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Insights & field notes
Not thought leadership. Practical writing on buying solar equipment from China, pre-shipment inspection, and picking the right product for a real project.
- #solar-pv #buying-guide #datasheets
Reading a solar panel datasheet without falling for the marketing
The front page of a PV module datasheet is a sales brochure. The numbers that decide what you get on a hot roof are on the back. Here's which lines to read and what to put in your quote request.
Read post → - #energy-storage #lifepo4 #off-grid
LiFePO4 vs. lead-acid for off-grid solar in West Africa: the total-cost-of-ownership math
LiFePO4 costs 2-3x more per kWh at the point of purchase and still wins on total cost of ownership for almost every off-grid solar project in West Africa. Here's the math, the exceptions, and the shipping paperwork nobody warns you about.
Read post → - #sourcing #quality-control #solar-pv
'Tier 1' solar panels: what the label actually means, and what to check instead
The BloombergNEF Tier 1 list is widely misunderstood: it measures bankability, not panel quality. Here's what a QC inspector actually checks when sourcing solar modules from China.
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Coming next
- · What actually happens during a Chinese factory inspection (with photos)
- · Sea freight from Shenzhen to Lagos: lead times, incoterms, and paperwork gotchas
- · Sizing a hybrid solar system: grid-tied with battery backup for unreliable grids
- · How to spot a fake or downgraded lithium battery
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