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

[Max Balchowsky]

We've had a lot of people asking about "performance" warranties and I stay very far away from any language that hints at a performance guarantee. I think this especially important in the "PPA" I give them all the product specifications, run the production charts and then explain how little control I have over the things that affect output (to the grid) which includes weather and the way they use electricity.

Max Balchowsky
SEE Systems
1048 Irvine Ave. Suite 217
Newport, Beach Ca. 92660
760-403-6810




________________________________
From: Marco Mangelsdorf <marco at pvthawaii.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Sun, April 25, 2010 8:02:58 PM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Volcanos, reduced solar production and kWh performance 

  
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 PVkWhs 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
> 
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