Restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic is set to hit U.S utility-scale solar projects

The coronavirus pandemic is likely to have a material impact on utility-scale solar installations in the U.S this year, and perhaps even into 2021.

In its latest risk report on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Wood Mackenzie says in a best-case scenario, the market could see huge delays affecting a few hundred MWs of modules and inverters.

The market research firm also lays out a worst-case scenario, which if played out—combined with construction disruptions, will be detrimental to the entire solar industry.

The optimistic forecast states up to four weeks of equipment supply delays due to the pandemic’s impact on the global supply chain.

If the worst-case scenario is adopted, the entire supply chain and project development could be completely paralyzed for several weeks, pushing the completion of over 5 GW of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects into the second half of this year or even into 2021.

Wood Mackenzie points out that, overall, the solar module supply market in the U.S is jeopardized by the potential halt of production both domestically and in Asia, as well as shipping and logistics delays on a global level.

For the utility-scale market, delays caused by the potential closing of U.S ports and supply delays of products are two of the major obstacles that could hinder project development.