kWh Analytics 2026 Report Finds Solar Hail Damage Below 0.018% with Automated Protection

Renewable energy infrastructure can significantly reduce weather-related damage and operational losses through better engineering, automated protection systems and emergency planning, according to the Resilient Power Report 2026 published by climate insurance provider kWh Analytics and Beazley. The report examines five renewable energy projects and operating portfolios, highlighting how targeted risk management measures helped protect solar installations, reduce battery fire exposure and restore electricity generation following extreme weather events.

One of the most significant findings comes from a 452 MW solar portfolio in West Texas, where automated panel positioning limited hail damage to fewer than 200 modules out of more than 1 million installed. Another case study found that battery storage modifications reduced the modelled expected financial loss from a potential thermal event by approximately 95%. The report also documents how storm preparation helped restore 6 MW of solar capacity 10 days earlier than natural snowmelt would have allowed.

 

Automated Solar Protection Limits Hail Damage in Texas

 

The report highlights Clearway Energy Group's Texas Solar Nova 1 and 2 projects near Lubbock, Texas, which together operate 452 MW of solar capacity. In June 2025, the facilities faced a severe storm that brought destructive winds and hailstones estimated at up to five inches in the surrounding area. Before the storm arrived, automated tracking systems supplied by Nextpower moved solar panels into a 60-degree protective position, reducing their exposure to hail impacts.

Following the storm, inspections identified fewer than 200 damaged modules among the 1,097,778 panels installed across both facilities, representing less than 0.018% of the total. Despite significant hail damage to nearby service vehicles, Clearway reported no insurance claims associated with the solar arrays. The systems performed 121 automatic protective positioning operations during 2025 and another 40 during 2026. Clearway is extending the technology across its fleet, demonstrating how automated weather responses can become part of routine solar asset protection.

 

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Typhoon Research Finds Solar Mounting Design Influences Damage

 

Another case study examines the damage caused by Typhoon Mawar, which struck Guam in May 2023 with wind gusts reaching 137 mph. Researchers from the National Laboratory of the Rockies assessed 29 rooftop solar installations and found that mounting hardware design was a major factor in determining how well systems survived the storm. At one school, two neighbouring rooftop installations experienced approximately the same wind conditions, yet one lost dozens of panels while the other remained undamaged.

Across the surveyed systems, installations using one mounting system averaged 3% damage across 17 sites, while three sites using a weaker rail-mounted clamp design experienced average damage of 54%. The report explains that certain clamps could rotate loose under wind-induced vibration, potentially allowing multiple panels to detach. More secure mounting systems with larger contact areas and independent panel attachment reduced this vulnerability. Researchers estimated that upgrading to stronger clamps could add approximately 0.03% to 0.5% to total solar system costs, suggesting that relatively small engineering improvements could help prevent substantial storm damage.

 

Winter Storm Response Reduces Solar Downtime

 

The report also examines how Madison Energy Infrastructure managed its East Coast solar portfolio during Winter Storm Fern in January 2026. Facing significant snowfall and prolonged freezing temperatures, the company coordinated responses across 405 affected sites, using weather forecasts, remotely controlled solar trackers and snowmelt modelling to determine how individual installations should be protected and restored.

By positioning panels at steep angles before snowfall and analysing expected recovery times, Madison returned 6 MW of solar capacity across five states to service approximately 10 days earlier than if accumulated snow had been left to melt naturally. Its modelling also found that manual snow clearing would have generated a positive financial return at only four of the 405 affected sites, all of which had already shed their snow through tracker positioning. The findings demonstrate how combining weather data with operational controls can improve recovery decisions while avoiding unnecessary maintenance expenditure.

 

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Battery Fire Risk Management Reduces Potential Financial Losses

 

Beyond extreme weather, the report identifies battery fire prevention as an important issue for energy storage operators. One case study involved battery energy storage systems affected by heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) defects, including overheating, electrical arcing and moisture entering battery enclosures. These problems created the potential for thermal runaway events, where a failure in one battery module could spread across interconnected equipment. The risk was compounded by the inability of the original manufacturer to provide continuing technical support.

An asset owner with more than $100 million invested in the affected technology installed single-use electrical fuses between battery modules and adjusted charging and discharging cycles to reduce thermal stress. According to kWh Analytics, these interventions reduced the modelled expected loss from a thermal event by approximately 95%, potentially containing damage within a single container rather than allowing it to spread across an entire battery chain. No HVAC-related thermal event had occurred since the revised cycling strategy was introduced, and the owner completed its property insurance renewal without deterioration in terms. The reduction is a modelled estimate of potential loss severity, rather than a measured decline in actual fire incidents.

 

Wildfire Preparedness Protects Renewable Energy Operations

 

A separate case study involving Deriva Energy illustrates how operational readiness can protect renewable energy assets when wildfires threaten nearby infrastructure. As a wildfire approached one of its utility-scale facilities, Deriva's Remote Operations Center coordinated with field teams, safety personnel and external operators to assess the evolving risk. The company decided to proactively disconnect the facility from the electricity supply before conditions deteriorated.

Following containment of the wildfire, the facility was safely restored to service without damage. The response relied on established emergency procedures, staff training, continuous monitoring and clearly assigned decision-making responsibilities. Unlike engineering measures that physically strengthen infrastructure, this approach focused on operational preparation and timely intervention to protect equipment, personnel and grid reliability.

The report's findings indicate that renewable energy resilience increasingly depends on how projects are designed, operated and insured over their lifetimes. Its five case studies are examples of successful interventions rather than a comprehensive assessment of industry-wide performance. Nevertheless, the results provide practical evidence that stronger components, automated controls and well-tested emergency procedures can reduce exposure to costly failures. As renewable energy deployment expands into regions facing extreme weather, incorporating these measures into project design and asset management could become increasingly important for financing and long-term reliability.

 

Source: kWh Analytics