How Does Hail Affect Solar Panels

We spoke to our head of solar technologies dr greg wilson to get some answers.

How does hail affect solar panels. What happens to solar power when you can t even see the sun. In fact a 2017 hailstorm in denver that caused severe damage across the city proved the durability of solar panels. In canberra hailstorms battered cars houses greenhouses and solar panels. Thanks to durability standards and tests required by the international electrotechnical commission solar panels are made to perform well even after moderate hail events.

The national renewable energy laboratory nrel researchers also work diligently to develop quality tests to ensure that solar panels will survive harsh weather like in a hailstorm 3 and not just in the wet or rainy seasons. Co realestate muscle on instagram in short yes hail can damage solar panels and most home insurance policies cover that damage. Solar panels and hail damage can happen in the blink of an eye. On a daily basis.

Hail may be an impressive physical force but solar panels are well equipped to withstand impacts even from large hailstones. While hail certainly could damage some types of solar panels the likelihood is very small and occurrences are extremely rare. Fortunately most solar panels are rated to withstand hail up to an inch in diameter falling at 50 mph. For context the average hailstorm drops hail from to of an inch thick traveling at just 20 mph so well within the thresholds.

In may of 2017 a particularly intense hail storm tore through the front range. While the potential for hail damage occurring on a solar panel is certainly not out of the question it is a rare event. In a laboratory environment ice balls are taken from a freezer and within a minute to minimize melting and therefore shrinking are propelled at different parts of a solar panel at approximately the speed of hail s terminal velocity 50 miles per hour. One minute the sun is shining bright across the lone star state then suddenly debris the size of golfballs rattles down and wreaks havoc that s often expensive and stressful to repair.

Solar panels and hurricanes with high wind speeds and heavy rain solar panels may be at risk of being dislodged from their spot or damaged by high volumes of water. Picture the testing process. With hail season in full swing protect your solar panels from hail damage to keep their energy supply in working condition.