Module degradation accounts for the fact that module performance degrades over time. Many modules have a first-year drop, sometimes called "burn-in", followed by a degradation rate typically between 0.25% - 0.75% per year.
Light-Induced Degradation
This loss is a constant derate factor to AC Output to compensate for immediate degradation of module performance within hours of exposure to light.. Light-induced degradation can be added as a custom loss
- Edit the Condition Set for your project
- Scroll down to Energy Losses
- Click the dropdown to select the loss type, and select Light-induced Degradation
Modeling Degradation After Year 1
Users on the Pro & Enterprise Plans have access to the Financial Debug Feature. This feature allows users to view annual values like solar production, consumption, system costs, tax information, etc., over the system's life (up to 25 years). If system degradation is added to the financial model, then the Financial Debug Feature will show the amount of production after the specified degradation rate is applied in a column labeled "System Degradation." Also, the energy reported in the Cash Flow Table (a widget that can be added to reports) will reflect the same values.
- It is recommended that users either create a financial model or clone one of the existing options.
- Under Energy Modeling, locate the System Degradation section.
- The Annual Degradation Rate can be entered here or marked as editable so it can be modified from Overview.
- Click "Save" at the top right ("Save as New Financial Model" if cloning).
- In the Financial Model library, click the star next to the model you just created.
- Navigate back to Overview and select the desired financial model from the drop-down next to "Financial Inputs."
- Update the Financial Configuration.
- Navigate to the Financial Debug Feature to see the impact of the degradation rate entered.
- Note: The impact of the degradation rate will start in year 2 in both the Financial Debug Feature & Cash Flow Table.