Climate-driven storms are damaging solar panels as solar installations proliferate.

Since 2004, solar has been the energy source growing most quickly globally, with an average growth rate of 25%, according to a new report, Solar Under Storm III, from RMI–formerly Rocky Mountain Institute–that provides recommendations on strengthening the integrity of panels.

This report follows up on the findings of Solar Under Storm (2018) and Solar Under Storm II (2020), Solar Under Storm III updates best practices for designing and installing solar PV in regions susceptible to hurricanes.

The first two reports looked at design and construction choices that allowed some solar systems to survive Category 5 hurricanes like Irma and Maria, while others failed.

Solar Under Storm III describes lessons learned from Hurricane Beryl, which was the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic.  It ravaged parts of the Grenadines in the eastern Caribbean in July 2024.

“People aren’t used to building to Category 4 or 5 hurricane resilience standards,” said Christopher Burgess, director of projects,  RMI Islands Energy Program.

Between 1979 and 2017, the number of major hurricanes increased, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts there will be an increase in Category 4 and 5 hurricanes, along with higher wind speeds.

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https://www.microgridknowledge.com/design-engineering/article/55310370/microgrids-need-solar-and-solar-panels-need-to-withstand-storms-and-hurricanes