Hail is becoming one of the most unpredictable and costly risks facing utility-scale solar. From insurance rate hikes to energy production losses, unmitigated hail events can severely impact long-term performance and ROI.
That’s why GroundWork developed the Hail Resilience Test Package—a two-part solution combining lab-based hail impact testing with on-site hail event monitoring, giving developers the data they need to prepare, mitigate, and respond with confidence.
What is Hail Resilience Testing?
The GroundWork Hail Resilience Test Package is a comprehensive lab-based testing service that measures a solar module’s ability to withstand hail impacts using real-world scenarios. But we don’t stop in the lab.
Our two-part solution also includes EyeWitness™, a field-based instrument that measures individual hail impacts at your site—before, during, and after construction. This approach ensures laboratory resilience results before construction align with expected damage on site post event, ensuring modules performed as expected under real impact stress.
Why It Matters
- Optimize Insurance Coverage: Validate module durability and mitigation strategies to potentially reduce premiums.
- Minimize Downtime: Identify internal cell breakage invisible to the eye and recover faster after storms.
- Improve Module Selection: Use lab-test data to compare resilience across modules before installation.
- Plan for Real-World Impact: EyeWitness™ monitoring captures actual hail event data and aligns it with lab results for long-term strategy.
What’s Included
Before Installation: Lab-Based Hail Testing
Our Hail Resilience Test Package uses industry-certified protocols to test PV modules under simulated hail impact scenarios, with and without client specified tracker stow positions.
Assessments include:
- Glass Breakage Resistance
- Cell Fracture Detection (including invisible damage)
- Tracker Stow Resilience Effectiveness
- Benchmarking via GroundWork’s proprietary PVTL database
- Electroluminescence (EL) imaging post-test
All testing is conducted in our ISO 17025-accredited lab, meeting IEC 61215 and IEC 61853 standards.
After or During Construction: EyeWitness™ Validation
Our on-site EyeWitness™ system captures individual hailstone effective diameter, and kinetic energy, in near real time. This data lets you:
- Compare real hail conditions to lab-tested performance
- Determine whether damage occurred even without visible signs
- Provide documentation for insurance and O&M decisions
The Value
By pairing lab insights with on-site validation, GroundWork equips developers to:
- Reduce insurance premiums
- Mitigate long-term degradation risks
- Accelerate post-storm decision-making
- Improve module and tracker selection strategies
Protect Performance Before the Storm Hits
Hail isn’t going away, but your project’s exposure to it can be intelligently managed. With GroundWork’s Hail Resilience Test Package, you gain visibility into both expected and actual impact performance.
Get ahead of the next storm—before the damage is done. Download the full technical specifications to learn how our testing solutions can protect your project from day one.
Questions? Contact us at sales@grndwork.com or +1 831-920-1687
