Quality Crisis ‘Threatens’ Solar Industry
http://www.energymanagertoday.com/quality-crisis-threatens-solar-industry-092324/
May 30, 2013 by Energy Manager Today Staff
Testers, developers, financiers and insurers say that
solar panels are facing a quality control crisis, just as the technology
is on the cusp of widespread adoption, reports
the New York Times.
However, the
scope of the problem is unclear. There are no official figures detailing how
big a problem defective panels are to the $77 billion solar industry.
Furthermore, when defects are discovered, confidentiality agreements often keep
the manufacturer’s identity a secret, the paper reports.
Instead, the
mooted crisis has been identified through anecdotal evidence. The
paper reports on an unnamed warehouse in California’s Inland Empire region east
of Los Angeles where panels ceased to function. Coatings that protect
the panels disintegrated, while other failings led to fires that took the array
off line for two years. These problems occurred just
two years in to the panels’ 25-year life span, the paper reports.
It appears that the quality control concerns come at a
far-from-opportune time: on the back of a surge in solar construction. Recent
figures from the Solar Energy Industries Association show that US solar
capacity grew from 83 MW in 2003 to 7,266 MW in 2012. Nearly half that capacity
was installed in 2012, the Times reports.
Quoted in the piece is Conrad Burke, general manager for DuPont’s photovoltaic
division, which supplies materials to solar manufacturers. Burke says that the
industry needs to “face up to the fact that corners are being cut.” Dave
Williams, chief designer at San Francisco-based solar developer Dissigno told
the Times that quality issues pose a long-term threat.
Most quality concerns are focussed on panels made in China,
where heavily indebted manufacturers are under “extreme pressure” to
cut costs, the paper reports. Executives
at companies that inspect Chinese manufacturers on behalf
of solar developers and their financial backers told the paper that even
companies with the best reputations have been found using “cheaper, untested
materials.”
Earlier this week, Brightergy Solar Solutions and Kansas City
Power & Light announced plans to team
up to install solar panels on 80 buildings by the end of this year, as part
of Kansas City’s plans to go solar. The buildings comprise police and fire
departments and community structures. The city will lease the energy for 20
years and pay a fixed rate for the electricity. The solar power generated
by the 80 buildings will provide the city with $40,000 in savings in the first
year.
Also:
“Take a look at this UC presentation about using the PI System in a solar network operating center (NOC) to monitor solar systems”
http://www.osisoft.com/Templates/item-abstract.aspx?id=9618