How long do solor panels collect energy be fore they stop working

Question

and if u take supe good care of them

Answer 1

Most polymer or thin-film panels have a life expectancy of 25-30 years.

Answer 2

http://www.cruiserlog.com/forums/index.p...

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_sol...

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/...

A solar panels ability to convert sunlight into electricity diminishes over time, it doesn't just stop working all of a sudden, it's efficiency and maximum power output drops over time. The lower the output drops the less useful the solar panel becomes and at some point it may be worth replacing them. Most manufacturers give a 25 year warranty so you can expect them to be useful for 25 years. It is probably safe to say that after 100 years they could still be outputting small amounts of power if they are properly protected from weather,  but the power output would probably not be useful. At some point the power output of the solar panel is going to drop below the minimum requirement for the electronics (inverter) which allows the electricity from the solar panel to power devices in your home. UV light from the sun damages the solar panel which causes the reduction in output over time. With newer technology, this problem may be reduced and this would allow future solar panels to last longer.