Solar resilience:

Mitigating risks to PV installations posed by extreme weather

Webinar | PV Magazine

07/05/2025

On April 2, 2025, Trinasolar presented the webinar “Solar Resilience: Mitigating Risks to PV Installations Posed by Extreme Weather,” which delved into strategies for enhancing the durability of photovoltaic systems against adverse weather conditions. For those who missed the live session, the complete webinar recording is available below.

During the event, three distinguished speakers examined critical industry trends, assessed the impact of extreme weather on solar installations, and highlighted the significant advantages that Trinasolar’s innovations offer to customers worldwide.

Understanding the Hidden Dangers of Strong Winds

Heather Sauder from CPP Wind Engineering Consultants delved into the risks that strong winds pose to PV installations. She emphasized the importance of advanced testing methodologies in identifying potential structural vulnerabilities and discussed how implementing rigorous testing protocols can prevent structural failures, ensuring the longevity and reliability of solar installations.

Assessing Hail Risks and Enhancing Module Resilience

Cherif Kedir of RETC (Renewable Energy Test Center) examined the significant threat hail poses to PV installations. He presented insights from Trinasolar’s extensive hail impact testing, highlighting how these tests inform the development of weather-resistant modules. Kedir discussed strategies to mitigate hail-related risks, emphasizing the role of robust module design in safeguarding solar assets.

Demonstrating Integrated Solutions for Enhanced System Resilience

Rocky Li from Trinasolar showcased the company’s integrated solutions that combine weather-resistant modules with intelligent tracking systems. He demonstrated how this combination enhances system resilience, optimizing performance even under extreme weather conditions. Li highlighted the importance of such innovations in maximizing returns on long-term PV investments.

Key Takeaways

Impact of Extreme Weather on PV Installations: Extreme weather, including strong winds and hail, can significantly affect the performance and durability of photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Wind Risk and Structural Integrity: Strong winds pose a risk to the structural integrity of PV systems, making it essential to conduct advanced testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
Importance of Rigorous Testing Protocols: Implementing comprehensive testing protocols is crucial to ensure that PV systems can withstand extreme wind conditions and remain reliable over time.
Hail Risk to PV Systems: Hail is a major threat to PV installations, and testing is necessary to understand the full extent of this risk and develop solutions to protect the systems.

Hail Impact Testing for Resilience: Conducting hail impact testing is vital to designing modules that can withstand severe weather conditions and maintain their performance in the long term.
Mitigation Strategies for Hail Damage: Robust module design is key to minimizing the impact of hail on PV installations and enhancing the overall resilience of the system.
Integrated Solutions for Enhanced Resilience: Combining weather-resistant modules with intelligent tracking systems creates a more resilient PV system capable of performing under extreme weather conditions.
Optimizing Long-Term Investment: Integrated solutions not only improve system resilience but also optimize the overall performance of PV installations, ensuring higher returns on long-term investments despite weather challenges.