Retirement

Photovoltaic panel retirement period

Department of Energy says photovoltaic (PV) modules should last about 30-35 years. Many panels keep making electricity much longer. solar industry professionals Most PV systems are still in the early years of. . While your panels keep pushing power into year 25 and beyond, most solar batteries start aging out somewhere between year five and 15. That's not a flaw, it's just how storage chemistry works. 4 years in Hawaii to nearly 20 years in Utah, primarily driven by local electricity rates and state incentives. . When solar panels, which typically have a lifespan of more than 25 years, reach the end of their lives and become a waste stream, they must be managed safely. Find information here about different types of solar panels and how they are regulated at end of life.