Massive number of Solar panels wrecked by hailstorm Texas - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2025, 08:12:13 pm
content: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fdjrgcp_7JQ

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2025, 08:33:43 pm
content: How much does it cost to retrofit new solar panels to an otherwise undamaged structure (framework and electronics)?

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2025, 08:58:00 pm
content: I would think that the solar panels would be the main expense.

author: neverendingstudent
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 06:11:03 am
content: Glass technology is quite mature, as well as other transparent options. Now, maybe there is a conflict between thickness / durability / permissivity, but even if we don't currently have full-spectrum transparent armor-glass right now, some funding and research is likely to fix that - or give us some other option to ruggedize solar panels.Cost is obviously the main inhibitory factor there, but now there will be this example to point to and say 'yes, it might be worth the extra money now'.Definitely sucks in the short term. Ironic as well, as climate-altering effects destroy some of the efforts to reduce climate-altering effects.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 06:46:27 am
content: This is bad.However - the panels are very cheap, I purchased mine for like 75 EUR each, and I have seen even lower prices since.So, thousands of damaged panels add up to a damage similar to a burnt down house. That probably wouldn't make the news.I don't think adding extra protection like a sheet of Lexar is worth the extra costs, in the large scale of things.

author: Simmed
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 06:06:47 pm
content: Quote from: neverendingstudent on March 16, 2025, 06:11:03 ami am curious about this impact problemso based on web searchthe baseball sized hail is about 80-150joule impact energythere is a glass impact rating known as ik-xxik11 glass is rated for 40Jik12 is 80J and etc etcso likely hail resistance will need something like ik13 (160J ?) to ik14 (320J ?)(bullet glass is over 500J)coincidently, there is a website talking about its revolutionary ik11 glass which is 2.8mm thickif we assume it scales linearly, then ik13 will need 11.2mmthis is so thick and heavy like 80kg per sq meterif you all remember solar roadways1 of them glass is mentioned at 30mm (bullet proof road !)

author: neverendingstudent
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 06:18:21 pm
content: Quote from: Haenk on March 16, 2025, 06:46:27 amIt's good that the panels are available at reasonable cost - but don't forget about the skilled/certified labor involved to decommission the damaged sections and install the new ones. That's going to be pricy.

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 06:22:42 pm
content: Quote from: neverendingstudent on March 16, 2025, 06:11:03 amSegmenting the panels and connecting them with stretchable serpentine electrodes is an option.The strength of say 30*30 cm of the same glass on a foam backing is going to be vastly larger than a full mostly rigid panel. The silicon is already segmented, how much would it add to the cost to also encapsulate them segmented?

author: neverendingstudent
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 06:24:06 pm
content: Quote from: Simmed on March 16, 2025, 06:06:47 pmHmm... yeah, I can see the path this could go down to becoming a useless solution like the solar roadways example.I'm not sure how viable it would be, but another idea that occurs to me would be along the lines of anti-drone armor. Have 'roofs' (go with me on this for a sec) over the panel arrays of sloped netting or chicken-wire or the like. It doesn't need to be fine enough mesh to stop the small stuff, only the big stuff. No matter what, it *would* reduce solar take, though by how much is a question, but that might be a viable option for hail defense.Like all compromise solutions, there are obviously downsides. The reduced solar exposure obviously, but also just adding complexity, cost, and ongoing maintenance overhead. Not sure if it would be economically or practically viable - but maybe.