Tips for Extending High-Watt Solar Panel Lifespan
Do you want to power your backyard, cabin, or farm sustainably? Investing in high-power solar panels will be worth it. Though these panels provide an affordable and reliable source of energy, proper maintenance is important. Without proper care, the efficiency and lifespan of these PV panels may reduce significantly. It costs you money and time in the long run.
You might be thinking of how to make sure that your solar panels last for many years with zero to very little performance degradation. Right? This article presents valuable tips to extend solar panel lifespan, including proper cleaning, regular inspection, automated monitoring, etc. Read more to know the importance of solar panel maintenance and how you can do it effectively.
Why Is Solar Panel Maintenance Important?
Though high-watt solar panels, like the Renogy 320W and 450W Monocrystalline panels, are designed to last for decades, you should take proper care of them to get the maximum power output. A few reasons why maintenance is crucial are as follows.
- Maximizes Efficiency: Bird droppings, leaves, and dust can stop panels from absorbing sunlight properly. Cleaning them carefully helps panels reach their full potential.
- Protects from Extreme Weather: Powerful winds, heavy snow, and hot climates may damage panels over time. Keeping them well-maintained prevents long-term wear and increases durability.
- Makes Sure Warranty Compliance: Most manufacturers make regular maintenance compulsory to claim warranty. Any sort of negligence while maintaining your panels may void your warranty.
- Extends Lifespan: If you follow the best solar panel cleaning practices, your panels can last 25-30 years, or even more.
- Prevents Expensive Repairs: Minor problems, such as small cracks or loose wiring, can create complex issues that need costly repair. With regular inspections, you can find and fix such issues on time.
How to Extend the Lifespan of Solar Panels? Expert Tips!
Now that you know why it is important to maintain solar panels, it is time to go through the valuable tips to get this job done efficiently.
1. Regular Cleaning
Keeping your solar panels clean is the most effective way to increase their lifespan. Considering the environmental conditions (e.g., bird droppings and dust levels), clean your panels regularly. Generally, you should clean them at least once a quarter. Regular cleaning becomes crucial if you live in an area with more dirt and debris.
You must be thinking of the right time to clean PV panels. Right? Well, cleaning them in weak light is always recommended. For example, clean your panels in the morning or evening when the sun does not shine brightly. Avoid cleaning your PV panels under direct sunlight, as it may lead to potential cracks or thermal shocks (which can be lethal).
The next thing that may come to your mind is what tools and materials to use to clean the panels. Remember to have sponges, cleaning clothes, or soft brushes to protect your panels from scratches. Wipe off the dust, leaves, or bird droppings gently to prevent scratches.
Always use purified or distilled water to clean the panels, as this prevents mineral buildup and maintains the maximized energy efficiency. Avoid using alkali detergent or strong acid to prevent your PV panels' coating from being damaged. Instead, use a small amount of neutral detergent and warm water.
Mix mild soap with water if you want to prepare a DIY solar panel cleaning solution. It will help you remove grease and dirt, thereby protecting the panel's coating.
2. Regular Inspection
Check the connectors and connection wires to ensure they are not corroded or loose. If you find corroded joints or loose connections, repair or replace them on priority. It will help you avoid leakage or current interruption.
In addition, keep a close eye on the cable insulation. Use reinforced cables to protect wiring from bird droppings or rodents. Moreover, don't forget to verify bypass diode functionality. It reduces power losses greatly caused due to partial shading.
Regular solar panel inspections help you avoid facing big issues, as you highlight minor issues timely manner, and fix them as a priority.
3. Automated Monitoring
Keeping a check on your solar panels' performance is important, as it ensures whether or not they are functioning correctly. You can leverage technology-based solutions, such as mobile apps or other similar tools, to reduce your maintenance efforts. These solutions assist you in monitoring the real-time performance of your high-power solar electric systems.
Technology helps you monitor the system's performance at any time from anywhere. Keep a check on the panels' temperature (especially in the summer) to prevent solar panel degradation or overheating issues. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the panels are working within the recommended temperature range.
If you see a sudden drop in the performance, it may be due to loose connections, shading, dirt accumulation, or panel malfunctioning. You should fix these issues in a timely manner.
4. Prevent Shading and Water Accumulation
While installing your high-watt solar panels, never forget to make sure that the installation area is free from any sort of shadows (e.g., trees, buildings, or other objects).
The reason behind this fact is that the shadow stops parts of the panels from absorbing the desired amount of sunlight and delivering the maximum power at the output. To avoid the shading problem, always keep an eye on your panels to ensure there is no shade on them.
Water accumulation on panels is equally harmful to them, as it leads to panel wear, microcracks, dirt buildup, and reduced efficiency. Therefore, installing your solar panels at a specific tilt angle is necessary. It ensures no water stops on the panels.
If the panels are set up at a certain tilt angle, the rainwater will smoothly flow away, preventing water accumulation on the panel surface. Even if your panels are installed at the right angle in your farm, backyard, or cabin, you should check the panels' surface regularly to confirm that there is no water.
If you find water on the surface, clean it immediately. This is another potential way to enhance the lifespan of solar panels.
5. Preventive Maintenance
Schedule a weekly, monthly, or quarterly checkup if you want to keep your panels away from long-term efficiency losses. These regular checkups will ensure the panels are working perfectly without any significant performance degradation. It is even better to hire a trained installer for a professional inspection. Doing this will ensure all components are working perfectly.
If your solar system is installed in a farm located in a high UV area (e.g., a desert), solar panels may degrade quickly. To slow down material degradation, you can choose solar panels with built-in UV-resistant coatings or those with higher anti-aging certifications.
Bright sunlight, rain, and strong winds may cause corroded or rusted screws. It may also lead to loose screws. Keeping a regular check on screws can help you avoid facing big issues. If you find any similar issue, fix or replace screws timely.
6. Seasonal Adjustments
Make the desired seasonal adjustments to make your solar panels do what they are supposed to. In the Autumn season, leaves usually accumulate on the panels' surface, making it difficult for them to absorb sunlight. Therefore, you should remove these leaves to prevent water accumulation around the junction boxes and avoid shading.
If it is the Spring season, look for pollen accumulation. You can clean it with an air blower or a soft brush in no time. Similarly, bird droppings commonly cover the surface of your solar panels in summer. To deal with this issue, you can apply a hydrophobic coating in advance.
If you live in an area where snowfall is common in winter, you should remove snow from the panels' surface regularly to prevent ice buildup and weight damage.
7. Special Care for Bifacial Solar Panels
As the name suggests, bifacial solar panels (like the Renogy 590W bifacial panel) can produce electricity from both sides: front and back. They utilize the reflected sunlight from nearby structures, surrounding surfaces, and the ground to enhance the overall power generation.
Keeping this fact in mind, maintain a reflective ground surface to enhance the near-side power gain. You can use light colors to get the job done. Moreover, remove all the objects and trim tall plants that can stop sunlight from reaching the back side of your bifacial panels.
Never use hard brushes to clean bifacial panels, as they may damage the glass coating. Instead, use a soft cloth for cleaning both sides of the panels gently.
Final Thoughts
High-watt solar panels installed on Farms, cabins, or backyards, like the Renogy 550W Monocrystalline solar panels and 590W Bifacial solar panels, have proven to be sustainable and long-term energy solutions. However, the longevity of these panels largely depends on how they are used and maintained.
If you follow the best maintenance practices, like regular cleaning, seasonal adjustments, regular inspection, preventing water accumulation, and automated monitoring, you can make sure that the solar panel lifespan is significantly enhanced. In that case, they will work for decades at peak energy efficiency. Whether you want to power a cabin, farm, or backyard, a little effort will maximize your investment.
