Still like new

[Stan]

After all these years I still can’t resist looking at the output from the original 2.5kWp array when I pass by, as well as the recent 1kWp array.
So, 2 days ago whilst gardening, I thought that the sun seemed very bright and had a look. Briefly the inverter registered 2500W which is its maximum output. The 10 Sharp panels are rated at 2450Wp and began work on 31/08/2011.
It’s still the original Sunny Boy inverter as well, although I do have a used replacement waiting in the shed.
All in all that’s a remarkable performance from the system.

[Stinsy]

Your experience reflects what I've seen reported elsewhere. Expectations of panel degradation reported by manufacturers 10 years ago seem to be very conservative. You can expect panels to be outputting very close indeed to their original output in 30 years time.

The interesting part is: when would it become economically viable to replace perfectly good panels with new, more efficient, models? You'd probably get a 3.75kWp (or more) array in the same space as your existing 2.5kWp array.

I have seen used panels for sale by the container-load that have come from solar farms who are upgrading perfectly functioning panels.

[Mr Gus]

The most uplifting moment of my day will doubtless have been reading that positive post Stan.

& your example needs getting out there to sitters of the fence & renewables neer-sayers such as the site Mart fields for the team the MSE forum which even now is still in the dark ages as to what solar can achieve.