Will equipment suppliers be able to meet the demand for their products as the industry rushes to 2017?

As we rush to December 2016, the Solar Power International rumor mill was abuzz with gossip surrounding equipment shortages and whether manufacturers will be able to keep up with the demand for their products. For those of you who were around for the 1603 rush, you may be experiencing a familiar déjà vu feeling.

Major brand Tier 1 crystalline silicon and thin film module manufacturers are nearly entirely allocated for 2016. Tracker availability is dwindling and unavailable for at least the first half of 2016. Interconnection equipment such as GSU’s and reclosers will be in high demand, and the long lead time will only add to the execution risk.

“Although equipment availability is already facing constraints, there will be some notion of a first-come first-serve basis,” said Joe Song, Senior Director of Investments at Sol Systems. “Those who close on their projects and execute security deposits may still be able to procure their preferred equipment.” Or, as others put it at SPI, rumor has it that some shortages disappear when you pay cash.

Moreover, much of the locked-in equipment supply is from large projects which may not reach the finish line. If that’s the case, allocations may open up.

Take note of how different manufacturers handle shortages. Some may be transparent with their timelines, and others may inadvertently (or not) make promises they cannot keep. If you make a deposit, just remember that there are still some unknowns in regards to timing, and plan accordingly for delays.

Sol Systems is a solar energy finance and investment firm. The company has facilitated financing for 333MW solar projects on behalf of Fortune 100 corporations, insurance companies, utilities, banks, family offices, and individuals. Sol Systems provides secure, sustainable investment opportunities to investor clients, and sophisticated project financing solutions to developers.

The company’s tailored financial services range from tax structured investments and project acquisition, to debt financing and SREC portfolio management. Inc. Magazine named Sol Systems on its annual Inc. 500 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies for a second consecutive year, ranking it No. 6 in the nation’s top solar companies in 2014.

Published here by the PVBUZZ team from the original article written and edited for publication on SOL Systems by Sara Rafalson.