[RE-wrenches] Volcanos, reduced solar production and kWh performance warr...

[SOLARPRO at aol.com]

Marco:
 
At what point (kW or cost) does a weather station with online monitoring  
make sense?  
What (or who ) defines "normal weather?"
Defining expectations for the large (> 1M) installations must  be 
particularly vexing - what constitutes normal or expected downtime due  to mechanical 
failure becomes key to structuring PPA's.
If making a warranty on kWh production must be part of a contract, a  
number of concerns must be tackled in the way it is written, especially with  
regard to the value of compensation.  Maybe funds could be awarded for  over 
production or applied as a credit against lower than expected  kWh. 
 
Pat Redgate
Ameco
 
 
In a message dated 4/26/2010 4:38:43 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
solar1online at charter.net writes:

 
Hi Marco,
 
I hope this query does not divert response to  your original question.
 
How is the situation of the reduced performance  due to the volcano (or 
other "acts of God" or the like) approached  in the Power Purchase contract? 
Perhaps this could be titled "Reduced Solar  Production As a Result of Reduced 
Solar Input". 
 
TIA,
 
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis  Solar

PS As I remember, the last time I bought a new  vehicle, back in the Dark 
Ages, the auto manufacturer's warranty deferred to  the tire maker's warranty 
(for tires), etc. Any similarity?
 
 

----- Original Message ----- 
From:  _Marco  Mangelsdorf_ (mailto:marco at pvthawaii.com)  
To: _'RE-wrenches'_ (mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org)  
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 10:02  PM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Volcanos,reduced  solar production and kWh 
performance warranties



This thread brings up a very  timely issue that I’m dealing with right now 
with PV Power Purchase  Providers.  As an integrator providing turnkey PV 
systems of X kW, I’m  being asked to contractually agree to a minimum 
performance warranty for  said PV systems.  I am EXTREMELY uncomfortable to any such 
clause in  any contract that I would sign.  I have strong confidence in my 
PV  design capabilities  and engineering support and in my professional  
crew to install a top-quality PV system.  I have a lot less confidence  in an 
inverter manufacturer being able to get to a site on a Hawaiian island  in 
the middle of the Pacific in a super timely fashion as the lost PV kWhs  rack 
up.  And as I mentioned in a previous post today, we have an  active volcano 
here that’s been spewing since 1983, a volcano that could get  a lot worse 
on any given day.  I’m leaning strongly against agreeing to  any such 
clause.  Way too bad a precedent to set.  Way too much of  a liability. 
Anyone else had to deal with  this bugger of a performance warranty demand? 
Thanks, 
marco 
ProVision  Solar 
 
Marco:
 

 
Our  production schedule has been in  tatters - lowered by perhaps 30% 
because of the rain.... can't plan, can't  do.  Then I pay overtime on good days 
to (try to) catch up.
 
We  have a number of systems online and I had not thought to actually 
review and  compare from this year to last.  I'll let ya know.
 

 
We'll  get a call like - "My bill is higher than last year (edison has a 
bar  graph of monthly consumption for the past 13 months) and I'd like you to  
look at my system" or My meter is not going backwards, should I call  
edison?"  The weather is so consistently wet this  winter (think Hilo) that we 
usually just need to ask-
 
"Been  outside lately?"
 

 
But  everywhere is so green and the desert bloom is  outrageous.........
 
_http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html_ 
(http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html)  
 

 
Pat  Redgate 
 
Ameco  Solar 
 

 
 
In  a message dated 4/25/2010 12:24:53 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
marco at pvthawaii.com writes:

 
 
Pat, 
Kicked  your butts as far as lower output?  If so, by how much on a  
percentage basis? 
On  the Big Island of Hawaii, we’ve had a very active volcano doing its 
thing  since 1983.  With the normal trade winds, the vog (volcanic smoke +  
fog) gets blown south past the volcano, around the south tip of the island  and 
then back up along the west side of the island.   Which means that 
Kona-side residents can be in a yucky vog zone for days  and sometimes longer.  
Think L.A. on a smoggy summer day.  And  as far as percentage decrease in solar 
output, I really have little  accurate clue. 
Marco 
ProVision  Solar 
Kicked  out butts, in fact.
 

 
Pat  Redgate
 
Ameco  Solar





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