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But how large must these particles be to damage a PV system? What can be considered a critical threshold above which the damage becomes severe?
The pv magazine Italia attempted to answer the above questions by compiling a 2019 report from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA), which investigated data on insured losses from a historic hailstorm that occurred in June 2016 in the Netherlands.
According to the conclusions of the Dutch researchers, damage to solar panels occurs mainly on hailstones with a maximum size of at least 3 centimeters. In their article, "Vulnerability of Solar Panels to Hail," they explain, "Larger hailstones (more than 4 centimeters) cause on average more damage than smaller hailstones, but they also cause more diverse damage to solar panels."
Starting at 3 centimeters, both invisible and visible damage can occur, but starting at 4 centimeters, the percentage of visible damage increases significantly.
The smallest cracks (microcracks) do not form in the front glass layer, but in the silicon, thus not reducing the initial yield. After a few months, however, the power in the damaged area may start to decrease rapidly, and after about a year, microcracks can also appear on the outside of the panel. All of the damage shortens the life of the solar panel.
The researchers explained that the orientation of the roof relative to the direction of the hailstorm can greatly influence the damage caused by hail to solar panels, noting that this factor may be more decisive than the size of the hail.
On the other hand, there is some empirical evidence that even the angle at which solar panels are mounted can affect solar panel damage. According to the scientists' conclusion, a greater inclination would help mitigate the damage.
The study also shows that the frequency of hailstorms is increasing in Europe and the Netherlands, as is the damage caused by hailstorms. This suggests that exposed items such as solar panels may become more vulnerable in the future.
The Dutch researchers conclude, "Hail risk and the vulnerability of solar panels to hail should be integrated into risk models and climate adaptation strategies." (Article compiled from pv-magazine)
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