Field Inspection for Solar PV systems

In this PV Tech article, Joerg Althaus, Intertek CEA’s Director of Engineering Services and Quality Assurance, warns that racking complexity, corrosion, evolving supply chains, and rising glass breakage risks pose growing challenges to solar PV projects.

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.

Solar modules are growing larger, thinner, and more powerful—but a recurring issue is emerging worldwide: broken glass. According to Intertek CEA’s Joerg Althaus, these cracks often start near the frame or clamps and can spread from a few panels to thousands, without any obvious cause like hail or mishandling.

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.

CEA conducted factory, pre-installation, and post-installation inspections for 1 GW solar PV portfolio in Chile. The goal was to assess module quality and identify defects from manufacturing to installation. The inspections focused on electroluminescence (EL) imaging and visual inspection to detect potential soldering issues, microcracks, and other module degradation mechanisms. A total of 8,520 images were taken.

A solar project developer engaged CEA to investigate widespread glass breakage across multiple PV sites. CEA conducted comprehensive on-site inspections and structural assessments, which pointed to possible issues related to module durability and mounting system compatibility.

This case study explores a thermal event inspection carried out by Clean Energy Associates (CEA) at a rooftop solar PV installation. CEA found the access to the roof was unsecured that allowed unauthorized cleaning of the site prior to the start of the investigation.

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.

In this webinar hosted by the American Solar Energy Society's PV Technical Division, CEA's Engineering Manager Claire Kearns-McCoy discusses solar PV module quality risks.

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.

Intertek CEA's extensive field research unveils the hidden threats in solar PV modules, emphasizing the critical role of Electroluminescence (EL) testing in detecting unseen damages. Our findings highlight the lifecycle of module defects, the surge in microcracks, and the pivotal importance of visual inspections in identifying issues often missed by other methods.

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.

Uncover the truth about solar rooftop safety. Download Intertek CEA's report, learn common risks, and strategize remediation.