Quality assurance testing company Sinovoltaics plans to establish a U.S. office and provide its Zero Risk Solar quality inspection service that uses AI-driven EL analysis to U.S. module buyers.
Common microcracks found by Sinovoltaics
Sinovoltaics developed SELMA (Sinovoltaics EL Mass Analysis). Unlike traditional electro luminescence (EL) quality assurance techniques that test only a small number of modules using sampling, SELMA inspects 100% of purchased modules for microcracks and other cell-inherent defects, providing an unparalleled level of quality assurance. The company’s commitment to defect-free module procurement is strengthened by a quality guarantee underwritten by Munich Re, a global insurance powerhouse.
Under Sinovoltaics’ Zero Risk Solar service backed by Munich Re, PV modules procured by Sinovoltaics’ clients are guaranteed to be defect-free before shipping. If any warranty claim is filed within three years, Sinovoltaics will pay liquidated damages to cover costs, such as de-assembly, manpower, and logistics.
Since 2020, SELMA has been implemented at all the major Tier 1 solar manufacturers. In 2023 alone, Sinovaoltaics said it inspected more than 4 million PV modules. Replacement rates of 1-3% were common at Tier 1 factories, preventing hundreds of thousands of defective PV modules from being shipped.
“100% module inspections is the only way to ensure high performance solar projects,” said Dricus de Rooij, co-founder and CEO of Sinovoltaics. “Our goal is to help solar manufacturers to deliver — and for solar developers to receive — the highest quality solar modules. It doesn’t matter if the panel is made in the U.S. or at a facility in Asia. Our objective is that our clients operate high performing projects for more than 40 years.”
Sinovoltaics has audited more than 200 PV module factories, more than 35 energy storage and inverter manufacturing facilities, and inspected more than 18 GW of solar and storage products at factories across 15+ countries for clients from over 45 countries across six continents. The company’s credentials include certification to ISO 17020, ISO 9001, as well as a CQI/IRCA-accredited and SA8000-certified team of auditors, showcasing its commitment to excellence and rigorous quality standards.
News item from Sinovoltaics
