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<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Greetings Wrenches,<br>
<br>
I looked at the article a bit more closely and a crack emerged.
The article mentions two Spanish projects that were tested and the
modules had a 34% "defect rate." I looked at the study (linked in
the article) and what they were talking about was thermographic
defects - hot spots, not absolute failures. They didn't specify
how relatively hot these spots were, either. They noted that the
modules by that manufacturer ("E", no names mentioned) had a power
loss rate over three years that was 0.9% greater than others. None
of the modules in the study lost more than 4% in the first three
years. No mention of absolute failures.<br>
<br>
Allan Sindelair's and Jim Duncan's points about vertically
integrated companies are good. Better chance of survival and
better control over inputs.<br>
<br>
Hilton<br>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Hilton Dier III
Renewable Energy Design
Partner, Solar Gain LLC
453 East Hill Rd.
Middlesex, VT 05602
Tel: 802-223-6652</pre>
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