1. The insurance industry has seen record-breaking losses due to natural disasters in 2023, with hailstorms being a significant contributor to insurance claims.
2. Hailstorms are becoming more powerful due to climate change, potentially impacting the financial viability of PV systems located in hail-prone regions like Hail Alley.
3. LONGi Solar has developed the Ice-Shield module to address the increasing threat of extreme weather events, such as hailstorms, by incorporating resilient materials and design features to ensure durability and reliability.
In 2023, the insurance industry experienced record-breaking losses from natural disasters, with over $1 billion in insurance losses. Insurance companies have been both shielding us from the true costs of climate change and prompting technological developments to mitigate risks, such as in the case of hailstorms impacting solar energy installations. Hail causes the largest amount of property damage, up to $14 billion a year, surpassing tornadoes. With hailstorms potentially becoming more powerful due to climate change, the risk to solar installations in areas like Hail Alley is a growing concern for insurance companies.
To address the risk of hail damage to solar modules, LONGi developed the Ice-Shield module, incorporating toughened safety glass technology to withstand hailstones up to 55 mm in diameter. The module’s reinforced frame can withstand wind loads of up to 3,600Pa, equal to 171.33 mph winds. By combining hail-resistant modules with trackers featuring hail-stow features, the survivability of modules during severe weather events is improved.
The advancements in solar module technology, from increased cell efficiency to improved design for shading tolerance, play a crucial role in pushing the industry forward. Alyssa Huang, the Product Solutions Manager at LONGi Solar, has been instrumental in supporting product marketing and providing pre-sales product consultation for the North America region, leveraging her expertise in environmental and mechanical engineering.