Solar module testing ‘inadequate to account for rising severity of extreme weather’, report claims

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The US renewables market has just experienced its worst summer on record for natural catastrophe claims, according to GCube. Image: Tobias Hämmer/Pixabay.

Current testing for solar modules is inadequate to account for the rising severity of extreme weather events in North America, according to a report from renewable energy project underwriter GCube Insurance.

The research claims that the frequent incidence of solar losses across a range of extreme weather events suggests that developments of PV technology “are behind the curve” when it comes to improving weather resistance.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Solar technologies are subject to impact tests for hail resilience whose minimum requirements are easy to pass, GCube said.

The firm added that the International Electrotechnical Commission’s hail tests use projectiles of 25mm, which are half the size of the average hailstone experienced in the ‘very severe’ hailstorms frequently seen across North America.

“Meanwhile, there remains no requirement to test for microcracking, a key issue which causes considerable issues for insurers,” the report reads.

Titled North American Nat Cat Update, the research reveals the US renewables market has just experienced its worst summer on record for natural catastrophe claims, with hail experienced in Texas in early summer resulting in solar losses estimated in excess of US$300 million.

While total claims values are still being calculated, multiple instances of losses exceeding sub-limits of up to US$50 million – due to extreme weather events like hail, tornados and derechos – “make clear the need for improved modelling and the more effective use of existing weather data”, GCube said.

The rising severity of losses and the industry’s continued difficulty in managing risks “is a concerning trend”, said Fraser McLachlan, CEO at GCube.

“The unprecedented growth potential unlocked by the Inflation Reduction Act will count for little if the North American renewables sector is unable to combat extreme weather risks.”

McLachlan called for a concerted effort across the value chain to strengthen policies, improve data utilisation, and update modelling and testing procedures.

Research published earlier this year from GCube found that supply chain woes, spiralling energy prices and the COVID-19 pandemic reversed a downward trend in average business interruption claims for renewables developers, with the solar sector nearly doubling its average downtime days.

17 June 2025
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 17-18 June 2025, will be our fourth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2026 and beyond.
7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

February 17, 2025
Round-up of community solar news with new legislations progressing in the US states of Missouri and Iowa, while New Mexico started construction on the first project in the state.
February 17, 2025
Lee Zeldin said the EPA should "reassume responsibility" for funds issued under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
February 14, 2025
Environmental Law & Policy Center argued that PJM’s scoring system would favour specific resource classes, such as combined cycle gas.
February 13, 2025
A report from CEA says that the impact of the new Republican administration on the provisions under the IRA remains “uncertain”.
February 13, 2025
Chinese solar manufacturers LONGi and Jinko Solar, along with Indian PV manufacturer Waaree Energies, have been named in a series of patent disputes filed in China and the US.
February 13, 2025
The announcement comes just days after the Trump administration announced plans for a 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 17, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
February 19, 2025
Tokyo, Japan
Solar Media Events
March 11, 2025
Frankfurt, Germany