Anomaly Identified During Inspection of 1 GW Solar Project
SUMMARY
CEA conducted factory, pre-installation, and post-installation inspections for 1 GW solar PV project in Chile. The goal was to assess module quality and identify defects from manufacturing to installation. The inspections focused on electroluminescence (EL) imaging and visual analysis to detect potential soldering issues, microcracks, and module degradation. A total of 8,520 modules were tested.
“CEA’s investigation and diligence prevented the client from taking unnecessary and costly measures.”
RESULTS
During post-installation inspections, CEA identified a cell anomaly that hadn’t been present during factory inspections or post-shipment checks before installation, raising concerns about potential performance impacts.
CEA advocated for further investigation, including laboratory testing, to ensure full clarity of the issue and prevent any disputes over production output or legal concerns.
Testing confirmed that the anomaly was not a permanent defect, but rather an oxidation process that naturally reabsorbs with sun exposure. As a result, it did not affect module performance and was deemed self-correcting over time.
