PV modules without hail damage
The phenomenon of hail
Climate change will lead to an increase in weather extremes and therefore hail damage in the future. Hail occurs in convective weather situations in which warm, humid air masses rise - a phenomenon that will occur more frequently in the future. The rising zero degree limit means that hailstones are more likely to melt as they fall, but the probability of larger hailstones also increases. Nevertheless, hail is a rather small-scale, regionally limited problem that is difficult to detect and predict even with regional climate models. In Switzerland, Germany and Austria, only regions can be defined as more at risk based on their location and the evaluation of data from past events.
Hail is already causing major damage today. Even without the expected increase in the risk of hail, protective measures for buildings are therefore already appropriate. This applies above all to the regions in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, which are most likely to experience recurring, heavy hail due to the weather. In these regions, hail-resistant PV modules are particularly suitable.
Risk of hail in Switzerland, Germany and Austria
Hailstorms cause millions of euros worth of damage in Switzerland every year. According to the National Centre for Climate Services (NCCS), an average of around 32 hailstorms with hailstones of 2 cm in diameter occur each year, with larger hailstones of 4 cm occurring around 29 times. In Germany, the Alps and low mountain ranges are particularly affected, with damage caused by storms and hail estimated at around 1.19 million euros in residential building insurance in 2022. Hail events have also increased significantly in number and intensity in Austria over the last 10 years
Hail damage to solar installations
Due to their exposed location, roofs and facades are particularly vulnerable to hail. Large hailstones can cause massive damage to solar installations and impair electricity production. The susceptibility of the systems depends on the design, material resistance and age. Material fatigue and general wear and tear in older systems can no longer withstand strong environmental influences as well as systems whose new material technology offers high to very high hail protection.
Hail damage can cause safety-relevant damage. This requires immediate action. Or they can cause yield-relevant damage. Depending on the cost of repairing the damage, this could be tolerated. Possible damage that leads to a loss of performance and/or a shorter service life of the solar modules includes
- Microcracks or cell fractures. Although these are tiny, they can nevertheless weaken the durability of the module.
- Glass damage is better to clearly visible. They can be extensive after a hailstorm. In this case, they would cause the entire system to fail.
- Damage to the frame may also not be immediately visible. They can lead to insulation faults.
All of this damage leads directly to a loss of performance and/or a reduction in the service life of the PV modules. It is therefore advisable to have any hail damage to the solar system assessed as soon as possible.
Solar systems from Megasol Energie AG defy hail
The glass-glass modules from Megasol Energie AG offer a high level of hail protection thanks to their glass thickness. Standard modules and the NICER X product achieve hail resistance class 3 with 2 x 2 mm glass thickness. The frameless modules in the LEVEL, MATCH Slate and MATCH Tile product lines with 2 x 3.2 mm glass thickness are also certified and offer additional protection with hail resistance class 5.
Hail resistance class 3 is sufficient in many regions of Switzerland, Germany and Austria. For regions where a higher probability of severe hailstorms is forecast, the hail protection of solar modules with hail resistance class 5 is many times higher.
What do these two hail protection classes mean in the event of extreme hail? In hail resistance class 3, a hailstone with a diameter of 3 cm is about the size of a walnut. It hits the PV module at a speed of 86 km/h without causing any damage. In resistance class 5, the hailstone has a diameter of 5 cm and is therefore roughly the size of a hen's egg. It hits the PV module with the corresponding resistance class at a speed of 110 km. Even with this extreme hail impact, the LEVEL, MATCH Slate and MATCH Tile solar modules remain undamaged.
The hail resistance of Megasol Energie AG's PV modules is regularly tested and certified by an external testing laboratory. During such a test, the modules are bombarded with the corresponding ice balls at an angle of 90 and 45 degrees in such a way that the natural impact of hail on roof and façade modules is simulated. Results to date show that these solar modules will withstand the expected weather extremes over their projected service life of up to 50 years. As hail-resistant photovoltaic systems, the durable PV modules from Megasol Energie AG therefore offer an important quality feature for the long-term decision to use solar technology for your own home or building.
