HelioVolta launched the most important publicly accessible benchmark of U.S. photo voltaic contractors primarily based on impartial discipline inspections in its annual SolarGrade PV Health Report. The report discovered practically 70% of the EPCs evaluated didn’t meet HelioVolta’s high quality requirements.
The findings are sourced from third-party information from 5 GW of photo voltaic belongings in over 1,000 tasks constructed by practically 120 subcontractors and 70 EPCs.
Unplanned, unbudgeted corrective upkeep is an estimated six-times extra more likely to happen of their tasks if workmanship errors aren’t remediated. The report is well timed, as U.S. builders face expiring federal incentives for photo voltaic belongings: in 2027, the tax credit that backstop preliminary revenues when tasks miss vitality manufacturing targets will largely disappear.
“Because the period of assured income ends for the American photo voltaic market, the period of restricted oversight should finish with it,” stated David Penalva, CEO of HelioVolta. “Sooner or later, when tasks are valued on their lifetime vitality yield alone, widespread development defects which might be ignored immediately would be the hallmarks of unprofitable portfolios.”
The report underscores that contractor expertise, measurement and geographic attain aren’t dependable predictors of high quality. As a substitute, clear development requirements, third-party inspections and proactive communication between stakeholders ship the very best outcomes. EPCs that participated in third-party high quality applications demonstrated a 48% discount in points per MW over time, validating that measurable high quality enhancements are achievable when they’re prioritized.
“Truck rolls skyrocket and income plummet when development high quality is an afterthought,” stated Amanda Bybee, CEO of Amicus O&M Cooperative. “The cliché is true: an oz of prevention is value a pound of remedy. If asset house owners wish to hit income targets, tasks have to be constructed proper the primary time. At present’s O&M budgets can not cowl intensive remediation.”
The key findings embody:
- 85% of tasks analyzed for the report contained main points that require pressing corrective motion, whereas 7% of tasks had important points that triggered speedy de-energization (partial or complete) and same-day remediation.
- HelioVolta noticed wiring- and connector-related points in 80% and 83% of tasks respectively: the three% enchancment in connector problem charges for the reason that 2024 SolarGrade PV Well being Report suggests elevated adoption of set up greatest practices for these elements.
“Frankly, our findings are profoundly disappointing. As photo voltaic advocates, our group is pained to report that the majority tasks we examine will underperform and even fail if our findings go unaddressed,” stated James Nagel, COO of HelioVolta. “We’re publishing our evaluation to drive the trade to larger high quality requirements. One of the best EPCs in our dataset show we will do higher.”
HelioVolta developed the report utilizing the HelioVolta High quality Commonplace (HQS), a proprietary methodology that categorizes contractor efficiency by problem severity and frequency. HelioVolta’s discipline engineers use SolarGrade software program to doc inspections and standardize observations throughout areas, contractors and system varieties.
HelioVolta can even current findings from the SolarGrade PV Well being Report in a webinar on October 2nd at 1 p.m. ET.
Information merchandise from HelioVolta
