1 in 5 solar panels are failing—and it’s not because of hail.‍

A quiet reliability crisis is cracking open across the industry, and it starts with glass.

In this eye-opening conversation, Nico Johnson sits down with Tristan Erion-Lorico (Kiwa PVEL) and Dr. Teresa Barnes (NREL) to uncover why glass breakage has become the #1 cause of solar module failure. Backed by PVEL’s latest reliability data, they expose how design shortcuts, material stress, and quality-control lapses are pushing failure rates to an alarming 20%.

"We just reported in the 2025 PV module reliability scorecard that 20% of modules we test suffer glass breakage." – Tristan Erion-Lorico

You’ll learn:

🔹 Why “tempered” glass isn’t always truly tempered
🔹 How glass is allergic to metal, actually
🔹 Why thinner, lighter glass can mean bigger, costlier failures
🔹 What manufacturers, EPCs, and buyers must do now to prevent losses

If you build, buy, or bank on solar panels, this episode could save your next project from shattering—literally.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Tristan Erion-Lorico:

• LinkedIn

Connect with Teresa Barnes:

• LinkedIn

Check out Kiwa PVEL:

• Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Check out National Renewable Energy Laboratory:

• Website | LinkedIn | X | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Upcoming Event:

• PV CellTech USA, 7-8  October, Marriott Waterfront, San Francisco Bay Area, bringing together everyone with an interest in U.S. PV Manufacturing.

https://www.pvtechconferences.com/pv-celltech-usa/

Here is the code for a 20% discount: Nico20

"The thin glass is tempered. It's just that the word tempered means many different things, and some of which are not actually adequate for making a durable module." – Teresa Barnes