How long do residential solar panels last?
Several factors affect the productive lifespan of a residential solar panel. In the first part of a series, we look at the solar panels themselves.
How to mitigate solar glass breakage
Solar modules are getting bigger, thinner, and more powerful. But from Texas to Thailand, the same problem is appearing: broken glass. Not from hail or mishandling, but from cracks that spider from frame edges, splinter near clamps, and web across modules. In cases seen by Jörg Althaus, director of engineering and quality assurance at Clean Energy Associates (CEA), it starts with a few panels – then dozens, hundreds, even thousands.
PV Hardware designs solar trackers for resilience in extreme weather
The solar tracker provider provided a case study on performance in Florida and the U.S. Midwest.
Connector failure accounts for loss of 58% of revenue in commercial solar portfolios
A report from HelioVolta finds connector issues in four out of five solar projects in the United States and details what can be done from procurement to field inspections to minimize risk.
Top solar modules in reliability, quality and performance testing
Solar modules are evaluated in the Renewable Energy Test Center annual PV Module Index.
Solar risks: Hail, AI error, wildfire, and more
Hail damage remains a top risk to large-scale solar assets, according to an annual report from kWh Analytics.
Module reliability scorecard reveals widespread quality risk
Independent testing laboratory Kiwa-PVEL today published the 11th edition of its PV Module Reliability Scorecard, having extensively tested PV modules from 50 different manufacturers.
National battery fire standards being pushed for consideration
The American Clean Power Association is pushing for greater safety standardization in the energy storage industry, guided by the National Fire Protection Association, and their under development NFPA 855 standard.
Long-term issues found in warehoused solar panels
Clean Energy Associates (CEA) is receiving more calls from solar developers concerned about warehouse panel damage. CEA senior engineering manager Claire Kearns-McCoy explains how improper handling, stacking, and storage conditions can lead to long-term issues.
U.S. solar facilities lost $5,720 per MW to equipment underperformance in 2024
A report from Raptor Maps said solar power losses from equipment failures, extreme weather damage and more contributed to losses.
