Not content to match a growing number of PV module manufacturers improved warranty guarantees, Bosch Solar Energy has removed clauses related to customer compensation for lost earnings in the event that a module's output is too low, resulting in lower customer costs and administration related to claims. Inline with some of its competitors, Bosch Solar has also improved the product quality guarantee from 5 years to 10 years and offers a 25-year performance warranty for modules that were delivered before July 2011. The new warranties apply from July 2011 onwards.
“Bosch solar modules are developed, tested and manufactured with great care. They are subjected to Bosch Quality Assurance's stringent controls,” commented Peter Schneidewind, head of sales, Bosch Solar Energy. “In this way, we can ensure the high quality of our modules and offer our customers better warranty conditions. And they apply worldwide.”
Bosch Solar said that for all future warranty claims, it would replace the module with a correctly working model of the same type or possibly eliminate the fault.
Alternatively, lost earnings would be compensated, with Bosch providing an alternative in the event that the module type is no longer produced.
Other important changes introduced include dropping the need for the customer to obtain a measurement report by an accredited expert or an institution before a claim would processed.
Furthermore, Bosch Solar has dropped the clause requiring the customer to bear the cost of transport and installation of a replacement module(s).
The view of Bosch Solar for the changes is based on their view that customers have calculated the earnings to be expected from a PV system installation in advance of the purchase and expect a close correlation between correct calculations and actual earnings.
