FTC Solar Launches Hail Stow Program to Protect Solar Assets from Extreme Weather Damage and Enhance Safety.

FTC Solar has launched an autonomous hail stow programme using meteorological data to monitor when hailstorms are occurring, and allows users to customise how much hail risk their modules are exposed to before they are stowed. Users can also choose whether modules are stored automatically or manually, and receive notifications to warn of impending hail events. The solution aims to provide customers with greater peace of mind and protection for their solar assets. The global solar sector has become more aware of the potential damage caused by extreme weather, particularly hailststorms, following the incident of the Fighting Jays solar project in Texas earlier this year. A report from insurers GCube found that between 2018 and 2023, the average insurance claim at solar projects due to hail damage would cost around US$58.4 million, and hail accounted for 54.21% of incurred costs of total solar loss claims.