| David R. Baker, San Francisco Chronicle. Relevant to GSS Energy Use, chapter 10. Excerpt:  A worldwide glut of solar panels has slashed prices and made the technology affordable to more people than ever before. But that glut could be prompting some panel manufacturers to cut corners. SolarBuyer, a company that audits solar factories, has found defect rates averaging about 8 percent among panels that have not yet been shipped to customers. With some manufacturers, the defect rate has topped 20 percent. That eye-popping number is an exception, not the rule. But faulty panels are a concern for the solar industry. The number of panels being installed around the world is surging, jumping 44 percent in the United States during this year's third quarter. …A typical 3.5-kilowatt solar system costs about $23,800, which includes panels and installation. … Companies typically offer 25-year warranties…. Read the full article: http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Troubling-solar-panel-defect-rate-seen-4140805.php