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Featured in Curtailment creeps – 07-08 – 2026

New materials in the frame

Solar cells, encapsulants, glass, backsheets, and virtually every PV module component have seen rapid changes and improvements over the past 10 years. During that time, module frames have seen relatively little innovation and remain a simple piece of formed aluminum. However, quality concerns, supply chain diversification, domestic content rules, and emissions reduction requirements have frame manufacturers eyeing alternative materials. And while aluminum isn’t going away, suppliers of steel and glass composite frames argue these materials come with various advantages.
Domestic content requirements and quality concerns around bigger modules and thinner aluminum frames have module manufacturers in the United States evaluating steel as an alternative. | Photo: Nextpower

Early signs of junction box (JB) failure are often subtle. It may be an infrared signature detected during a commissioning-stage drone flyover, or a technician noting cracking in the JB cover of an otherwise normal looking module. Left unaddressed, one failure may progress to a fire. This is a growing concern. Junction box failures now …

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