“Build fifty year stations once or rebuild solar and wind three or four times in the 50 years.”
arrh - nope, try some reality, it hurts a bit, but it’s good for you
The average working lifespan of a solar farm is typically 25-40 years, depending on various factors.[1][2][3][4]
Solar panels themselves have an expected lifespan of around 25-30 years, after which their power output declines significantly due to degradation at a rate of around 0.5-0.8% per year.[3][4] However, with proper maintenance, high-quality equipment, and replacement of components like inverters, the overall solar farm can continue operating for up to 40 years or more.[1]
Some key points regarding the lifespan of solar farms:
- Current market conditions allow solar farm infrastructure like buildings and electrical works to comfortably reach a 40-year lifespan with adequate operations and maintenance services.[1]
- Solar panel manufacturers now offer longer product warranties of up to 30 years and performance guarantees of up to 12 years, boosting the projected lifetime of solar farms.[1]
- Business models have shifted towards increasing the designed lifespan of solar farms from 25 years to 35-40 years in ambitious cases.[1]
- Factors like maintenance quality, availability of spare parts, environmental conditions, and timely replacement of degraded components play a crucial role in extending the solar farm's operational life.[1][2]
- While solar panels may last 25-30 years, other components like inverters may need replacement earlier, around every 5-15 years, to keep the farm running optimally.[1]
So in summary, with proper design, high-quality components, and diligent maintenance practices, modern solar farms can realistically achieve a working lifespan of 35-40 years or more.[1][2][3][4]
[1] Solar PV power plant lifespan - BLOG - Vector Renewables
https://www.vectorenewables.com/en/blog/solar-pv-power-plant-lifespan[2] How Long Do Solar Farms Last? - Solair World
https://solairworld.com/how-long-do-solar-farms-last/[3] How Long Do Solar Panels Last? Solar Panel Lifespan 101
https://www.energysage.com/solar/how-long-do-solar-panels-last/[4] How Long Do Solar Panels Last? (2024 Guide) - MarketWatch
https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/solar/how-long-do-solar-panels-last/[5] US solar farms are aging. Is it time to begin repowering? - Utility Dive
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-solar-farms-are-aging-is-it-time-to-begin-repowering/690978/———————
The average working lifespan of a wind turbine is typically around 20-25 years, according to multiple expert sources cited in the search results.[1][2][3][4] Specifically:
- Most modern wind turbines are designed to last for 20 years, according to Professor David Wood, an expert in mechanical engineering and renewable energy.[1]
- Dr. Mark Diesendorf, a sustainable energy expert, states that generators in wind turbines should last at least 20 years, similar to generators in fossil fuel power plants.[1]
- A 2019 survey of U.S. wind industry professionals found that while assumptions range from 25-40 years, most respondents cited an expected useful life of 30 years for wind projects.[2]
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that the typical lifespan of a wind turbine is 20 years.[1]
- An article mentions that the lifespan of the average wind turbine is 20-25 years.[3]
So in summary, while there is some variation, most experts and industry sources indicate that modern wind turbines have an average working lifespan in the range of 20-25 years, with 20 years being a commonly cited figure.[1][2][3][4]
Sources
[1] Wind turbine lifespan claim generates misinformation
https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/wind-turbine-lifespan-claim-generates-misinformation/[2] New study finds that the expected useful life of wind projects has ...
https://emp.lbl.gov/news/new-study-finds-expected-useful-life-wind[3] Where Do Wind Turbines Go To Die? - Inside Energy
https://insideenergy.org/2016/09/09/where-do-wind-turbines-go-to-die/[4] Wind turbines are ageing – what happens next? - Power Technology
https://www.power-technology.com/features/wind-turbines-are-ageing-what-happens-next/[5] Turbine lifetime limits require a reality check | News+ - IJGlobal
https://www.ijglobal.com/articles/157132/turbine-lifetime-limits-require-a-reality-check
