Expert Witness for Solar PV Disputes | Fagerstrom Engineering

Deep Technical Insight for Complex Solar PV Litigation

Resolving legal disputes involving Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems demands expert support with profound engineering knowledge that goes beyond standard performance monitoring. Issues often involve intricate analysis of power electronics (inverters), grid interaction, power quality, fault behavior, and the detailed physics of system performance and failure.

Fagerstrom Engineering, Inc. offers expert witness services specifically focused on complex Solar PV systems and related electrical engineering challenges. Our team comprises licensed Professional Engineers with deep, verifiable experience in advanced waveform analysis, power electronics, performance modeling, utility grid interaction, and investigating failures in both PV systems and related power infrastructure.

We work confidentially with legal counsel to understand the specific technical challenges of each Solar PV case and identify the expert from our team whose advanced qualifications and experience are the best fit for your unique needs. Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) for the proposed expert(s) are available upon request.

Why Choose Fagerstrom Engineering for Your Solar PV Case?

When navigating Solar PV litigation, the right expert can make a pivotal difference. Explore the key advantages and unique expertise Fagerstrom Engineering offers for your technical challenges:

Selected Roles in Utility and State Energy Initiatives

Our experts have been invited to serve in advisory roles at senior levels. One of our experts was requested by a Senior Vice President overseeing one of the nation’s largest utility distribution systems to serve as a panel expert on emerging Smart Grid technologies (including PV integration) before division management. Additionally, we served in an advisory capacity for a State of California–commissioned energy study (via UC Berkeley) on high-penetration PV grid integration.

Deep Power Electronics & Inverter Expertise

We possess extensive experience modeling and simulating power electronic converters, including published work in a technical book and conference presentations. This fundamental expertise is critical for analyzing inverter and associated systems behavior, performance, and failure.

Advanced PV Performance & Production Analysis

Experienced in evaluating promised production levels and system performance using tools like NREL SAM and PVWatts. Our analysis incorporates utility rate schedules (Net Metering) and addresses factors like clipping, peak shaving, mismatch loss, and component thermal characteristics to validate claims and identify design liabilities.

Comprehensive Grid Interaction & Fault Expertise

We possess deep understanding of grid-connected systems, including intimate knowledge of all major distribution grid fault types (highlighted by a pivotal utility project involving detailed grid circuit impedance and waveform analysis for fault detection). An expert from our team was specifically the responsible engineer for the laboratory test design, interpretation, and judgment of advanced Smart Grid fault detection technology’s suitability for field trial deployment across one of the nations’s largest distribution grids. Our expertise covers analyzing islanding, grid interconnection, power quality, switching events, and damage from grid events impacting PV systems and inverters.

Practical Failure & Damage Investigation

Our team has direct experience analyzing failures and damage in systems including power electronic converters. This involves site examination of “burned up” equipment, circuit board analysis, assessing thermal/arcing damage, evaluating surge characteristics against standards (e.g., CBEMA curve), and analyzing data logger performance.

Rigorous Investigative & Analytical Expertise

We deliver scientifically grounded, standards-based forensic analysis rooted in peer-reviewed research and industry best practices. Our services encompass advanced failure and performance investigations, waveform and log diagnostics (including time-frequency domain and harmonic analysis), and system modeling and simulation using tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, CYME, SKM, and LabView. We also develop custom computational tools in MATLAB, Python, and C, and conduct comprehensive laboratory testing across a wide range of voltage and current levels—including high-voltage and high-current. Our methods provide defensible explanations for complex technical disputes and expert witness testimony.

PV System Design & Performance Expertise

Our team assesses PV system design, construction, and installation quality, evaluating factors like equipment suitability, sizing, and materials (e.g., conductor thermal stress). Our analysis leverages tools like IV curve tracing and incorporates a deep understanding of components such as array optimizers for thorough performance assessment.

Proven PV Expert Witness Track Record

Our firm’s expert witness experience includes a pivotal engagement involving a large-scale commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation plant versus a utility grid malfunction. In this dispute, our detailed technical analysis and robust scientific interpretations provided meaningful clarity on complex system-to-grid issues, covering factors like grid-interconnection power quality, electrical fault events, component choice, and site-specific testing and measurements. Our comprehensive report proved instrumental in shaping the technical understanding of the matter.

Large-Scale Utility vs Industrial Plant Matter Settled on Report Strength (Power Electronics Damage)

Our firm’s expert witness work includes a pivotal engagement where a large-scale industrial wood processing facility suffered damage to power electronic A/C to A/C converters (similar to inverters) from a utility distribution circuit event. Our comprehensive report, detailing facts and analysis of the event, circuit board analysis, surge characteristics, data logger evaluation against standards, and modeling & simulation to validate opinions, proved critical in the matter ultimately settling on the strength of our report alone. This highlights the impact of our analysis of damaged grid-connected power electronic systems and components.

Types of Solar PV System Disputes Supported

Performance & Production Disputes

Evaluating production guarantees, factors causing underperformance (e.g., clipping, mismatch), and performance modeling (NREL SAM, rate schedules, net metering).

Grid Interconnection & Stability

Analyzing issues related to connecting PV systems to utility grids, islanding, transient stability, and compliance with interconnection standards.

Inverter & Power Electronics Failure

Investigating root causes of central, string, or microinverter failures, including damage from grid events, thermal issues, or design/manufacturing defects.

Microgrid Performance (w/ PV)

Evaluating performance, control, and stability of microgrids incorporating solar PV generation and battery storage.

Power Quality (PV Related)

Analyzing power quality issues affecting PV systems or introduced to the grid by inverters, including harmonic distortion and transient analysis.

Faults & Protection (PV Systems)

Analyzing DC/AC fault types within PV systems and evaluating the performance and coordination of PV-specific protection schemes.

Design & Installation Defects

Evaluating compliance with design standards, codes, and quality of installation, including conductor suitability, sizing errors, and layout issues.

Control System Errors

Analyzing malfunctions related to inverter, optimizer, or array-level control systems and communication errors.

Equipment Suitability & Sizing

Assessing disputes related to module choice, inverter capacity, string sizing, conductor sizing/materials, and equipment suitability for specific site conditions.

Electrical Grounding (PV Systems)

Assessing grounding and bonding systems specific to PV arrays and equipment for electrical stability, safety, fault clearing, and surge protection.

Relevant Firm Experience Highlights

Our team’s experience includes contributing to and leading highly impactful power systems projects and expert witness engagements:

High-Level PV Integration & Grid Management Expertise

An expert from our team was specifically requested by a Senior Vice President of a major U.S. utility's entire power distribution system to speak as an expert panelist on emerging Smart Grid technologies (including PV integration) to their distribution grid management. Our team also advised a State of California-commissioned study (UC Berkeley) on the electrical consequences of high-penetration PV integration.

Utility vs. Large-Scale Solar PV Plant Malfunction Expert Witness Engagement

Our firm provided expert witness services in an engagement involving a large-scale commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation plant versus a utility grid malfunction. Our detailed analysis included PV and grid systems components, design, utility interaction, field test data (including waveform analysis), modeling, power quality evaluation, and malfunction theory. Our comprehensive report, providing clear and scientifically backed conclusions on the technical aspects of the malfunction, proved instrumental in shaping the understanding of the matter.

Advanced PV Performance & Production Analysis

We conducted a comprehensive electrical engineering solar photovoltaic annual energy production analysis, modeling & simulation, and construction design evaluation for an industrial food processing power generation plant. This involved using the US Department of Energy NREL System Advisor Model (SAM) and PVWatts to validate solar company performance claims, analyze the impact of utility rate schedules (Net Metering considerations), and identify potential design liabilities (e.g., related to sizing or equipment suitability, analyzing concepts like clipping, peak shaving, mismatch loss, and component thermal characteristics).

In-Depth Power Electronics Failure Analysis (PV & General)

We possess extensive experience analyzing failures and damage in power electronic converters. This includes site examination of ``burned up`` equipment, circuit board analysis, evaluating surge characteristics from grid events against standards like the CBEMA curve, and thermal imaging for diagnostic purposes. This expertise is directly applicable to diagnosing solar inverter failures and other PV system damage.

Comprehensive Grid Fault & Smart Grid Technology Leadership

An expert from our team was the responsible engineer for the laboratory test design & testing, interpretation of results, and technical judgment of advanced Smart Grid fault detection technologies' suitability for field trial deployment across one of the nation's largest distribution grids. This required intimate technical understanding of distribution grid components & behaviors and detailed waveform and impedance analysis of all major distribution grid fault types thereon (single line to ground, line to line, two line to ground, etc).

Complex Power System Fault Analysis & Protection

Beyond Smart Grid fault detection, our team has performed detailed power system fault analyses for complex facilities (e.g., large industrial pharma campus), assessing fault impact and evaluating component withstand capability, fault energy release, and protection settings & relay timing to ensure proper fault isolation—principles vital for PV system integration and protection.

Microgrid & Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Analysis

Experienced in studying electrical engineering microgrid islanding transient stability including PV generation (e.g., a college campus 1 MW solar PV plant). We also have experience with battery charging and the behavior of chargers and batteries within power circuits, relevant for PV+storage configurations.

Sophisticated Analytical & Computational Methods

Our capabilities include advanced waveform analysis (e.g., time-frequency domain, harmonics), detailed mathematical modeling (component characteristics), systems simulation utilizing tools like MATLAB Simulink, LabView, CYME, SKM Power Tools, and PowerWorld, log analysis of computerized control systems (e.g., inverters, PV controls), and developing custom computational tools (e.g., via Python, C) for unique analysis or large datasets.

Experienced in PV System Design & Installation Evaluation

Our expertise covers evaluating PV system design, construction, and installation for adherence to engineering principles and codes. We assess equipment suitability, sizing, and material issues (e.g., conductor thermal stress) critical for long-term system performance. Our analysis integrates various diagnostic methodologies for performance assessment, such as IV curve tracing, and incorporates a deep understanding of components like array optimizers.

Major Utility vs Industrial Plant Matter Settled on Report Strength (Power Electronics Damage)

Our firm's expert witness experience includes a pivotal engagement where a large-scale industrial wood processing facility suffered damage to power electronic A/C to A/C converters (similar to inverters) from a utility distribution circuit event. Our comprehensive report, detailing analysis of the damaged equipment, circuit board analysis, surge characteristics, and data logger evaluation against standards, testing, modeling & simulation to validate theories, proved instrumental in the matter ultimately settling on the strength of our report alone. This highlights the impact of our analysis of utility distribution and local power systems' electrical behavior, including the nature of power electronics damage.

Our Expert Team & Matching Process for PV Cases

Fagerstrom Engineering maintains a team of highly qualified Professional Engineers with specialized expertise in Power Systems, Power Electronics, Photovoltaics, and Advanced Analytical Methods including waveform analysis, complex modeling/simulation, and diagnostics. Our experts possess the advanced degrees, professional licenses, and the practical, field-tested knowledge necessary to serve effectively in complex legal matters specific to Solar PV systems.

When you contact us regarding a potential Solar PV case, we initiate a confidential discussion to understand the specific technical issues at hand (e.g., inverter failure, production shortfall, installation defect, grid interaction issue). We then identify the expert from our team whose background, project experience (like those highlighted above), and specific technical knowledge are the most relevant and impactful for your case’s unique requirements.

Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CVs) for the proposed expert(s) with specific Solar PV and Power Electronics credentials will be provided to you upon request after an initial case conflict check and confidentiality discussion, allowing for your thorough review and vetting process in a controlled environment.

Our Approach to Expert Witness Engagements

We follow a structured and rigorous process to support legal counsel throughout the litigation lifecycle:

Initial Confidential Discussion: We begin by understanding your Solar PV case details, technical challenges, and expert needs.
Expert Matching & CV Provision: We propose the expert from our team best suited to the PV case specifics and provide relevant CV(s) upon request.
Independent Analysis: Our assigned expert conducts a thorough review of evidence, research, performs necessary calculations, waveform analysis, modeling, simulations, and testing as required for PV systems and components.
Opinion Formulation: Objective, data-driven expert opinions are developed based on sound engineering principles and findings specific to PV technologies and associated power systems, supported by established codes, standards, and peer-reviewed research.
Report Preparation: Clear, concise, and defensible expert reports are drafted, explaining complex PV technical matters in easily understandable terms for a legal audience.
Discovery Support: Assistance is provided in understanding technical aspects of the PV case, preparing for depositions, and formulating cross-examination questions.
Testimony: The assigned expert provides clear, credible, and objective testimony in depositions, hearings, and trials regarding PV system issues.
Technical Advisory: We offer ongoing technical consultation and support to the legal team as needed throughout the PV litigation process.

Get Started – Request Expert Support for a Solar PV Case

If you require highly experienced and credible electrical engineering expert witness support specifically for a Solar PV system dispute, please contact Fagerstrom Engineering, Inc. to discuss your case needs. We will connect you with the expert on our team best suited to assist you, and provide detailed CVs for your review.