Assessing the Impacts of Extreme Weather Events on Photovoltaic Installations Using Remote Sensing Imagery

In this study, we analyze poststorm satellite imagery to assess solar photovoltaic (PV) damage for over 11,300 systems following a catastrophic hailstorm in Austin, TX, in September 2023, which produced softball-sized hail and for over 1500 systems across Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. Findings show that approximately 5.5% of identified PV sites were damaged in the hailstorm and approximately 17% of PV installations were damaged after the hurricanes. A weak correlation between hurricane wind gust speed and percent site damage was determined, with installation practices playing a heavy role in site resilience. Additionally, we show that newer module vintages are more susceptible to hail damage than older modules, possibly due to a convergence of larger size modules, decreased frame dimensions, and decreased front glass thickness but more research is needed. For hail sizes of 60 mm or greater, consistent hail damage is sustained by PV installations, regardless of system configuration.