Inspection Services
Independent Inspection Services
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Mr. John Sedgwick
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VDE Americas inspection services for utility, C&I, and community solar and storage assets ensure quality, compliance, and performance throughout the project lifecycle. 

Our independent inspection services for solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems and battery energy storage systems (BESS) include remote inspections, in-person inspections, and desktop reviews with deliverables that include detailed reports and certificates. Our comprehensive suite of products and services caters to a wide range of stakeholders, including project developers, owners, operators, financiers, insurers, reinsurers, equipment suppliers, and manufacturers. Our standard services include:

Independent inspection services for solar and energy storage

Start of construction verification

IRS Notice 2025-42 compliance verification with tax counsel coordination. Independent verification of IRS beginning of construction requirements per current tax credit guidance, including Physical Work Test compliance documentation. We coordinate with owners, construction companies, and tax counsels to ensure proper validation of construction activities for tax credit eligibility during the RFP stage and after sufficient construction activities have been completed. Deliverables include a start of construction verification report and certificate useful in support of tax counsel opinions.

Asset sales and acquisitions support

Technical due diligence for asset transactions including pro forma recasting, forward-looking asset performance analysis, and optimization recommendations. Services include asset valuation support, performance modeling, risk assessment, operational improvement identification, and comprehensive technical reports for buyers, sellers, and financing parties.

Construction monitoring

Periodic inspections during installation to verify compliance with design specifications and industry standards, including verification of construction progress for construction loan draws. Remote or on-site inspection options.

Forensic investigations

Expert analysis of equipment failures and performance issues including insurance claim support, warranty claim documentation, and expert witness services.

Performance remediation

Cost/benefit analysis and pro forma evaluation of remediation options. Technical diagnostics to identify underperformance issues using 8D methodology (systematic problem-solving with containment and root cause remediation) to recommend or confirm corrective actions.

Remote or on-site inspection services

Drone-based aerial inspection or on-site inspections.

Solar project hail risk mitigation

VDE Hail Risk Intelligence

VDE Americas' hail risk advisory services inform insurance prices, terms, and conditions; best practices related to site selection, equipment specification, plant construction, and asset operation; and forensic investigations in the wake of catastrophic loss events.

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Texas Hailstorm

Understanding Hail Risk

Hail forms when convective storm updrafts carry water droplets into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere, where they freeze and grow via accretion. According to NOAA, severe hail has a diameter greater than 19 millimeters (0.75 inches).

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RETC Hail

Hail Terminology and Acronyms

Project stakeholders can limit catastrophic loss events with better technical literacy, due diligence, and risk mitigation practices. The following is a partial list of key terminology (with acronyms, where applicable) related to VDE Americas’ hail risk advisory products and services.

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Freezer Iceball