ARE WARRANTIES WORTH THE PAPER THEY’RE WRITTEN ON?
With PV modules being sold today with longer warranties than ever before the PV installer community should feel safe in offering their customers assurances that the products will stand the test of time. However, when modules underperform or fail, making claims on those warranties is rarely straightforward.
Some failures, such as backsheet degradation, can be visible to the naked eye – but their impact on long-term performance can be disputed. Other performance issues, such as PID, LID or LeTID, may be detected by monitoring, power electronics or on-site testing, however even here manufacturers may require lengthy processes to be followed before issuing replacements or reimbursement.
Given these circumstances, where does it leave the installer? How can this liability, often extending to the many thousands of modules, be mitigated? pv magazine Australia’s “Insight on Quality” session will address this, through the discussion of a case study that both shocks and astounds.
The Insight on Quality is a part of the All Energy 2020 digital conference and brings together an unparalleled team of team of technologists and market participants to discuss this vital issue.
Agenda
The speakers’ presentations are available here: 02_Nigel Morris_Data driven diagnostics 03_George_Touloupas_Root cause analysis for module degradation 04_Alison_Ciesla_R&D update on LID and LeTID 05_Richard_Qian_Degradation mitigation in manufacturing 06_Eric_Ast_Effective connections, cabling and connectors in focus 07_Ben_Macias_Common BoS failures leading to system underperformance 08_Durmus_Yildiz_Warranties, wholesalers, and liabilities 09_Jan_Napiorkowski_Enabling DG installers to provide kWh guarantees
14:00 – 14:01
Welcome and introductions
Jonathan Gifford, Editor in Chief Global, pv magazine group and Founding Editor, pv magazine Australia
14:01 – 14:05
QUALITY CASE STUDY: What does degradation on the rooftop look like? And what to do if you think you’ve found it?
Jonathan Gifford presents the case
14:05 – 14:10
PRESENTATION 2: Data driven diagnostics
Nigel Morris, Business Development Director, Solar Analytics
14:10 – 14:15
PRESENTATION 3: Root cause analysis for module degradation
George Touloupas, Director of Technology and Quality, Clean Energy Associates
14:15 – 14:30
DISCUSSION GROUP 1: Degradation detection, analysis, and testing
George Touloupas, Director of Technology and Quality, Clean Energy Associates
Michelle McCann, Partner, PV Lab Australia
Nigel Morris, Business Development Director, Solar Analytics
14:30 – 14:35
PRESENTATION 4: R&D update on LID and LeTID
Alison Ciesla, Project Leader of Industry Collaborations, UNSW
14:35 – 14:40
PRESENTATION 5: Degradation mitigation in manufacturing
Richard Qian, Product Engineer, LONGi Solar
14:40 – 14:50
DISCUSSION GROUP 2: Degradation
Alison Ciesla, Project Leader of Industry Collaborations, UNSW
Richard Qian, Product Engineer, LONGi Solar
14:50 – 14:55
PRESENTATION 6: Effective connections, cabling and connectors in focus
Eric Ast, Head of Business Development Alternative Energies, Stäubli Electrical Connectors
14:55 – 15:00
PRESENTATION 7: Common BoS failures leading to system underperformance
Ben Macias, Vice President Sales, Shoals Technologies Group
15:00 – 15:05
DISCUSSION GROUP 3: BoS components and underperformance
Ben Macias, Vice President Sales, Shoals Technologies Group
Eric Ast, Head of Business Development, Alternative Energies, Stäubli Electrical Connectors
15:05 – 15:10
PRESENTATION 8: Warranties, wholesalers, and liabilities
Durmus Yildiz, Manager Director, Baywa r.e. Solar Systems
15:10 – 15:15
PRESENTATION 9: Enabling DG installers to provide kWh guarantees
Jan Napiorkowski, Global Head of Clean Energy, Ariel Re
15:15 – 15:30
DISCUSSION GROUP 4: Warranties, guarantees, and rooftop liabilities
Durmus Yildiz, Manager Director, Baywa r.e. Solar Systems
Jan Napiorkowski, Global Head of Clean Energy, Ariel Re
Geoff Bragg, Managing Director, Sunman Solar Pty Ltd
Speakers
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