Since solar power first became widely accepted decades ago, scientists have toiled to improve the efficiency of PV panels and to bring down the cost of producing electricity from the sun. Those were the big tasks. Now, with solar providing an increasing percentage of the nation's power needs at a low cost,. Solar panels initially were designed to last from 25 to 30 years. Technological improvements could lengthen their lifespan to as long as 50 years. Investing in solar—particularly in a. Sarah Toth's research into soiling hits closer to home as she explores the correlation between air pollution and soiling, specifically in urban areas. Toth set up two low-cost silicon sensors in an industrial area three miles. Limited information is available on soiling by location, including on a map produced by NREL. “One of the biggest things we're trying to do to help now is.