The new platform combines radar observations with proprietary lightning data to deliver hail alerts up to 60 minutes before impact, enabling operators to protect solar assets from major damage.
New integration with solar tracking systems
The launch comes at a critical moment. According to the IEA Global Energy Review 2025, renewables reached record growth in 2024, adding 700 GW of capacity – nearly 80% solar PV. At the same time, AXIS Capital found that hail accounts for 55% of extreme weather claim costs for solar facilities in the US and Canada, totalling $340 million between 2019 and 2024.
“This is a billion-dollar challenge for the industry. Hail cannot be stopped, but with the right tools, operators can anticipate and act,” said Scott Mackaro, Director of Innovation and Forecasting at Vaisala Xweather. “For solar operators, that can mean the difference between a short-term output reduction and a multi-million-dollar loss.”
Resilient solar – weather intelligence for an era of extremes
Combining hail forecasting with lightning intelligence
Hail forecasting is complex. Traditional and AI-driven weather models struggle with accuracy due to the chaotic nature of hail formation. Vaisala Xweather applies a key principle: hail develops within thunderstorms, and where there is hail, there is lightning.
By tapping into Vaisala’s global lightning detection network, the system interprets spikes in lightning activity as early signals of hail formation. Combined with radar and AI-enhanced models, Xweather delivers site-specific hail alerts up to an hour in advance, refreshed every two minutes.
Anywhere Solar launches smart dual-axis PV tracker
Automated panel protection
AXIS data underscores the importance of effective stow strategies. Successful stowing reduces average claims to $150,000 per MW compared with $380,000 when trackers fail to stow. One Texas project that stowed panels during 90% of severe hail alerts achieved a 72% reduction in insurance premiums.
Modelling shows that positioning panels at a 75‑degree tilt during hail events reduces breakage risk from near certainty to negligible levels. Vaisala is partnering with multiple tracker manufacturers to enable automated stow through its new Xweather Protect API. This integration allows operators to safeguard solar assets automatically when hailstorms threaten.
