Can Photovoltaic Panels with Broken Glass Be Used? Risks, Data, and Repair Solutions

You know, solar panels were supposed to last 25+ years. But in 2024, something strange happened – utility-scale projects started reporting 2%-5% spontaneous glass breakage rates in crystalline silicon panels . That's 6MW of damaged modules in a single 300MW plant! Wait, no... Actually, Teresa Barnes from NREL confirms this isn't your grandma's solar tech failing – it's a systemic industry challenge.