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

Bill Loesch solar1online at charter.net
Mon Apr 26 04:39:28 PDT 2010


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 
  To: 'RE-wrenches' 
  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 

   

  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

     

  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
  Version: 9.0.814 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2833 - Release Date: 04/24/10 20:31:00



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  List sponsored by Home Power magazine

  List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org

  Options & settings:
  http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

  List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

  List rules & etiquette:
  www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

  Check out participant bios:
  www.members.re-wrenches.org

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20100426/9b1713eb/attachment-0003.html>


More information about the RE-wrenches mailing list