“The original solar industry left the US when Republicans once again defunded the nascent renewable industry, and it was picked up by Germany and Japan.

Germany’s Siemens is now a world leader in both solar and wind, and just beat out GE”

of course silicon solar cells should never really deteriorate unless the wiring goes bad. the cells themselves are permanent sand and like the rock in your backyard will last for thousands of years.

Newer solar panels are made of less permanent things though so some lose generating capacity within years.

Not many solar panels have actually reached their end of life, they are not old enough for that.