Does Hail Damage Solar Panels

The hailstones were roughly 3 inches wide.

Does hail damage solar panels. Solar panels and hail damage can happen in the blink of an eye. Solar panels are rated using two class systems. 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. In fact a 2017 hailstorm in denver that caused severe damage across the city proved the durability of solar panels.

Many solar electric modules and solar hot water collectors are made. In short yes hail can damage solar panels and most home insurance policies cover that damage. While hail certainly could damage some types of solar panels the likelihood is very small and occurrences are extremely rare. There s a severe hail damage resistance test which tests panels for cricket ball sized hailstones.

4 and the nrel has assured us in a recent report that solar modules will last for decades. However out of 3 000 solar modules on nrel s denver campus only one panel was broken. Most panels are tested according to the moderate hail damage test comprising 25mm hailstones that weigh 7 53 grams.