Wrenches: Like it or not, there is a huge volume of PV modules manufactured (in part or completely) in China. And we're seeing U.S. producers moving operations there, too. If we can put aside some of the knee-jerk reactions to the idea of Chinese manufacturing and face the fact that it's a major force in the industry, isn't is possible, even likely, that some of these products are every bit as good as those we are more familiar with?
How can we rationally evaluate modules from manufacturers we are unfamiliar with? Obviously UL and CEC listings/certifications are an important starting point but this doesn't narrow the field much. Warranties also do not narrow the field, either. Module specs aren't likely to very many products. Evaluation of the quality of modules seems not possible without long-term testing and in-field hands on experience. But we don't really know how the new models from Sharp, Sanyo or SolarWorld will hold up over time either but we tend to trust them because they are familiar. Age/history/trackrecord eliminates newer companies but still leave numerous large manufacturers as viable. Will they, can they, back up their products... how can you know? Shipping distance could be a reason to resist Asian manufacturers except that modules from Europe are also shipped half-way around the world to us. Employee human rights and environmental concerns would be important if there was some way to evaluate these--but how to research this? I've tried and don't have the time to find objective information. So, how do we evaluate these Chinese modules? Do we just lump them all into a "low quality" category? Is there a source of objective information where quality and other issues have been investigated? Are there some Asian manufacturers you trust and some you definitely stay away from? Thanks. Charlie Pickard Aladdin Solar
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