Behind Warranty Claims: An Insurance Perspective on Product & Performance Warranties

Recording of Monday, June 22, 2026 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Language: English | Duration: 10:20 .

Munich Re's Role and Challenges in the Solar Insurance Market

Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer, specializes in performance insurance for green technologies, particularly photovoltaic (PV) systems. The Greentech Solutions team mitigates risks linked to the performance of these technologies, which have seen considerable evolution, especially since 2009 when they began offering performance warranties. The rapid transition from crystalline silicon to dominant thin-film PV technology since 2010 has led to increased market demand for long warranties, sometimes extending up to 30 years, despite limited performance data. Numerous warranty losses have affected companies like Stion and NanoSolar, with the insurance industry adjusting to rising claims related to module failures, such as glass breakage and backsheet cracking, caused by inadequate manufacturing standards. The market is undergoing consolidation, particularly in China, posing threats of further company insolvencies. To maintain reliability, Munich Re performs audits on manufacturers and mandates corrective measures while encouraging buyers to confirm warranty insurance. This proactive approach reflects the insurance sector's evolving landscape and its essential role in supporting sustainable technology adoption.

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Speaker

Julia Moser
Product Lead Photovoltaics
Munich RE
Germany

Talk of session: Solar Power Plants and Storage II: Ensuring Performance - Quality, Reliability and Bankability of Modules and BOS Components in a Competitive Environment

As technology advances rapidly and price pressure increases, ensuring performance throughout the asset's lifecycle is paramount, especially as storage gains importance in new solar plants. From factory audits to field inspections - tailored quality strategies are essential for reducing risk and making operation profitable. This session examines inspection frameworks, technology testing and advanced fault detection in order to enhance reliability and strengthen the bankability and profitability of PV-plus storage projects.

Key topics:

Quality assurance and certification for modules, balance of systems and batteries
Failure modes and degradation risks
Impacts on yield and lifecycle costs
Best practices to secure long-term reliability and bankability

Further Talks of this session: