The United States has put a considerable emphasis on using solar panels. The Biden Administration has expanded the Clean Energy Program and has granted an additional $425 million in additional funding. The average cost of a solar panel is $16,000, which is a significant investment.
AccuWeather For Business can help protect your property by providing alerts and warnings that could prevent damage. Here are the three most significant threats to solar energy.
Most solar panels can withstand a minor hailstorm; however, there are some areas of the country where they happen more often. When they do, a hailstorm can be powerful and severe enough to damage panels. Most solar panel warranties do not cover damage done by hail. When gusty winds are in the forecast, it's not the panels themselves that are at the most risk, but rather the racking system or the roof they are attached. You will avoid costly repairs and replacements by protecting your solar panels. AccuWeather For Business SkyGuard® Warning Service can alert your business when a hailstorm threatens your assets.
When lightning directly strikes solar panels, it usually destroys them. Even indirect strikes can cause damage to conductors and even cause fires. AccuWeather For Business SkyGuard® Warning service can provide information that would alert you when lighting is in the area of your panels. The severe warning service not only sends you alerts when lightning is within 8 miles of your assets, but you also have 24/7/356 access to one of AccuWeather's 100+ meteorologists for the most up-to-date forecasts to protect your people.
Extreme heat can significantly reduce the output efficiency of solar panels by up to 25%, especially on dry days reaching 90F or higher. When temperatures reach the triple digits, most solar panels will lose 1% output for an additional degree increase. SkyGuard® provides customizable threshold alerts, so you are always aware when heat exceeds 90+ degrees.
Be proactive with AccuWeather's SkyGuard® Warnings, which will deliver site-specific alerts and offer warnings well before severe weather hits, giving you much-needed time to be prepared.
Want to learn more about how we can help you? Demo SkyGuard® today and protect your business, employees, and assets.