If you are thinking of buying a solar panel, or you already have one, and you are worried about how long you will be able to enjoy its energy , this post interests you! Today we are going to tell you how long a solar panel lasts, what it is made of and if it is possible or not, to recycle solar panels.
Being able to have a solar installation and supply electricity produced from solar panels in a 100% clean way, is something that attracts more and more attention. But we know that one of the most frequent doubts when purchasing a solar panel revolves around performance and its useful life. And we already told you that you shouldn't worry!
The manufacture of photovoltaic panels has been improving a lot over the years, and performance and the resistance of a current solar panel with that of the oldest ones. So you can enjoy and make the most of your solar installation without problems!
Believe it or not, the advantages and sustainability of using a solar panel continue even when its useful life ends by recycling solar panels. But we'll explain in detail how this is possible a bit later, so keep reading very carefully!
What is a solar panel made of?
In essence, a solar panel is made up of photovoltaic cells that interact with each other generating electrical current. And depending on the material from which they are made, that difference in charges is generated better or worse that makes it possible to obtain electricity .
In the past, photovoltaic panels were made of totally different materials from those used today (an old or first generation solar panel was mainly made of simple glass) . And for this reason, a current solar panel is much more efficient and allows to take advantage of much more energy than the first models that began to be marketed.
Currently, photovoltaic cells are generally made of crystalline silicon, at least for the most part. But there are various types of silicon, so there are solar panels of different qualities and with different performances.
Of all types of silicon, monocrystalline silicon is the one with the most efficiency and power (of Some high-quality photovoltaic panels are made from this material, such as the BLUETTI solar panels). So, other solar panel options made of polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon are lower cost, but also lower efficiency.
Finally, it must be taken into account that, obviously, in addition to the crystalline silicon of photovoltaic cells, solar panels are composed of
How long do photovoltaic panels last?
A solar panel usually has a useful life of approximately 25 or 30 years, but not always. The time will depend on the type of use you make of your photovoltaic panels and the maintenance you give them, since if the care is optimal, they can last even a little longer.
But then, suddenly one day the solar panel will stop working? Not quite. It will work and continue to provide you with energy, but its performance will gradually decrease and you will gradually notice that produces less energy.
This percentage of decrease in productivity of a solar panel is what is known as degradation rate. However, current photovoltaic panels are increasingly resistant and have a very low degradation rate , so you can enjoy your solar panel without worries for a long time! And at the last moment, you can recycle solar panels.
Can solar panels be recycled?
Yes, it is possible to recycle solar panels. Although solar panels are typically very durable and have a long lifespan with basic maintenance and cleaning care, when they stop working at optimum performance, it is generally possible to recycle at least 90% of the solar panels. materials with which they are made.
Recycling solar panels is a sustainable way to contribute to caring for the environment. But although the first thing you may think is that recycling solar panels is reusing the solar panel to be able to use it again, this is not what it is about at all. It consists of using almost all of the materials with which each module of the solar panel has been manufactured when its useful life has ended.
How can solar panels be recycled?
It is essential that you know that photovoltaic panels should not be thrown away. In fact, it is mandatory by law to recycle solar panels. You have to take them to a clean point to be able to recycle them (you can consult the regulations here).
To recycle solar panels you just have to find the collection point that is closest to you and deliver your photovoltaic panels. There they will be in charge of processing all those recyclable materials such as glass and aluminum that make up each module of the solar panel and giving them a second life.
Thus, in addition to having enjoyed clean and sustainable energy, by recycling solar panels in a clean point these will not end up in a landfill, and you will be contributing to reducing the consumption of natural resources and pollution. Not bad, right?
What if I have a BLUETTI solar panel?
If you have with a BLUETTI portable solar panel you can rest easy. Thanks to the EFTE material with which it is made and which also improves its light transmission capacity, it is highly resistant and durable
With this, once the useful life of your BLUETTI portable solar panel is over, you can recycle it and continue betting on sustainability and clean energy.
And now that you know what they are like and how to recycle solar panels, you can now enjoy your photovoltaic panels and the advantages of solar energy without worries
