[RE-wrenches] Trina Module Annual Degradation

[Starlight Solar Power Systems]

To simplify the 25 year Power Warranty, which is different than the material, defect warranty: if the PV module is still functioning in year 25, it must produce 80% (if that is the number) of rated power. Anything that caused it to stop working is not covered by the power warranty. 

Just FYI, Kyocera, 13 years after the 1 Year Limited Warranty expired, is STILL replacing the KC120 and 80 Watt modules with a rebuilt unit and they are STILL paying us labor to replace them. What a company!

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems



On Jul 18, 2015, at 11:09 AM, boB at midnitesolar.com wrote:


Hi Bill

From what I understand, and I have asked this question to different
people at different companies, the 25 year warranty people hear about
concerning PV is not for a broken panel within 25 years but the
degradation in performance over the years.

If a PV module just plain old "breaks" (goes to zero output) in, say
20 years and it has a 25 year degradation warranty, the PV manufacturer,
(if still in business), is not obligated to replace the defective module....
...Even if it resulted from a factory defect.

I do not know what the warranty period is for manufacturing defects.
I hear warranty times of around 10 years.  I am not exactly sure on that
though.

Having said all this, there are companies that do replace modules after
their short term memory is up due to manufacturing defects.  
Kyocera comes to mind immediately.  These are typically larger
companies from what I see.

I'm just repeating what I have heard over the years regarding PV.

It just seems to me somewhat misleading the words "25 year warranty".
There may be some companies that actually DO offer a full 25 yr. warranty
these days but what if they aren't around before then ?

I bet that Bill Hoffer could offer way better information than I can
about this.

boB


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