FTC solar energy, a manufacturer of solar trackers, has launched its Automated Hail Stow Solution, aimed at minimizing damage to solar panels caused by hail storms. The solution combines proprietary and meteorological data to automatically adjust the positioning of solar panels, reducing the risk of hail damage.
“We are excited to introduce our Automated Hail Stow Solution, which provides a proactive approach to mitigating hail-related damage to solar panel installations,” said Andrew Morse, senior software director at FTC Solar. “By combining advanced technology with meteorological insights, we want to provide our customers with greater peace of mind and protection for their solar assets.”
Hail storms form a significant threat of solar panel installations, with insurance claims in the US averaging approximately $58.4 million per incident. FTC Solar worked with VDE Americas, a third-party safety analyst for solar industry projects, to study hail events and their impact on solar panel installations. The research led to the development of a hail strategy that places solar panels at the maximum angle the tracker allows, away from the prevailing wind, to minimize direct hail and associated wind effects.
Key features of FTC’s Automated Hail Stow solution include:
- Integration with FTC’s proprietary operations management platform, SUNOPS, for improved control and monitoring of PV installations.
- Uses meteorological data in combination with a hail storage strategy to ensure automated and timely mitigation of hail events.
- Multi-radar approach for real-time, highly accurate updates of meteorological data.
- Flexibility for users to choose between auto-save or manual-save options.
- Notification feature to alert users of impending hail events.
- Adjustable storage thresholds based on risk appetite and site location, including factors such as hail size, probability and radius.
- Compatibility with meteorological data providers, for better integration and data security through encryption.
News item from FTC Solar
