Can hailstones and lightening damage a PV system?
Solar PV panels are built to withstand harsh weather. The panels are supported by the roof-designed mounting system that has normally been tested to withstand 125 mph winds. PV panels are generally designed to withstand one inch (2.5 cm) hailstones travelling at 50 mph. Generally speaking, PV panels do not increase the risk of buildings being struck by lightning. The probability of a building being struck by lightning depends on its location and the usual weather activity in the region e.g. in an urban area with the ‘normal’ number of thunderstorms, the probability of being struck might be once in a 1000 years, while for an exposed isolated farmhouse it might be once every 500 years. In the rare event of a PV system being hit by a direct lightning strike, the panels are likely to suffer damage. If appropriate, an external lightning protection system can be installed. Indirect or close strikes which would lead to a power surge are more likely than direct hits. Again protection systems c
