over the years.
If you have any further questions, do email to enquiries@solarpvex.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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1. "I heard that price of panels has dropped. Is it a good time to install a solar system now or when better technologies surface?”
The price of solar panels has indeed dropped, compared with prices from years ago. However, technology has also improved vastly concurrently. We take the example of an Apple iPhone. In 2010, what you would have paid for an iPhone 4, could get you the latest iPhone SE (2020) today for less!
It is similar with solar panels. The power output and efficiency of panels have improved with lowered prices, making them more affordable for the mass consumer market (Residentials). However, unlike phones, a solar system is often a one-time purchase meant to last for more than 20 years. The price of panels and its efficiency would always improve over time, but the investment should be looked upon as one for the long term.
Therefore, we advocate to always get the latest solar panels available in the market, by the top manufacturers in the industry. Top manufacturers such as Jinko, JA and LONGi Solar, spend millions on Research & Development (R&D) and can provide the latest panels at competitive prices due to economies of scale in production without compromising quality.
The best time to invest in solar is yesterday, because once you install solar, you start saving immediately. The longer you wait, the more you are paying to the grid, and not utilizing your roof to generate clean solar energy. Last but not least, by getting into the act earlier of going solar, you can also help fight climate change earlier too.
2. How long can my solar system last?
Solar Panels can continue to work for many decades, given that they are not physically damaged by any other external factors. This is because solar panels are stationary, and they rarely break internally unless damaged by external forces like poor installation, rough mishandling, or extreme weather conditions.
It is widely known in the Solar industry that solar panels can last for around 25 to 30 years. Panels lose its efficiency throughout the years so there is lower energy output but it does not mean that they stop generating electricity after 30 years.
In 2003, a study published results of their analysis of warranty claims and reported that of more racking set-up or than 2 million modules in service over nearly 10 years, approximately one-tenth of 1% were reported faulty, nothing "this represents one module failure for every 4,200 module-years of operation."
To put this simply, if your system has 1 thousand modules, you might experience the failure of 10 modules in 40 years.
3. How often should I maintain my system?
There is no hard and fast rule on how often you should maintain your solar system. Typically, a solar system that is installed properly should last as long as how they have been designed to last for.
Solar panels are tilted to a slight angle when they are installed, and rainwater usually washes away debris on the panels. It is recommended to clean them only when your energy production has been significantly affected.
Rather than sign up for maintenance packages that increase the cost of your system, we recommend for you to monitor your energy generation occasionally and take note of generation patterns. This can be observed from the Solar Generation Monitoring App that we would have created for you. If there is drastic drop in production not due to weather, it may be time for some troubleshooting. Contact us and we will assist you then.
Many solar installers come and go so it is therefore important to engage a reputable solar installer whom you can rely on, should the system experience issues.
To find out more about SolarPVExchange and how we can help you to go solar, save money and save the environment, contact us at enquiries@solarpvex.com today!