Originally Posted By: BMWTurboDzl
I've read reports where 20 yr old panels were putting out the same amount of rated power as when new.
Now much depends on the quality of the panel of course. That varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Some panels exceed their rated output when new. High quality PV does last longer, unlike my Chinese panels. I only have 8 panels, one of which degraded into uselessness in 14 years, but it was clear that panel was degrading many years ago. Two others are not far behind.
Take a conventional high end, name brand 200W panel. It may actually produce 220W at 1000W/M2 irradiance when new. It's degradation rate remains within the norm, but it's output still meets rated specs after many years.
Not unlike the Tesla P100D battery pack. It can lose some percentage of cells, and experience normal degradation, while still providing 100% of rated capacity for quite some time.
Yes, it's akin to "sandbagging" but it's not uncommon.
I've read reports where 20 yr old panels were putting out the same amount of rated power as when new.
Now much depends on the quality of the panel of course. That varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Some panels exceed their rated output when new. High quality PV does last longer, unlike my Chinese panels. I only have 8 panels, one of which degraded into uselessness in 14 years, but it was clear that panel was degrading many years ago. Two others are not far behind.
Take a conventional high end, name brand 200W panel. It may actually produce 220W at 1000W/M2 irradiance when new. It's degradation rate remains within the norm, but it's output still meets rated specs after many years.
Not unlike the Tesla P100D battery pack. It can lose some percentage of cells, and experience normal degradation, while still providing 100% of rated capacity for quite some time.
Yes, it's akin to "sandbagging" but it's not uncommon.
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