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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Allan,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The volcanos string evolved into a
discussion about contractors' system performance warranties as compared to
equipment nameplate warranties. I find it interesting that solar module
manufacturers warranty power output levels for 20 to 25 years, but inverter and
charge controller manufacturers do not warrant the level of efficiency
that their equipment will operate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
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style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=allan@positiveenergysolar.com
href="mailto:allan@positiveenergysolar.com">Allan Sindelar</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 28, 2010 10:06
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] kWh
performance warranties (was volcanos)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Joel,<BR>Your link has nothing to do with the kWh performance
warranties being discussed, so I'm confused. The warranty referenced simply
says that "The insurers will indemnify for any reduction in power loss from
CNPV's warranted, 90% guaranteed energy output in the first 10 years and 80%
in the following 15 years. Additionally the insurance also covers expenses
which might become necessary when recovering the formerly certified energy
output." That's a standard module performance warranty, with the
indemnification being based on whether it meets 80/90% of nameplate
rating; it has nothing to do with overall guaranteed system
performance.<BR>What am I missing here?<BR>Allan<BR><BR>
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<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=il><B>Allan</B></SPAN><B> Sindelar</B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR><A href="mailto:Allan@positiveenergysolar.com"
target=_blank><SPAN
class=il>Allan</SPAN>@positiveenergysolar.com</A><BR>NABCEP Certified
Photovoltaic Installer<BR>EE98J Journeyman Electrician<BR><B>Positive Energy,
Inc.</B><BR>3201 Calle Marie<BR>Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507<BR><B>505
424-1112</B><BR><A href="http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/"
target=_blank>www.positiveenergysolar.com</A></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV><BR><BR>Joel
Davidson wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid:919781418C294C31B6B7220F4C4FCC8B@JOEL type="cite">
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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>kW and/or kWh performance warranties are
what some customers want and are willing to pay for and what some PV
companies provide successfully. Many wrenches guarantee their
systems' DC and even AC nameplate rating. </FONT><FONT size=2
face=Arial>For several years PowerLight, now owned by SunPower, entered into
kWh contracts with its customers. Their success was based on good system
design, performance modeling, installation, monitoring, and service.
I observed (not insider information) their systems performing 4%
to 6% better than PVWatts estimates. Basically, they did what all smart
contractors do: under-promise and over-deliver.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Here's the latest news about performance
guarantees. See <A
href="http://globalsolartechnology.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5388&Itemid=9"
moz-do-not-send="true">http://globalsolartechnology.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5388&Itemid=9</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Small companies can provide the same customer
confidence without performance warranties. Give your prospective customer a
list of satisfied customers who have been monitoring their systems. Let your
customers tell your prospects that your systems deliver what you
promised (estimated). Then tell your prospect that they can save money by
not buying a performance warranty.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
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style="BORDER-LEFT: rgb(0,0,0) 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal">-----
Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: rgb(228,228,228) 0% 50%; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial"><B>From:</B>
<A title=jryago@netscape.com href="mailto:jryago@netscape.com"
moz-do-not-send="true">Jeff Yago</A> </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><B>To:</B>
<A title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org"
moz-do-not-send="true">RE-wrenches</A> </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><B>Sent:</B>
Monday, April 26, 2010 7:02 PM</DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"><B>Subject:</B>
Re: [RE-wrenches] Volcanos, reduced solar production and kWh performance
warranties</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<DIV>I would never contract for a guarantee minimum performance for a very
simple reason - weather!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I think the only reasonable guarantee is to state the "nameplate"
output of the array provided under test conditions, and make it clear
that air temperature, clearness factor, dust, cloud cover, and out
of tolerance utility grid events will all reduce system performance
from this perfect lab value. Since you cannot control any of
these affects on system performance, there has to be a reasonable
expectation of system performance for you and your client. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Why do doctors and hospitals have you sign a disclaimer before they
render service? How about accountants,
mechanics, engineers, stock brokers, and dentists, Yes,
you can sue for gross negelence, but how many will sign a statement that
guarantees their work will have a specific outcome. Odds are,
the small print in the document you sign will point out that there are too
many unknowns beyond their control that could reduce the
hoped for outcome and if you want a guarantee, - buy life insurance
- you die - they pay -guaranteed.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Jeff Yago</DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><PRE wrap=""> </PRE></BLOCKQUOTE>
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