There is no doubt that solar energy is revolutionizing the energy landscape. Thanks to it, thousands of people and companies can have self-consumption. However, there are some risks associated with the durability of solar panels and their conservation in optimal conditions. We are talking about the solar panels and hail. One of the most common doubts among people who have solar panels is whether hail can destroy them.
Therefore, in this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about solar panels and hail to see if they can withstand a strong storm.
Solar panels and hail: How does it affect you?
One of the biggest concerns of solar panel users, or those considering installing solar panels in their home, is the longevity of the panels and whether they are durable enough to withstand the passage of time and harsh weather conditions such as hail. .
One of the most common problems with solar panels are the microcracks on the surface of silicon crystals. These can be created during the manufacturing process, but can also be caused by poor shipping or installation. In other cases this is less common, but not impossible, especially with low quality solar panels. Exposure to the elements, as well as changes in temperature and hot and cold stress, can cause cracks to increase in size, which can result in long-term loss of efficiency.
Taking into account the issue of solar panels and how hail affects photovoltaic cells, it is important to be clear that it does affect, although not in all cases. Generally, normal photovoltaic solar panels can resist normal hail. However, if the hail is especially large, it can cause the glass to crack.
Are there anti-hail solar panels?
Hail resistant solar panels are made to resist the effects of these small ice rocks. When purchasing solar panels, especially in areas with variable climate and colder temperatures, it is advisable to choose hail-resistant solar panels. These panels come with the IEC 61215 certificate. This certificate specifies the requirements that a solar panel must meet to be suitable for long-term operation in typical outdoor climates. Specifically, it is one of the most used certificates in Europe, which guarantees that it will pass tests such as throwing a large hockey puck without affecting the degradation of the board, or at least to a limited extent.
The test to see the resistance that They consist of throwing a 203-gram ice disk at 39,5 m/s. Additionally, testing showed that the damage rate of the solar panels was less than 5%, which is required to obtain this certification. In general, most manufacturers pass these types of tests without problems, so finding hail-resistant solar panels is not that difficult.
When talking about solar panels and hail with the impact it has on them, It is important to consider this type of tests and all the available certificates you have. Manufacturers usually guarantee the highest quality when marketing their products, although as we said, not all brands are the same or offer the same quality.
Is there a guarantee for solar panels in case of hail?
Generally speaking, solar panel warranties do not typically cover damage caused by hail. However, this all depends on the brand and type of warranty you have and whether you have insurance or not. Keep in mind that the solar panel warranty provided by the manufacturer covers all manufacturing errors and defects, such as oxidation, solar cell failure or a drop in maximum power below 80%, that is, there is some type of failure in the solar panel.
In general, solar panels usually have a guarantee of up to the first 10 years, but it is important to pay attention to the specifications of each brand as well as the exclusions since in some cases we can find specific messages indicating exclusions due to lightning, damage caused by frost, snow, storms, waves, heat or, as we are discussing now, hail. The same situation also occurs in major disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic eruptions.
How to protect solar panels from hail
To ensure that the solar panels installed in our home or business can resist hail, there are different things we can do:
maximum resistance
We can ask the installer to prepare a quote for the type of solar panel we are going to install. The panels are rated for high wind and snow loads, and are also certified for hail resistance.
Hire regular maintenance staff
It is very important that our consumable units are periodically inspected by qualified personnel. These technicians will inspect all aspects of the solar system, including mechanical and electrical aspects, as well as possible breakage of panel and glass frames. This will ensure that at the slightest sign of breakage, appropriate measures are taken to avoid major problems.
Include photovoltaic systems in your home insurance
In general, many insurance companies already include solar panels in their home policies by default. However, we must check or consult our insurance advisor so that they are covered in any situation. Today, many insurance companies consider a photovoltaic module system to be just another domestic installation, such as pipes, television antennas or electrical installations. It is advisable to review it and request its inclusion if applicable.
As you can see, solar panels are a good alternative to be able to have self-consumption at home and reduce the electricity bill while controlling pollution to the environment. However, we must highlight some situations in which we have to be careful, such as hail. I hope that with this information you can learn more about solar panels and hail.