Solar Industry Fights Back Against Hail Damage
The solar industry is confronting a mounting challenge: hail damage. Between 2019 and 2025, hail impacted 1.3 million solar modules globally, resulting in $342 million in losses. Texas and the Midwest in the US are especially susceptible. Nevertheless, innovative solutions are surfacing to alleviate this risk.
Hail stowing, a method where solar trackers shift modules to a high angle, has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing damage. PV Hardware and Nextracker provide such solutions, responding to hail alerts within minutes. This can substantially decrease losses, potentially reducing them from $50 million to below $5 million for utility-scale projects.
The escalating issue of hail damage is partly due to increased module size and use of thinner, heat-strengthened glass. Fully tempered glass, roughly twice as resistant to hail, is gaining traction. The industry is now integrating hail risk and mitigation into project planning and insurance cost models, thanks to collaboration among stakeholders.
Hail damage, though representing only 1.4% of insurance claims, accounted for 54% of total solar losses. With effective hail stow protocols, the industry can significantly reduce these losses. As awareness grows and solutions advance, the solar sector is better equipped to tackle the hail challenge.
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