Our last two winters in SW Colorado have been off sun-wise. Two winters ago we got gobs of snow [200%+ of normal] & this winter we had lots of Seattle type grey overcast.
We hear from clients on extended generator run time [off grid] and reduced SHWE output. Living with it ourselves, I see the same and commiserate with them. Walking the talk helps to see the changes. We used 12% more LP gas this winter over last and 16% more than 3 winters ago. Life style pretty much unchanged. I could not imagine being able to warranty what mother nature could throw at us. How about if we sell solar radiance insurance? – great scam. If the eruption of El Chichon (sp) in Mexico could offset the winter wheat harvest in the USSR for three years by lowering the ambient air temperature 3°. The USA sold them wheat for the next 3-4 years to offset their grain requirements. Perhaps we should include the effects of nature on the economy in our public education system. Great read on this type of cyclic planetary interference – “Climate and the Affairs of Men” By Iben Browning Jr. How could you warranty against that kind of interference on your system output? Thanks, Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc E - d...@solarwork.com V - 970.626.5253 F - 970.626.4140 C - 970.209.4076 web - www.solarwork.com Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Marco Mangelsdorf Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 9:03 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: [RE-wrenches] Volcanos, reduced solar production and kWh performance warranties This thread brings up a very timely issue that I’m dealing with right now with PV Power Purchase Providers. As an integrator providing turnkey PV systems of X kW, I’m being asked to contractually agree to a minimum performance warranty for said PV systems. I am EXTREMELY uncomfortable to any such clause in any contract that I would sign. I have strong confidence in my PV design capabilities and engineering support and in my professional crew to install a top-quality PV system. I have a lot less confidence in an inverter manufacturer being able to get to a site on a Hawaiian island in the middle of the Pacific in a super timely fashion as the lost PV kWhs rack up. And as I mentioned in a previous post today, we have an active volcano here that’s been spewing since 1983, a volcano that could get a lot worse on any given day. I’m leaning strongly against agreeing to any such clause. Way too bad a precedent to set. Way too much of a liability. Anyone else had to deal with this bugger of a performance warranty demand? Thanks, marco ProVision Solar Marco: Our production schedule has been in tatters - lowered by perhaps 30% because of the rain.... can't plan, can't do. Then I pay overtime on good days to (try to) catch up. We have a number of systems online and I had not thought to actually review and compare from this year to last. I'll let ya know. We'll get a call like - "My bill is higher than last year (edison has a bar graph of monthly consumption for the past 13 months) and I'd like you to look at my system" or My meter is not going backwards, should I call edison?" The weather is so consistently wet this winter (think Hilo) that we usually just need to ask- "Been outside lately?" But everywhere is so green and the desert bloom is outrageous......... http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html Pat Redgate Ameco Solar In a message dated 4/25/2010 12:24:53 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, ma...@pvthawaii.com writes: Pat, Kicked your butts as far as lower output? If so, by how much on a percentage basis? On the Big Island of Hawaii, we’ve had a very active volcano doing its thing since 1983. With the normal trade winds, the vog (volcanic smoke + fog) gets blown south past the volcano, around the south tip of the island and then back up along the west side of the island. Which means that Kona-side residents can be in a yucky vog zone for days and sometimes longer. Think L.A. on a smoggy summer day. And as far as percentage decrease in solar output, I really have little accurate clue. Marco ProVision Solar Kicked out butts, in fact. Pat Redgate Ameco Solar No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.814 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2833 - Release Date: 04/24/10 20:31:00 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.814 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2833 - Release Date: 04/25/10 12:31:00
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