Sinovoltaics Enters U.S. Market with Zero Risk Solar Quality Assurance Backed by Munich Re

San Diego, California – January 16, 2024 - Sinovoltaics, a global leader in quality assurance for the Solar photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) industries, is expanding into the United States and establishing offices.

Fueled by the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) solar and energy storage manufacturing boom, the company aims to revolutionize solar module quality assurance with its groundbreaking Zero Risk Solar® quality inspection service that uses AI-driven Electroluminescence (EL) analysis to review every module and guarantee that orders are 100 percent free of malign micro-cracks and other defects before shipping.

Sinovoltaics is expanding into the U.S. when Asian solar module prices are decreasing. At the same time, solar PV and BESS manufacturers are building new factories to capture IRA incentives and stay competitive. These market conditions are compelling global manufacturers to become more efficient and reduce costs, raising investor concerns about maintaining quality standards.

To mitigate these global investor risks, Sinovoltaics has developed SELMA (Sinovoltaics EL Mass Analysis). Unlike traditional electroluminescence (EL) quality assurance techniques that test only a small number of modules using sampling, SELMA inspects 100 percent 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 the solar industry’s first 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, more than 4 million PV modules were inspected. Replacement rates of 1-3% were common at Tier 1 factories, preventing hundreds of thousands of defective PV modules from being shipped.

"100 percent 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. That’s why Sinovoltaics inspects 100 percent of PV modules and does not rely on sampling methods. Every module is inspected by SELMA and replaced, if necessary before their clients’ orders leave the factory.

“It doesn’t matter if the panel is made in the U.S. or at a facility in Asia, de Rooij added. “Our objective is that our clients operate high-performing projects for more than 40 years. In the event that a warranty claim occurs on-site, we have skin in the game to compensate our clients through our insurance partner, Munich Re.”

Sinovoltaics’ success is based on its experience auditing more than 200 solar photovoltaic module factories, more than 35 energy storage and inverter manufacturing facilities, and inspecting more than 18 gigawatts of solar and storage products at factories across 15+ countries for clients from over 45 countries across 6 continents.

The company's credentials include certification to ISO 17020, and ISO 9001, as well as a CQI/IRCA-accredited and SA8000-certified team of auditors, showcasing its commitment to excellence and rigorous quality standards.

About Sinovoltaics

Since 2009, Sinovoltaics, a Dutch-German solar photovoltaic and BESS technical compliance and quality assurance service firm has been a pioneer in the Solar photovoltaic and BESS industries. With our SELMA software and industry-leading Zero Risk Solar® guarantee, our mission is to eliminate all photovoltaic & BESS product defects, enabling investors and the world to succeed with minimal investment risks.

The company maintains a global presence with offices in Switzerland, the United States, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Vietnam, and Spain, as well as factory inspection and audit teams strategically located in Vietnam, Turkey, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Cambodia, South Korea, India, U.S.A., and other key manufacturing bases.

Sinovoltaics’ services include quality assurance inspections, factory audits, ESG, and traceability audits for utility solar developers and investors. Since its founding, the company has audited over photovoltaic and BESS 280 factories and inspected more than 18 gigawatts of solar and storage products for IPPs, utility companies, EPCs, financial institutions, project developers, and other industry stakeholders from over 45 countries.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Tor Valenza
tor@sinovoltaics.com