Guaranteed Power Panels: Confidence or Illusion?

problem

Marcin, owner of a single-family house near Warsaw, shared his story with us: “I installed standard photovoltaic panels three years ago. At first everything looked great - the energy production was consistent with the calculations. But lately I have noticed that the gains are getting lower and lower. I tried to report it to the installer, but I heard it was a 'normal phenomenon of panel ageing'. It's only been three years!”

Martin's story is not isolated. In the photovoltaic industry, there is a serious problem related to the power guarantees of the panels. Most manufacturers offer seemingly attractive conditions: “we guarantee 80% of the power after 25 years.” Sounds great, doesn't it? The problem is that the devil is in the details.

Let's take a look at the typical warranty for photovoltaic panels. Usually this is a document of several pages, written in difficult technical language, full of exclusions and additional conditions. “The drop in power must exceed the natural consumption”, “the weather conditions must be within the specified parameters”, “the customer must prove that he has complied with all the manufacturer's recommendations”. These are just some of the provisions that effectively hinder the exercise of their rights.

Anna, who has been running the installation company for 10 years, confirms: “The biggest problem is the lack of transparency. Customers often do not understand that the guarantee itself is not everything. What also matters is how easy it can be used. I had a case when the panel manufacturer refused to accept the complaint for half a year, demanding more and more new measurements and documents. In the end, the client gave up.”

Moreover, many companies offering photovoltaic panels are relatively young enterprises. There is no certainty that in 10 or 15 years they will continue to exist and honor their warranty obligations. As Piotr, an expert on the renewable energy market, says: “In the photovoltaic industry, we are faced with a paradox - we offer products with a 25-year warranty, while the average lifetime of companies in this sector is about 7 years.”

This uncertainty has a real impact on purchasing decisions. Market research shows that more than 60% of potential investors are concerned about the long-term performance of a photovoltaic installation. This is understandable - after all, we are talking about an investment that is supposed to serve for decades and bring tangible savings.

The situation is complicated by the fact that new “innovative” solutions are increasingly appearing on the market, often without adequate testing of their long-term durability. As Dr. Janusz Kowalski from the Energy Institute warns: “Some companies market products that have not passed the proper aging tests. It will only be seen in a few years how they will actually work.”

In this situation, the key question becomes: how can we be sure that our investment in photovoltaics will really pay off in the long term? Are there solutions that offer not only a promise, but a real guarantee of preserving power for years?

Solution

In response to growing investor concerns, the eFence system introduces a completely new approach to the issue of capacity assurance. This is not another marketing promise, but a comprehensive system of technical and legal safeguards, which gives real certainty of maintaining performance for many years.

“We decided to reverse the previous thinking about the power guarantee,” explains Tomasz Nowak, Electrotile's chief engineer. “Instead of focusing on how to reduce manufacturer liability, we designed a system that simply doesn't lose performance. This required a complete rethinking of the design of the panels and the way they were integrated into the fence.”

The key element of the solution is Small Surface Integration (SSI) technology. Unlike traditional, large-format photovoltaic panels, the eFence system uses smaller modules, each with an area of about 1 m². As Dr. Maria Kowalska, an expert in the field of photovoltaics, explains: “The smaller area of the module means less thermal and mechanical stress. This translates into a much slower degradation of photovoltaic cells.”

The system has undergone rigorous testing in an aging chamber, simulating 25 years of operation under extreme conditions. “The results exceeded our wildest expectations,” says Piotr Wiśniewski, head of the research laboratory. “After testing equivalent to 25 years of use, the power drop was only 15%, well below the industry standard of 20%.”

But technology alone is not everything. Each eFence system is equipped with an advanced power monitoring system. Importantly, this is not an ordinary inverter with a basic measurement of production. “Our solution measures the performance of each module separately,” explains Anna Jabłońska, monitoring specialist. “This allows us to detect even the slightest drop in power and react before the problem develops.”

It is worth emphasizing that the monitoring system does not require any user support. The data is automatically analyzed by the Electrotile service center, and in case of detection of irregularities, the service center contacts the customer with a ready-made action plan.

“This is a completely new quality in the industry,” confirms Marek Zieliński, a long-time installer of photovoltaic systems. “Most manufacturers just wait for the customer to notice the problem and file a complaint. Here, the system itself detects potential problems and initiates corrective actions.”

Moreover, the entire warranty procedure has been simplified as much as possible. Instead of forcing the customer to prove the problem, Electrotile takes on the burden of verification. As Katarzyna Wilk from the customer service department says: “If the system detects a drop in power below the guaranteed level, there is no discussion. Our service comes and solves the problem.”

This approach stems from the company's philosophy, which focuses on long-term relationships with customers. “The power guarantee is not an unpleasant obligation for us, but an integral part of the product,” emphasizes the president of Electrotile. “That's why we've invested so much in the technology and processes that deliver real value.”

The eFence warranty system includes three key elements:

· 97.5% minimum power guarantee in the first year

· Maximum annual power drop of 0.73% in subsequent years

· Guaranteed at least 80% of starting power after 25 years

Importantly, all these parameters are measured under standard test conditions (STC) in accordance with IEC60904, using certified measuring equipment. This ensures full transparency and comparability of results.

Benefits

What does the eFence Power Guarantee really mean for you as an investor? Let's translate technical parameters into concrete, practical benefits. Let's get to know the story of Tomasz, who installed the eFence system two years ago.

“To be honest, at first I was skeptical of all these guarantees,” admits Tomasz. “But what convinced me was that Electrotile takes a comprehensive approach to the subject. Not only did I get a written guarantee of power, but I also regularly receive reports on the performance of the system. Every quarter I see exactly how each module works. It gives you a sense of control and security.”

It is the certainty and predictability that are the greatest value of the eFence guarantee system. You can plan exactly how much energy your installation will produce in the coming years. For example, a 5 kW system in the first year will generate a minimum of 4,875 kW (97.5% of nominal power). After 10 years, it will still be more than 4.4 kW, and after 25 years not less than 4 kW.

“This predictability is of great importance when planning a household budget,” confirms Anna Kowalska, financial advisor. “When I know the minimum amount of energy the plant will produce in the coming years, I can accurately estimate the savings and payback period. This is especially important at a time when energy prices continue to rise.”

What's more, the eFence system's power guarantee translates directly into the value of the property. As Piotr Wiśniewski, an expert on the real estate market, explains: “More and more buyers are paying attention not only to the fact of having a photovoltaic installation, but also to its technical condition and guarantees. A system with a proven track record of performance and a solid warranty can increase the value of a home by up to 5-7%.”

It is also worth mentioning the practical aspect. “In the previous house I had a standard photovoltaic installation,” says Krzysztof, another user of the eFence system. “When performance issues arose, I spent several months exchanging emails with the manufacturer. With eFence it is different - the system itself detected a slight drop in power in one module, and the service replaced it the next day. No stress, no formalities.”

This simplicity of warranty service is no accident. Electrotile has deliberately designed the entire process to be as user-friendly as possible. You don't have to be an expert in photovoltaics or keep detailed documentation. The monitoring system automatically collects all the necessary data and initiates service activities when they are needed.

“It's like the difference between an old car and a new car,” compares Marek, an Electrotile service engineer. “In an old car, you have to notice the problem yourself and prove that it is the fault of the manufacturer. In the new, the diagnostic computer detects a fault before it affects the operation of the vehicle, and the service itself contacts the owner.”

Looking at the long term, the eFence system's power guarantee is not only investment protection, but also real psychological comfort. You don't have to worry about falling performance or complicated complaint procedures. You can simply enjoy the savings that your own solar power plant gives you.

“After two years of using the eFence system, I can say one thing,” concludes Tomasz. “This is not just a guarantee on paper. It's a complete system that really makes sure my investment works the way it should. And for me, as an investor, it's priceless.”

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