energy services

Supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE EERE)’s Solar Energy Technology Office, IBTS’ Field Inspection Technology Quality Management (FIT-QM) photovoltaic (PV) inspection platform tracks data from tens of thousands of solar PV installations across the country, providing the industry with unparalleled regionally specific data on installation quality, failures, and opportunities for optimizing efficiency.

IBTS is engaged with the DOE and NREL in the development of a national quality standard. We provide guidance on best practices in quality assurance as well as real-world data to inform this important effort, which will help facilitate and streamline compliance processes for manufacturers and municipalities alike.

IBTS partnered with IREC and Pathstone Corporation to provide outreach and solution development initiative in Puerto Rico through a grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The effort aims to improve financing and support a robust workforce pipeline to improve Puerto Rico’s adoption of solar and achievement of its 2050 goal of 100% renewables. 

IBTS supported MassCEC’s Solarize Mass Program with technical service support, quality control field inspections, desktop photo review, data analysis, development and delivery of specialized trainings and standards to hundreds of code officials and installers, plan review services, and QM program management, compliance checklists. Our efforts helped improve installations, coordination, inspections, and feedback mechanisms, ensure compliance, and increasing quality and safety while complying with local goals and requirements.

IBTS has a longstanding relationship providing solar PV, energy storage, and energy efficiency inspection services and technical assistance as a NYSERDA quality service provider (QSP) for the NY-Sun program. Our work included thousands of residential, small commercial, commercial and industrial-sized projects in New York State, helping the agency meet its goals of providing affordable solar solutions for homeowners, renters, businesses, and jurisdictions within the State. 

On behalf of NV5 and in service of the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB), IBTS provided market research services to support the Island’s first-ever energy efficiency baseline and potential study. Our work included an Island-wide study of over 500 residents and site visits for hundreds of homes, businesses, and industrial sites to determine energy usage, equipment, practices. The results of this study will help the Energy Bureau create data-based energy efficiency programs and incentives. 

IBTS provided technical expertise and guidance to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop this automated platform to provide a safe and affordable solution for solar permitting. The resulting SolarApp+ platform is currently used nationwide thanks to its ability to integrate with existing government software and processes, capabilities for standardizing, automating, and streamlining permit applications, and functions, including IBTS’ nationally recognized solar inspection checklist. 

On behalf of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), and with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), IBTS provided technical and outreach assistance to five rural municipalities in Puerto Rico, including training sessions on planning, permitting, and inspection for large-scale solar systems; informational workshops for businesses and the general public; and promotion assistance. As a result, the municipalities became the first in Puerto Rico awarded with SolSmart status.

IBTS has provided Sunnova, one of the largest residential PV plus storage installation companies in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with inspections and oversight for thousands of solar and energy storage installations.