Hail Proof Solar Panels

The general consensus in the solar industry is that solar panels should be able to withstand golf ball sized hail.

Hail proof solar panels.

For the most part no. A solar module or panel that is installed properly and tilted to face south should never break from hail. Solar panels need to be able to withstand hailstones with 1in in diameter weighing 7 53 grams and traveling at a velocity of 23 meters per second 51 45 mph per international standards iec61215. Generally solar panels can endure hailstones up to one inch in size 25mm at a falling speed of 50 miles per hour.

Each solar shingle will produce between 13 and 63 watts of energy depending on the brand of solar roof shingles. This week they announced that their latest mx series has surpassed the iec test handling hail stones with 4 times the kinetic energy of the iec standard. Fortunately winaico has designed their solar panels to be hail resistant. Florida for example has rules in place that require the majority of panels that can be installed to be able to withstand winds of at least 160 mph or 3 300 pascals.

While hail certainly could damage some types of solar panels the likelihood is very small and occurrences are extremely rare. 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. Winaico was one of the world s first solar manufacturers to pass the hail test to iec 6215 standards. Ask your insurer if the panels would be covered by your existing policy for things like hail damage inclement weather and acts of god mother nature.

One inch hail about the size of a quarter is considered severe by the nws so your panels should survive even severe hailstorms just fine. Here s a video of what that testing looks like. This means that solar panels have outstanding durability when it comes to extreme weather patterns. The resistance of solar panels to hail is largely due to the high quality tempered glass which is around 3 4mm thick.

Solar shingles are lightweight and easy to install and just like ordinary shingles they are designed to withstand rain wind and hail. Up until a couple weeks ago we would tell people we ve never seen a solar module panel being damaged from hail. Many solar electric modules and solar hot water collectors are made. In fact manufacturers actually test their solar panels to ensure that hail storms won t be an issue.

The answer is yes.