[RE-wrenches] Uni-Solar, Kaneka.now Panasonic?

[August Goers]

Hi Larry,

It sounds like you are talking about the temperature coefficient or energy
yield per kW-peak? Uni-Solar was great on paper but I'm not so sure about
real world performance. We have a couple of Uni-Solar systems installed a
while back and they are not doing so well in the real world. Companies
keep coming to me over the years claiming that their modules harvest more
kWh per kW peak and it is really hard to keep everything straight.
Certainly the PTC ratings help in comparison to STC. Then there are papers
like this from SunPower claiming 8 to 10% more energy per Watt:

http://www.solarips.com/admin/content/uploads/SunPower_Yield_Report_BEW.pd
f

SunPower also claims that their modules degrade less annually compared to
others.

And here's a doc comparing PV module performance measurements:

http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/build05/PDF/b05047.pdf

Each year we try to compare the actual monitored performance of our
systems compared to our as-built production estimates at time of the
installation completion. In general, I've found that both SunPower and
other standard efficiency modules seem to outperform the normal PV-Watts
calculation by 7 to 10%. In 2012 our systems were averaging about 17%
above our estimates! I haven't seen a huge difference between SunPower and
standard efficiency modules. Furthermore, I haven't seen the performance
gains that microinverter manufacturers are claiming compared to string
inverters. I admit that our informal comparison is not perfectly
scientific because there are simply too many variables that we don't
capture. My main concern is material and or workmanship degradation in
modules over the long haul. Only time will tell.

Best,

August

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Larry
Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2014 9:09 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Uni-Solar, Kaneka.now Panasonic?

Dave and August,

I'm looking for high performance (capturing the most energy), not high
necessarily high efficiency (using less space). Efficiency would be a
bonus, though. LG are just average performance. Example: Uni-Solar was one
of the lowest efficiency modules ever made but holds the record for
highest performance.

Thank you,

Larry Crutcher






On Mar 14, 2014, at 8:52 AM, August Goers <august at luminalt.com> wrote:

Hi Larry,

LG is selling Neon panels which are pushing 300 W for a 60-cell
arrangement. My understanding is that they are sold out in the US but
sooner or later more will be imported. Focused Energy is a distributor of
them.

http://www.lg.com/us/commercial/solar-panels

SunPower is our workhorse high efficiency module. The new X series 335 and
345 are hard to beat.

Best,

August


-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Larry
Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2014 8:34 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Uni-Solar, Kaneka.now Panasonic?

Wrenches,

What high performance PV modules are being sold in the US? I can't find
Panasonic modules anymore. I have written to them twice but they can't
direct me to any distribution in the US. They insist that Sunwize will
have them but Sunwize says they have no plans yet to purchase again.

>From what I can tell, the next best thing is Sunpower modules with -0.38%
/K temp coefficient. Are there any others to consider?

Larry Crutcher






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