Extreme weather is no longer a rare event for PV sites across the U.S. It’s a costly, recurring reality eroding performance, reliability, and profitability, follow this tips on how to Storm-proofing your PV data. Developers, EPCs, and asset owners must adopt forward-looking strategies to anticipate, mitigate, and recover from disruptions. Insights from U.S. projects in hard-hit regions, combined with lessons from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, are shaping best practices for long-term energy yield and resilience.
The Toll of Extreme Weather on PV Projects
From hail in the Midwest to hurricanes in the Southeast, wildfires in the West, and dust storms in the Southwest, U.S. solar projects face location-specific threats causing billions in annual losses. Modules and inverters get most of the protection focus. Usually, measurement technology— especially pyranometers and reference devices — is overlooked. Yet accurate irradiance data is essential for performance monitoring, warranty claims, and sound operational decisions.
Why Reliable Irradiance Data Matters
Accurate irradiance data is vital for distinguishing weather-related underperformance from equipment failure. Advanced sensors offer precise, temperature-compensated measurements. In other hand, if weather-compromised, their data can be misleading. Reliability under stress, not just in ideal conditions, demands robust sensor selection, smart installation, and preventive planning matched to local risks.
Read the full article on the PV Magazine website (requires subscription) or in the September 2025 print edition of PV Magazine, which was distributed at RE+ 2025.
Words: Wayne Burnett, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, EKO Instruments USA Inc.
