By Frank Andorka, Editorial Director
Just how reliable is the solar industry?
With 25-year warranties increasingly the norm for different solar system components, the concerns about reliability often whispered behind closed doors grew to a dull roar at Intersolar.
A May 28 article in The New York Times headlined “Solar Industry Anxious Over Defective Panels” spurred the conversation, and it traveled up and down the aisles of the trade show like a tidal wave. Companies across all industry segments urged us to tackle the issue in our Solar Power International issue.
You ask, we report.
We at Solar Power World have written frequently about the need for performance and manufacturing standards for the industry, and the reliability issue the Times raised certainly highlights that need. In the ever-changing world of solar consolidation, can we prove the reliability of system components well enough to encourage more people to invest?
The answer is a qualified yes.
Sunny Rai, regional vice president for renewable energy for Intertek, a global testing and certification company, says he is already receiving calls from installation owners asking him to test their panels’ performance. He says they’re worried the systems aren’t working as promised.
“I was shocked,” Rai says. “Some of these installations were only two years old. That’s unacceptable for the long-term health of the industry.”
According to Chase Weir, CEO of Distributed Sun and co-founder of the truSolar Working Group, a recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicated that more than 20% of all modules and systems evaluated failed to produce the expected power output over time. Worse, those numbers seem to be increasing.
“Solarbuyer conducted an independent study of new module shipments and found defect rates increased from near the 5% range in September 2011, to nearly 25% by February 2012,” Weir says. “These rising defect rates in newer panels have the potential for longer-term implications for projects and failures after installation.”
But there is hope: Organizations like truSolar, Intertek, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and NREL are working to create new tests that will simulate real-world wear more effectively, leading to better risk assessments on components and projects.
It will take time, but this next step is critical to the continued growth of the industry, says Evelyn M. Butler, director of business development, Energy & Industrial Systems for UL and member of the truSolar Working Group.
Despite some of the challenges involved in tackling the reliability issue, I have faith. This industry is filled with incredibly smart, talented and ingenious people who are the backbone of this innovative business of ours. We will get there if we work together.
Dimitar Mirchev says
As the solar modules manufactures can not compete on price anymore or not to that extend they will have to compete on quality.
The decrease of the speed the modules price is decreasing is a good thing – now the industry can focus on quality.
wolfgroupasia says
These sorts of issues are typical with adolescent industries. The fact that UL et al are starting to dig into the science of panel performance is going to be a long-term positive for the industry. Now it is up to the manufacturers to pay attention to the insights and standards that will come out of their research.
Northern lights Energy says
Perhaps the issue is as much poor design and estimates of output that are just too high? Certainly panel quality should be preserved and enhanced where ever possible. But the most stable panels in the world won’t change low measured output from designs that over promise results. As more companies enter the industry the potential for poor design increases as companies vie for business. There may be problems with panels, and these should be addressed, but like the “faulty acceleration issues” with the Prius, the ultimate fault is as likely, to rest with the operator, not the machine.
Joe Morinville says
It is my belief that most of these bad panels are coming from start ups with little or no experience but with a very low price/W. Unfortunately no one will disclose who the bad players are so the entire industry is getting tainted.
SPW should create a list of actual warranty claims / million panels sold. Those with good numbers will volunteer the information. Those with bad numbers will withhold the info. Consumers can then request this info from the mfg or installer prior to purchasing panels and compare.