Clean Energy Associates (CEA)

📢 Read our new report on the most common issues we see in PV module factories 📢 Quality problems in PV module factories can lead to performance and safety risks in the field, ultimately affecting the success and profitability of a solar project. In the past 8 years, CEA has conducted over 70,000 quality inspections in 300+ PV module factories. Our new in-depth report summarizes all of our inspection results from 2020-2024. Our findings reveal that PV module projects face more quality challenges than buyers may expect, which can significantly impact a project's bottom line. Our key findings include: ⚠️ Nearly 60% of factories received a high-risk quality rating or worse ⚠️ New production lines presented significantly higher risks ⚠️ The most critical problems were concentrated in the early stages of production Ready to dive in to the details? 💡 Find the full report in the comments 👇

Prices are plummeting in the rapidly evolving solar and energy storage markets. However, it’s essential not to be lured solely by low costs without considering quality.    At CEA, we’ve witnessed how prioritizing prices can lead to significant challenges. Our Vice President of Marketing, Jake Edie, recently wrote an article featured in Solar Power World highlighting critical red flags for buyers.    Ensuring supplier quality assurance is crucial, and it's essential to insist on third-party quality assurance oversight, as suppliers who resist this may compromise product quality. Factory consistency is also vital; new factories can face initial hurdles, so it's better to opt for established facilities to avoid defects and shipping delays.     When it comes to warranty terms, beware of vague or inflexible conditions, as a straightforward warranty process can prevent future headaches. Integration challenges, including warranties and performance guarantees, should be understood thoroughly since multiple independent warranties can be confusing. Finally, a well-defined bill of materials (BOM) is necessary to maintain consistent performance.    Remember, while low prices are enticing, maintaining high standards in supplier selection, product quality, and installation is paramount. Check the comments below for a link to the full article. 🔗⬇️    #SolarPower #EnergyStorage #QualityAssurance #SupplyChain #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #CleanEnergyAssociates  

China continues to lead in the rapidly evolving world of battery storage, supplying 81% of the global lithium battery market and significantly impacting global prices. According to a recent Goldman Sachs report, China’s excess capacity has driven lithium battery prices down by 45% in the first quarter of 2024.    Daniel Finn-Foley, Director of Energy Storage at Clean Energy Associates, offers a balanced perspective in a recent interview with Latitude Media.    Dan highlights that manufacturers will adjust their production, creating opportunities for supply and demand to meet in the middle. The Goldman Sachs report also predicts a recovery starting in 2024, with a rebalancing of supply and demand and a deceleration of Chinese supply through 2028.    Moreover, U.S. tariffs and incentives are crucial. Increased tariffs on lithium-ion batteries and significant investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Defense Production Act are expected to boost domestic manufacturing capacity.    Dan notes that these strategic measures could help the U.S. market become more competitive with Chinese cells within the next two years.    As we navigate these market dynamics, it’s clear that strategic adjustments and supportive policies will be vital in fostering a resilient and competitive battery sector in the U.S.    To read the full article, click the first link in the comments.    #BatteryStorage #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #LithiumBatteries #MarketInsights #Sustainability

New advancements in the solar industry can come with their own set of challenges. Our findings reveal a 47% increase in microcracks in solar modules in the field a year ago. 📈 The current supply chain challenges have led many module buyers to opt for new and inexperienced suppliers, resulting in heightened quality issues. Microcracks, often originating during the manufacturing process, are exacerbated during shipping, handling, and storage. Poor installation procedures and incidents like mishandling can further contribute to these defects, with glass-glass technology seeing a notable rise in glass breakage. If left unaddressed, microcracks can compromise the efficiency of solar modules over time. They can isolate parts of a cell, leading to performance issues, module hotspots, and underperformance. With extreme weather events rising, the risk of module damage has become more pronounced. Rigorous quality control measures, supplier vetting, and standardized installation procedures are crucial to identifying and mitigating these risks. Please find the link to our full report in the comments 👇 #SolarPower #PV #ELtesting #CleanEnergyAssociates

In a recent report, our inspection data revealed that 26% of inspected Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units had issues with their fire suppression systems.    Some of the examples of the issues we saw within the fire suppression systems are:  Non-responding release actuator for the fire extinguishing agent ❌  The fire alarm abort button was not functional 🚨  Non-responding smoke & temperature sensors 🌡️    The report is filled with other insightful information which we’ve collected following extensive factory quality audits on over 30 GWh of energy storage projects over the past six years.    To access the complete report, click the link in our comments section.    #BESS #QualityRisks #CaseStudies #EnergyStorage #FireSafety #CleanEnergyAssociates 

Join us tomorrow for an engaging pv magazine Global webinar, where our industry experts will tackle performance and safety concerns in PV module manufacturing. ⚡    Our webinar will explore the practical aspects of performance and safety issues arising from common faults in PV module manufacturing. We will discuss the steps that can be taken to prevent these issues, as problems that emerge in factories can compromise module efficiency and pose safety risks later.    Based on our latest inspection data, CEA experts – George Touloupas, Jörg Althaus, and Cara Zhu – will present findings on the most common issues in PV manufacturing factories. With experience helping clients on over 250 GW of PV projects, we have a wealth of data to draw upon and inform conclusions. 🔍    We will showcase case studies highlighting common quality issues and defects, along with their typical root causes. We will also discuss steps to prevent these issues. Additionally, we will review the most recent laboratory testing results conducted as part of our quality assurance efforts. 🏭    Register now by clicking the first link in the comments! ⬇️     #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #QualityAssurance #CleanEnergyAssociates #Webinar #PVModules #ManufacturingQuality #SafetyAndPerformance

Nothing helps to paint a clearer picture of the importance of spotting errors during the design phase, like a case study.   In the example below, we see a case where drawing sets could have been more precise, and the lack of clarity resulted in the team using the wrong conduits. If this were discovered right from the design phase, the cost would be around $2000. However, because the issue was spotted late in the process, it costs hundreds of thousands more to rectify it.   This underscores that while due diligence comes at a price, it is worth it.   Our Engineering Services team is made up of experts who exercise proper due diligence. Click the first link in the comments to learn more about our Engineering Services.     #CleanEnergyAssociates #SafetyAudits #DueDiligence #ThermalEvents #PVSystems #Webinar #SafetyConcerns  

On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued the Preliminary Determination in its countervailing duty (CVD) investigation against PV cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This included both preliminary CVD rates on all four countries, and a finding of critical circumstances for some but not all companies exporting from Thailand and Vietnam. CEA has developed a briefing and analysis of the preliminary determination rates and critical circumstances. Read our full update and analysis using the link in the comments. ⬇️

As demand for PV modules rises, manufacturers face increasing challenges. New suppliers, rapid adoption of advanced technologies, and competitive pressures can lead to more defects and operational issues.   Our upcoming pv magazine Global webinar on Wednesday, October 9th, will address the most common issues observed in PV module factories. 🛠️   Our experts – George Touloupas, Jörg Althaus, and Cara Zhu will discuss: 💡 Common faults and preventative measures in PV module production 🔧 Insights from over 70,000+ PV module factory quality inspections 🧪 Latest results from laboratory testing performed as part of CEA’s quality assurance work 🔥 How to avoid quality pitfalls compromising your project’s safety and efficiency!   They’ll dive into real case studies from the factory floor and discuss the steps to prevent recurring issues. ⬇️   Register now by clicking the first link in the comments!   #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #QualityAssurance #CleanEnergyAssociates

One key takeaway from our Q3 PV Supply, Technology, and Policy Report is that China remains a major cell source despite 3x non-China cell growth by 2028.   🔋 Cell Capacity: One of the fastest-growing production nodes; Many suppliers prefer greenfield n-type cell expansions over maintaining fleet size and upgrading PERC capacity bases to TOPCon-capable facilities.   🌍 Module Supply: Relatively diverse; Regions like India and the Middle East can rely on cell imports from China while domestic cell supplies come online.   Our PV Supply, Technology, and Policy Report (STPR) is published quarterly and covers: 🌍 Global and regional supply chain analysis 🔧 Technology trends 📜 Regional policy analysis   This quarter’s focus includes CEA’s policy and supply analysis in China, Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and India. Technology trends continue to cover TOPCon and HJT degradation.   Explore the free report sample by clicking the link in our comment section ⬇️ 🔗   #PVSupply #CleanEnergyAssociates #PolicyAnalysis #RenewableEnergy #GreenEnergy #Q3Insights