Clean Energy Associates (CEA)

At CEA, we are committed to supporting the highest quality standards for installations of solar energy systems. We’re thrilled to see Enpal reference our thought leadership to write an impressive whitepaper on residential PV safety. Well done! ???Access the Enpal whitepaper here:?https://lnkd.in/dneAVq8m Read CEA's report on the top rooftop solar safety risks: https://lnkd.in/g5iKFwkm

One insight from our latest PV Price Forecasting Report (PFR) is that?U.S.-made module pricing is expected to rise in 2025?due to AD/CVD uncertainty. However, prices will decline in 2026 as module availability overshoots U.S. installation demands. ? ?? U.S. module manufacturing capacity is on track to reach nearly 55 GW by 2025, compared to 2024/2025 U.S. PV installation expectations of around 40 GW. ?? Most current module manufacturing relies on imported cells, many of which carry duty implications. ?? Scarcity of U.S. cell capacity, with much of the upcoming capacity already captured in long-term offtake agreements from 2022 and 2023, maintains a significant premium for U.S.-made cells. ?? Competition in the module manufacturing segment will drive down non-domestic content-supporting product pricing. Domestic content-supporting modules will also see price reductions as cell capacity ramps and pricing trends align with U.S. modules’ average market clearing price. ? Published quarterly by our research team, our PV PFR uses a specially developed modelling system to provide independent market intelligence on global supply chain changes. It offers accurate forecasts for supply price scenarios based on technologies, materials, manufacturing regions, and target markets, as well as supply and demand forecasts and analysis. ? Explore the free report sample by clicking the link in our comment section????? ? #EnergyStorage #RenewableEnergy #BESS #ChinaEnergyMarket #CleanEnergy #ESSReport

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. ? Over the past eight years, CEA has conducted over 70,000 quality inspections in 300+ PV module factories. Our new in-depth report summarizes all our inspection results from 2020 to 2024. ? The Pre-Shipment Inspection section of the report highlights key findings: ?? The most common defects were associated with the cell string ??? Electroluminescence (EL) testing revealed major issues often missed by visual inspection. ???Top EL Defects:?Cold soldering, grid breaks, microcracks, and scratched cells. ? Our findings show that PV module projects face more quality challenges than buyers may expect, significantly impacting their profitability. ? Click the first link in the comments section to read our new report on the most common issues in PV module factories. ? #SolarEnergy #QualityControl #RenewableEnergy #CleanEnergyAssociates

The May 2019 hailstorm in West Texas, which damaged 400,000 solar panels, has had a lasting impact on the solar industry. High-profile incidents like this have skyrocketed insurance premiums for at-risk projects by up to 400%, with coverage becoming more limited and deductibles rising significantly.? ? Solar projects in hail-prone regions are more vulnerable as the industry moves towards thinner wafers, frames, and larger cells and modules. This has resulted in higher insurance costs and reduced coverage, making it crucial for the industry to find effective mitigation strategies.? ? In a recent pv magazine Global article, Claire Kearns-McCoy, Senior Engineering Manager at CEA, and Paul Wormser, Vice President of Technology at CEA, share:? ? ???Site Selection & Vulnerability Assessment:?Choose project locations carefully and assess their vulnerability to hail.? ???Equipment Selection:?Opt for robust equipment and consider features like “hail stow” that tilt panels to reduce damage.? ???Advanced Testing:?Implement thorough post-storm testing methods such as electroluminescence (EL) testing and infrared scanning to detect damage early.? ???Insurance Preparedness:?Establish comprehensive supply agreements with special module testing and maintain detailed records to support insurance claims.? ? By adopting these strategies, the solar industry can better manage severe weather risks and ensure the resilience of solar projects.? ? Find the full article below.? ? #SolarEnergy #HailDamage #Insurance #CleanEnergyAssociates #RenewableEnergy?

The 2024 U.S. election brings complex, nuanced, uncertain implications for solar and battery storage policies.?Many potential policy changes are on the horizon; some are more likely than others, while some are more consequential than others.? ? Join our experts Christian Roselund and Daniel Finn-Foley tomorrow in a free Solar Media Limited webinar to learn about key considerations for a range of policy outcomes due to the recent U.S. election. They will cover policy details and specific market impacts and provide an overview of mitigation strategies to manage risk.? ? In this webinar, you will learn:? ??Which campaign promises can be acted on as president, and which require cooperation from Congress? ??The clean energy supply chains at greatest risk of tariffs or other trade barriers? ??The current balance of power in the U.S. Congress regarding support for key incentives? ??Potential timing of key policy changes? ? To register for the free webinar, click the first link in the comment section! ???? ? #SolarEnergy #BatteryStorage #CleanEnergyAssociates #EnergyPolicy #2024Elections #SustainableFuture #RenewableEnergy?

According to our latest PV Supplier Market Intelligence Program (PV SMIP) Report, module capacity is expected to reach 1 TW by the end of 2024, but growth is slowing. Capacity in Southeast Asia is stalled due to the ongoing AD/CVD investigation and potential future policy headwinds. Meanwhile, the suppliers followed by CEA made 40 GW of module additions inside the U.S. in the first three quarters of 2024. ? The transition to N-type is continuing to develop, but slowing down in Q3. TOPCon is still leading n-type cell technology; n-XBC is scaling up. This report covers most global cell, module, and non-merchant wafers. It provides a comprehensive and unbiased analysis of the world’s top PV module manufacturers. It offers detailed insights into capacities, technology, and efficiency roadmaps, along with each supplier’s Manufacturing, Capacity, and Technology (MCT) ratings. ? Download a free report sample using the link below. ?? #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #PVMarket #CleanEnergyAssociates #Sustainability #GreenTech #SolarPower

The complexity of solar energy lies in the precision required throughout the manufacturing process. Solar plants need meticulous attention to detail in specifications, manufacturing, transportation, and installation. For instance, a 200 MW solar plant with 600 W modules requires 333,000 modules, each needing precise assembly. Recent advancements in solar technology, such as the shift from large flat wires to thin round wires in solar cells, have reduced costs and improved durability. However, this change has increased the precision needed in manufacturing. Misalignments can lead to “cold solder joints”, where the wire is not fully attached to the cell. Our module factory pre-shipment inspections found that cold soldering is now the most common electroluminescence (EL) ?defect in solar modules, surpassing microcracks. ? In a new PV Tech article, CEA’s Paul Wormser and Jake Edie share their insights on the challenge of cold soldering. ? ???Read the full article in the first link in the comments section to learn more about cold soldering in modules and how to mitigate this risk. ? #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #PVModules #QualityControl #SolarTechnology #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #EnergyStorage #SolarPower

When a fire breaks out at a solar power plant, the consequences can be devastating—not just for the facility but also for the surrounding environment and local communities. Recent high-profile incidents underscore the urgent need to understand and mitigate these risks. ? While many of these fires can be traced back to poor installation practices, we have found deeper issues at play in our deep dives on behalf of customers in the wake of thermal events. ? For example, the inverter helps prevent fires in solar systems but can also cause them if not properly specified. In a recent PV Tech article, Clean Energy Associates’ Ankil Sanghvi looks at the details of inverter architecture that should be investigated to prevent the worst from happening. ? ???Read the full article in the first link in the comments section. ? #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #FireSafety #InverterTechnology #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #EnergyStorage #SolarPower #PVTech #CleanEnergyAssociates

Choosing the right partners and suppliers for your Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project is about more than just price; technology and long-term support must align with your needs and risk appetite. ? In a recent article in pv magazine Global, our senior manager for energy storage,?Jeff Zwijack, shared some key factors to consider when selecting the best suppliers. ? ???Supply-Chain Reliability & Warranty Coverage: Prioritize long-term performance and partnership over short-term gains. ?????US Projects: Be aware of the cost differences and legislative impacts on US-sourced vs. Chinese battery cells. Upcoming tariffs and incentives are closing the price gap. ???Request for Proposal (RFP): Be specific in your RFPs to avoid warranty issues. Detail the battery's depth of discharge, power levels, rest periods, and state of charge requirements. ??Quality Assurance: Your supply agreements should include provisions for quality assurance systems. To maintain high standards, ensure third-party inspections, including factory audits, inline production monitoring and pre-shipment inspections. ? Think of your supplier as a long-term partner. Align on requirements, usage plans, and support needs to ensure your BESS project operates successfully throughout its lifespan – Check out the full article below! ?? ? #EnergyStorage #BatteryTechnology #RenewableEnergy #SustainableSolutions #CleanEnergyAssociates

While the final votes are still getting counted, it is already clear that the U.S. election last week will have important impacts on solar and energy storage markets.?The election of Donald Trump, a Republican Senate, and a likely Republican House will mean significant change, but this is not always likely to play out in the ways that a casual observer might think. There are areas that many are concerned about that CEA’s analysis indicates are less likely to be impacted, while other areas are getting less attention but may end up being more influential on the industry. Nobody knows how the complex process of policy-making will play out between the Trump Administration and Congress, what will pass into law, what will be challenged in the courts, or where administrative rulemaking processes may slow down or prevent some rules from going into effect.?In short, everybody is dealing with a lot of uncertainty right now. To prepare to manage that uncertainty, for the past several months our Market Intelligence team has been working on scenarios for a range of election outcomes. Now that the broad contours of the election results are clear, we are ready to provide detailed, specific, and customized guidance on how a range of potential future policy changes will impact your specific business and projects, and how to mitigate specific risks. Our?Post-Election Executive Business Review (EBR)?is now available. This is an interactive 90-minute session, tailored to your business, where we will share detailed analysis and insights on key policy scenarios affecting ITC/PTC, IRA manufacturing tax credits, Domestic Content Bonus, UFLPA enforcement, tariffs, pricing and more. Learn more about our Post-Election EBR: https://lnkd.in/gnaxqsVg