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| Solar farm wrecked by giant hail! |
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| MT:
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/solar-farm-pelted-by-giant-hail-as-severe-storm-ripped-through-nebraska/ |
| SiliconWizard:
Who would have thought that could happen! |
| AK6DN:
From the article ... "The Scottsbluff project features more than 14,000 JA Solar 380W modules, Brown said, and utilizes a single-axis tracker system with hail stow capabilities from Array Technologies. While it's unclear if the asset's hail stow program was activated during the weather event, damage to the face of the modules indicates it was not. " Indeed. From Array Technologies website ... "Wind and hail present a dual-threat challenge. Solar trackers that place modules in a flat orientation during severe wind events paradoxically then place modules at highest risk of damage from large hail. Given that NOAA recorded over 4,600 severe weather events in 2018 with hail and winds over 58 MPH, an inflexible, uncoordinated response to a combined wind and hail event will inevitably increase risk." I would speculate the high winds came first and the system went into lay-the-panels-flat-mode. And then the hail, and since the panels were all oriented parallel to the ground to minimize wind load, maximum hail damage. Mother nature gets you coming and going. |
| thm_w:
Does sound like a tough problem to solve. Either have to make the panels super thick and handle the impacts, or reinforce the structures to take the wind energy. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/12/24/weekend-read-navigating-hailstorms/ They do say "wind instability" so maybe it doesn't directly tear out the panels but might cause them to flex or shake until they fatigue. --- Quote from: karpouzi9 on July 03, 2023, 07:16:52 pm ---Maybe NE can use some of its forfeiture... --- End quote --- Keep it on topic. |
| langwadt:
--- Quote from: thm_w on July 03, 2023, 09:40:28 pm ---Does sound like a tough problem to solve. Either have to make the panels super thick and handle the impacts, or reinforce the structures to take the wind energy. --- End quote --- flip them upside down? |
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