Inside Track: Powering Progress for a Renewable Energy Leader

At Canaan Group we are experts in solving problems for our clients today while also applying our expertise toward creating a better tomorrow. Here’s one recent success story:

A renewable energy company headquartered in the Pacific Northwest has been rapidly expanding its solar panel installations across North America. With manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia and project sites across Canada and the U.S., they need a logistics partner capable of managing complex, cross-border freight operations.

The Challenge

Shipping solar panels from overseas to multiple North American destinations involves multiple challenges, among them: tight delivery timelines, customs and tariff complexities, and the need to balance cost with speed. The company had previously worked with multiple freight forwarders, customs brokers, and last-mile carriers; the result of this ad hoc approach resulted in fragmented communication and administrative inefficiencies.

Our Solution

At Canaan our end-to-end capability simplifies the shipping process for our clients — we handle the logistics complexities so that our clients can focus on their good work. For this client, we had to weigh the pros and cons of various shipping methods. Ocean freight is ideal for bulk shipments, offering lower costs but longer transit times. Air freight provides faster delivery and simplified coordination, though at a higher cost and with limitations on oversized cargo. It’s not always “one size fits all.” With our expertise, we were able to customize the transport mode based on urgency and destination.

To ensure smooth execution, we worked closely with overseas suppliers to optimize packaging for safe transit and customs clearance. In Canada, shipments were routed through Vancouver International Airport and handed off to regional carriers—avoiding urban congestion and reducing delivery times by 20%. In the U.S., we coordinated staggered deliveries across multiple states, ensuring just-in-time arrivals for installation crews.

Impact

• Canada: Reduced delivery times by 20% and maintained budget targets by leveraging regional carriers and bypassing urban bottlenecks.
• USA: Enabled seamless, phased deliveries across multiple states through strategic coordination with long-standing partners.

How can we support you today?

Our client was thrilled with Canaan’s integrated logistics model, which, combined with proactive updates, real-time routing adjustments, and strategic foresight, helped the client ultimately save money and avoid both costly days and unneeded stress. 

Are you looking to expand your distribution so that more people and countries can benefit from your innovative products? We’d love to hear from you. Let’s shape the future together — reach out today.