In this PV Magazine article, Jörg Althaus of Intertek CEA and Andreas Fladung of Aerial PV Inspection highlight how electroluminescence (EL) testing — including drone-based approaches — can uncover microcracks, early degradation, and installation-related damage.

In this PV Magazine article, Intertek CEA's engineering experts highlight how overlooked site-specific challenges such as poor soil conditions, flash floods, complex terrain, and extreme wind loading in Southeast Asia can derail solar projects if not addressed early through rigorous engineering and civil due diligence.

Sonnedix, an international renewable energy producer, engaged Clean Energy Associates (CEA) to conduct commissioning inspections for its recently-installed solar projects. The goal of the work was to ensure that their contractor (EPC) followed the agreed scope of work. CEA provided independent verification that all work met stringent quality and safety standards.

As solar deployments continue to grow, so do the risks of module failures, underperformance, and safety hazards—many of which are preventable with the right knowledge. In this Solar Power World webinar, Intertek CEA Senior Engineering Managers Claire Kearns-McCoy and Ankil Sanghvi explain how understanding common pitfalls—from thermal events to electrical failures—can help developers avoid millions in losses.

Claire Kearns-McCoy and Paul Wormser consider the lasting impact of a May 2019 hailstorm that damaged 400,000 solar panels in Texas. 

In this PV Tech article, Ankil Sanghvi, Senior Engineering Manager, looks at the details of inverter architecture that should be investigated to prevent the worst from happening.

In this pv magazine Webinar, Nicholas Hudson, Principal Engineer Engineering Services, and Ankil Sanghvi, Senior Engineering Manager at CEA, shed light on how thermal events and other costly safety issues are often driven by preventable failures.

In this pv magazine Webinar, Nicholas Hudson, Principal Engineer Engineering Services, and Jörg Althaus, Director Engineering and Quality Assurance Services, discuss common issues during production, what the downstream impact of those issues are, and action that can be taken to prevent these risks.

This fourth part of Due Diligence 101 series covers due diligence for buying solar farms, emphasizing analyzing control systems, degradation, shifting equipment, project portfolios, operations, maintenance, and comparing with original design specifications for optimal performance and reliability.

This third article in the Due Diligence 101 series explores how performance modeling is essential for evaluating the expected output and identifying potential issues in an existing solar energy project, providing a basis for informed acquisition decisions.

Successful solar project acquisition depends on evaluating the technology and engineering choices made—modules, inverters, racking systems, and production models. This post dives deep into how these decisions provide insights to corporate renewable energy buyers, ensuring the project's viability and performance.

Explore the essentials of technical due diligence for solar PV systems. This series begins with a focus on site assessments, addressing challenges from foundation types to weather impacts for both ground and rooftop installations.

Going above and beyond can drive up costs when it comes to solar project features such as racking height and module glass strength. But in an ever-warming world, it could take only one extreme weather event to destroy investments. Clean Energy Associates VP - Technology Paul Wormser offers a few tips for developers.

While performing PV module electroluminescence (EL) inspections in the field, a new type of microcrack associated with new module and cell technologies has been spotted. They are known as edge ribbon cracks, and have been seen to grow during shipping and installation. CEA’s Claire Kearns-McCoy and George Touloupas offer a closer look.

A leading private equity fund recently led an investment of over USD $100 million into a PV module manufacturer, supported by technical and market due diligence provided by CEA.

In 2021, Quanta Services, Inc., a Fortune 500 infrastructure solutions firm, was evaluating the potential acquisition of Blattner Holding Company, a renewable energy engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm ranked among the top two solar contractors over the past two years by Solar Power World. Quanta engaged CEA to perform technical and market due diligence on the potential acquisition. 

The benefits of rooftop solar are enormous. However, the risk of fires on rooftop installations is uncomfortably common. A recent study by Clean Energy Associates showed that 90% of inspected rooftops had significant safety and fire risks.

Improper installation and handling procedures can result in significant PV module damage. The combination of EL and visual inspections can provide details about the origins and severity of module damage.