[RE-wrenches] Evergreen goes down

[Jason Szumlanski]

Sounds like you are making a good argument for microinverters. We've
already had that warranty discussion, but if module mismatch is an
expensive and difficult to manage module warranty issue, microinverters
allow you to, a) not replace a bad module, or b) replace it with a
different module if physical size permits.

 

All I am saying is that warranty becomes less of an issue as equipment
prices drop. When my DVD player cost $500 I wanted a warranty. When it
cost $29, not so much.

 

Jason Szumlanski

Fafco Solar

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Joel
Davidson
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 5:48 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Evergreen goes down

 

Hello Jason,

 

Warranty coverage could be a non-issue if you buy from a company with a
warranty escrow account. Still, call-back costs and finding same-size,
same-spec replacement modules costs do matter. Factor in travel time,
labor, troubleshooting, finding replacement modules, paperwork, phone
calls, etc. to replace 200-watt modules that cost less than $400? Not to
mention how selling bad products and buying from unreliable suppliers
affect your reputation. How many spare modules and inverters can a
contractor afford to stock? The risk is always there because even
reputable manufacturers make bad modules. The pile of bad modules made
by reputable companies keeps growing. Europeans have recently recycled
600 tonnes of solar modules plus thousands of dead inverters. See 
http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/display/article-display/2373
267650/articles/waste-management-world/opinion/2011/08/Solar_PV_Recyclin
g_-_One_Step_Ahead_.html
<http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/display/article-display/237
3267650/articles/waste-management-world/opinion/2011/08/Solar_PV_Recycli
ng_-_One_Step_Ahead_.html>  

 

600 tonnes at 40 lbs/module = approx 33,000 modules at 150 watts =
approx 5 MW. 5 MW sounds like a lot but is only 0.03% of the 16 GW
installed PV in Europe. Are wrenches seeing less than 0.03% of the
modules they install ending up in the trash or sent back to the
manufacturer?

 

Yes, Astropower made a good module. Some good people use to work there.

 

Joel Davidson

 

 

	----- Original Message ----- 

	From: Jason Szumlanski <mailto:Jason at fafcosolar.com>  

	To: RE-wrenches <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>  

	Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 12:10 PM

	Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Evergreen goes down

	 

	Pretty soon I believe warranty coverage will become a virtual
non-issue. At well under $2/watt, does it matter much anymore? Is there
really that much risk of product or performance failure with most
reputable manufacturers?

	 

	Yes, I paid $10+/w for Astropower modules over a decade ago, and
warranty definitely mattered at that time.

	 

	Anyway... sad to see them go. We were a big fan for a while.

	 

	Jason Szumlanski

	Fafco Solar 

	 

	 

	From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of boB
Gudgel
	Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 2:23 PM
	To: RE-wrenches
	Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Evergreen goes down

	 

	On 8/18/2011 11:10 AM, Marco Mangelsdorf wrote: 

	Evergreen Solar, one of the last remaining independent U.S.
module manufacturers, announced their plan to file for bankruptcy
protection this week.

	 

	Done in by plummeting module pricing no doubt.

	 

	I'm sure you all are getting the same kind of solicitation
emails that I get from mod manufacturers and wholesalers from across the
globe peddling mods at low, low prices, including Evergreen.

	 

	Anyone have any idea what's going to happen to the warranty
coverage for Evergreen mods?  Will they become unwanted, unwarrantied
orphans, a la Astropower?

	 

	Sad, sad....

	 

	marco

	 

	
	
	
	I'd beware of newer companies offering say,   50 year warranties
!
	
	Hopefully NOT the new business model  !
	
	boB
	
	
	
	

	
________________________________


	_______________________________________________
	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/20110819/e9e77f52/attachment-0003.html>