STS

Following up on our discussion on the evolution of #cell #technology and #wafer #thickness last week, today we’re exploring #panel #frame and #glass trends in #solar #PVmodules, based on STS data from 2016 to 2024. #Suppliers are continuing to shave #costs by using thinner #panel #frames -even for #largemodules. In parallel, a 2.0mm #glass-glass configuration has become the industry norm, with 2.5mm #frontglass sometimes used for #hail-prone regions. 💡 Risks and #Recommendations: ➡️ The actual impact of thinner #frames is still unknown, but lower mechanical strength is a potential risk. ➡️ Including a #MechanicalStress Sequence in your #qualification program can help identify potential issues early. ➡️ For #hail-prone sites, 2.0mm #glass should withstand 25mm hail #tests, while 2.5mm #glass is better suited for 35mm #hail #tests. These trends underscore the importance of a rigorous #qualification and #inspection process to ensure #module #durability and #performance. This post concludes our series on market and technology trends in #solar #PVmodules derived from STS data (2016-2024). Stay tuned for more #insights from our #data-driven approach to supporting your #solar #investments. If you have questions about mitigating #risk in your #PVmodule #procurement, reach out to us - we’re here to help!   Wishing you in advance a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year ahead!

We’re back from #Energaïa2024 and would like to share some key insights from the exhibition, presented by Soukaina ISMAILI ALAOUI. Our conversations with industry peers highlighted trends and challenges shaping the #solar and #energy storage sectors: 💡 - French #Solar Market: The French solar market is growing rapidly, fueled by strong government support and increasing demand for clean energy. This growth is driving more investments and innovations in solar technologies. STS has been successfully supporting this thriving industry, providing insights to the stakeholders in #quality, #ESG, and #traceability. Collaboration and innovation remain central to driving progress. 💡 - #ESG and #Agrivoltaics #Environmental, #Social, and #Governance topics are shaping corporate strategies. Businesses are increasingly adopting initiatives to align with #sustainability goals specifically in #Agrivoltaics within the regulatory framework of the French #Decree 2024-318, published on April 8, 2024. STS offers tailored #solutions to ensure #compliance and optimize project outcomes. 💡 - #BESS #QAQC Developers are showing strong interest in #qualityassurance for #BatteryEnergyStorageSystems. With over 10 GWh of #inspection experience, STS delivers key insights into the #manufacturing landscape. 💡 - #HJT vs #Backcontact Technologies Developers are actively exploring these advanced #solar technologies. STS is at the forefront, providing expertise in #technologies and #qualityassurance to help mitigate #risks associated with the adoption of these #innovations. Thank you to everyone who connected with Soukaina ISMAILI ALAOUI and Aymane Azzaoui at the event. Let’s keep the conversation going and build a sustainable energy future together! 🌍 #Solar #Sustainability #EnergyStorage #QualityAssurance #RiskMitigation #Renewables #PV

💡 Key Takeaways from #SustainableSolarEurope 2024 shared by our colleague Dr. Stefano N. Granata: ➡️ Public #Procurement: The resilience criterion in Article 25 of the NZIA aims to diversify the #PV #supplychain and boost #EU #manufacturing. However, reducing #production costs in #Europe remains crucial for greater adoption of #EU-made #modules. ➡️ #CarbonFootprint: Driven by investor demand, public sentiment, and new regulations, #PV #equipment #manufacturers are pursuing diverse strategies to achieve #carbonneutrality in the short term and #net-zero targets in the mid-term. ➡️ #Traceability & #ESG: There’s a clear call for #standardized criteria to #trace #PVcomponent #supplychains. Multi-stakeholder efforts are paving the way toward unified standards—progress is ongoing, but we’re moving in the right direction. At STS, we are commited to driving #sustainability progress by deploying pertinent #solutions that address buyers’ #challenges and mitigate investment #risks in the #solar industry, supporting clients across 30+ countries. By collaborating with industry peers, we work toward building a more #sustainable future. Thanks to SolarPower Europe, for an excellent event fostering these essential discussions! #Solar #Sustainability #ESG #SupplyChain #PVModules #RenewableEnergy #NetZero #PublicProcurement

Following up on our discussion on the evolution of #cell #technology last week, today we’re looking at the evolution of #wafer and #cell #thickness in #solar #PVmodules, as observed through STS data from 2016 to 2024 and our projections for 2025. As #TOPCon #cell #technology becomes increasingly dominant, thinner #wafers are being adopted due to their ability to boost #electricity generation and reduce #manufacturing #costs. However, this trend introduces potential risks⚠️: Thinner #wafers are more prone to #cracking and may exhibit lower #mechanical strength. This could impact #moduledurability, especially under field conditions. ✅Recommendations for #RiskMitigation: ➡️Robust Bill of Materials (#BoM): Ensure that the #BoM includes #components that shield thinner #cells from mechanical stress. This can be verified during a #Product #ConformityAssessment. ➡️#Electroluminescence (#EL) #Inspection: Define strict #EL acceptance criteria during #contractnegotiation and enforce these during Pre-#Shipment #Inspections to catch micro-cracks or #defects early. Engaging #independent expert #inspectors to oversee these processes can significantly reduce risk and help maintain the #performance of your #solar #PV investments.   Stay tuned as we continue to explore trends in #panelframes and #glasstechnologies. These advancements are crucial for optimizing #module #performance. If you have questions about how STS can support your #moduleprocurement strategy, feel free to reach out, we’re here to help! #PVModules #SolarCells #TOPCon #QualityAssurance #ConformityAssessment #RiskMitigation #BillOfMaterials

Our Technical Advisor, Dr. Stefano N. Granata, will attend the #SustainableSolarEurope Conference tomorrow, December 12, 2024, at Event Lounge Brussels, Belgium. This event brings together industry leaders to tackle key challenges and innovations in #sustainable #solar #procurement. We look forward to the discussions on key topics such as how public #procurement practices are driving #PV #sustainability and #resilience to meet end-user expectations, best practices for reducing the #carbonfootprint of #PVmodules across the #supplychain, and strategies for achieving #supplychain #transparency through initiatives like the #SolarStewardshipInitiative (#SSI). STS is committed to supporting #solar #PV #buyers in navigating these challenges and ensuring #sustainability and #traceability in their projects. Let's connect onsite! Reach out to meet Stefano N. Granata and discuss how we can help you achieve your #sustainability and #supplychain #transparency goals. 🔗 More about the event here: https://lnkd.in/gCrGEnyQ #PVSustainability #SolarProcurement #PVModules #SolarSupplyChain #PVTraceability

We are glad to share that our team Soukaina ISMAILI ALAOUI, Héctor Rodríguez, Aymane Azzaoui will be participating in #Energaïa2024, the #renewableenergy forum on December 11-12, 2024, in Montpellier, France, where key #renewableenergy topics, including #solar innovations, project development, and #sustainability, will be in the spotlight. Connect with us to learn how STS’ technical and #advisory expertise can help you ensure #quality and mitigate risks in your #solar #PV projects in this ever-changing #solar #supplychain landscape. #Energaïa2024 #RenewableEnergy #SolarEnergy #Sustainability #QualityAssurance

Building on our recent discussion about #module sizes and rectangular #cells, today we focus on evolution of #cell technology we witnessed on STS data from 2016 to 2024 and our projections for 2025. Looking ahead to next year, the market dynamics for #cell #technologies are becoming increasingly clear 💡 : ➡️ #PERC technology: Its prominence will continue to decline. ➡️ #TOPCon technology: Expected to maintain a dominant position. ➡️ #HJT technology: Anticipated to expand its market share. ➡️ #IBC technology: Large-scale adoption remains unlikely in the short term due to high production costs. ➡️ Silcon / #Perovskite tandem technology: Offers exciting potential for substantial efficiency gains but remains several years from commercialization. While #TOPCon #modules are gaining popularity globally, their relative novelty introduces #risks, including unknown #degradation mechanisms, which could lead to unanticipated #underperformance compared to the well-established #PERC technology. To mitigate these risks and enhance the success of your #solar #PV projects, we recommend adopting a robust #qualification process, focusing on 💡 : ➡️ #SupplyChain #Assurance Conduct comprehensive evaluations of #suppliers' #manufacturing processes, materials, and #qualitycontrol systems  to ensure compliance with industry standards and consistent #production of high-quality #modules. ➡️ Advanced #Testing Protocols Implement rigorous testing procedures, such as: #PID (Potential-Induced Degradation) #UVID (UV Light-Induced Degradation) #DampHeat Testing These #tests help identify potential #defects early and confirm the #modules' resilience to long-term operational and environmental stresses. Engaging experienced #advisors ensures thorough #oversight of both #supplychain processes and #testing. This proactive approach identifies potential issues and #mitigates #risks throughout your project lifecycle. Stay tuned for further updates as we explore additional trends in #module components, including #waferthickness, #panelframes, and #glasstechnologies. These advancements are critical for #utility-scale #solar projects. If you’d like to discuss how these insights can benefit your next project or learn how STS can support your #moduleprocurement strategy, please don’t hesitate to reach out. #SolarModules #PVTrends #QualityAssurance

What an engaging two days at the #PVModuleTech Europe Conference 2024 in Málaga! 🌞 The energy and insights shared among industry peers truly highlight the dynamic yet complex challenges shaping the European #solar #supplychain. During the Special Debate on Day Two: Structuring the Perfect 1 GW Framework Module Supply Agreement for 2025, we represented the role of an independent third-party #auditor, contributing to a vibrant discussion on structuring risk-mitigated #supply agreements. Our Technical Advisor, Dr. Stefano N. Granata, brought valuable perspectives on: 💡- R&D checks to ensure #module #innovations are field-ready. 💡- The importance of a robust #BOM/CDF in defining #material specifications, #performance requirements, and #quality standards to ensure the product meets project needs. 💡- Leveraging reference #modules to verify adherence to specified #standards and ensure the reliability of the products. 💡- Proactively addressing #risks during the #contracting stage to safeguard project outcomes from #production through deployment. A big thank-you to the other panelists for their insightful contributions from their roles as #buyers and #sellers, which really helped to ground the discussion and make it more practical. Beyond the debate, the conference provided a fantastic platform to exchange views on trending topics in the #European #solar #supplychain. We reconnected with clients and explored how STS can further support #buyers in mitigating #risks across the entire #procurement lifecycle. If you were interested in the insights we presented, or if you'd like to learn how our #solutions can help navigate today’s industry challenges - feel free to reach out! See you all next year in Málaga! #PVModuleTech #SolarEnergy #RiskManagement #Procurement #QualityAssurance #SupplyChain #Sustainability #PVModules

🎉Day 1 of #PVModuleTech Europe 2024 in #Málaga, Spain, wraps up! STS is proud to be part of this impactful event where the future of PV module supply to the European market is being shaped. On Day 1, our Technical Advisor, Dr. Stefano N. Granata, delivered a compelling presentation on Effective #FactoryAuditing through the #ValueChain, highlighting how #buyers can ensure confidence and compliance throughout the #procurement process. 🔍 Key Takeaways from Dr. Stefano N. Granata’s presentation: 1️⃣ Comprehensive #Audit Tools to tackle buyers’ concerns: - #Quality Management System & #Manufacturing Process #Audit: Ensures consistent, standards-aligned #production. - #Traceability Management System #Audit: Validates internal and external #traceability capabilities. - #SupplyChain Mapping: Verifies #traceability claims and maps #suppliers across the chain. - #ESG Management System #Audit: Assesses the #sustainability framework at #manufacturing facilities. 2️⃣ Emerging Audit Trends (From STS Audit Database): - 📈Year-on-year growth in #audits—SCM and #ESG #audits lead the trend, reflecting rising global awareness. - 🌐 #Suppliers are adapting at different speeds to growing #traceability and #ESG demands. 3️⃣ Audits Across the Procurement Lifecycle: - Pre-#contract: #Supplier #assessment for #quality, material #provenance, and #ESG readiness. - Post-#contract: Ensuring #traceability and #ESG requirements are met during #manufacturing. This session emphasized how proactive #duediligence and #auditing safeguard the #quality, #traceability, and #sustainability of #solar projects. ✨ If you couldn’t get enough of Stefano N. Granata’s presentation, 📣 don’t miss Day 2's Special Debate, where STS will represent the third-party #auditor's perspective, sharing further how we help buyers proactively #identify, #assess, and #mitigate risks starting from the contracting phase—long before production begins. We look forward to seeing you again very soon! #PVModuleTech #SolarEnergy #ESG #SupplyChain #Sustainability #QualityAssurance

At STS, we are proud to support #solar and #energystorage #buyers worldwide by providing #pertinent #qualityassurance and #technicaladvisory services. In this #pre-#shipment #inspection, our #inspector is verifying the #performance and integrity of #PV #cells through: - Witnessing #Cell #MaximumPowerDetermination #Testing - Witnessing #Cell #Electroluminescence (EL) #Testing - Witnessing #Cell #Dimension #Testing - Witnessing #Cell #Thickness #Testing   💡Why is this critical? - #MaximumPowerDetermination #Testing ensures that #cells deliver the #energyoutput as described in the #technical datasheet. Deviation from nominal power here can cascade into underperforming #modules and significant #energyyield losses during project #operations. - #EL #Testing detects #microcracks or hidden #defects invisible to the naked eye. Left unchecked, these issues can lead to early #module failures in the field. - #Dimension #Testing confirms precise #cell lateral and longitudinal sizing, vital for uniformity and compatibility during #module assembly. Variations can disrupt #production and compromise #module integrity. - #Thickness #Testing ensures that #cells meet specifications for mechanical stability, reducing the risk of breakage during handling and operation.   With #supplychains evolving rapidly, often spanning multiple geographies, emerging #manufacturers and new #production sites , the need for #independent third-party #inspections on #PVplant #components has never been greater. Protecting your investment starts with ensuring #quality at every step of the #manufacturing process. With STS by your side, you can count on #expert insights to protect your investment by minimizing #risk on your projects and ensuring #quality at every step of the #manufacturing process, including #PV #cells. We would be delighted to explore opportunities to support your #solar and #energystorage projects. #QualityInspection #SolarEnergy #PVModules #SupplyChain #PVCells