Vaisala Xweather has launched a hail forecasting platform designed to address the growing risks of hail damage in the solar sector. The platform draws on radar observations, proprietary lightning data and AI-enhanced models to issue frequent site-specific hail alerts. With this solution, operators can take preemptive measures to minimise damage to solar assets.
Integrating forecasting with solar tracking
Severe hailstorms are a billion-dollar challenge for solar operators. According to AXIS Capital, hail accounted for 55 percent of extreme weather claims between 2019 and 2024, resulting in $340 million in damages for solar facilities in the US and Canada. Effective forecasting tools combined with automated stowing strategies can significantly reduce such losses. “This is a billion-dollar challenge for the industry. Hail cannot be stopped, but with the right tools, operators can anticipate and act,” says 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
Harnessing lightning data for hail detection
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
Automating solar panel protection during hailstorms
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, according to kWh Analytics. 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, allowing operators to safeguard solar assets automatically when hailstorms threaten. (hcn)
