German company Kisters is using IoT technology to protect solar farms from hailstorms.

As hailstorms become more frequent and severe, utility-scale solar farms face significant risks of damage and downtime.

Kisters is addressing this with HailSens IoT, a hail monitoring system offering real-time measurements and post-event analysis to provide solar operators with actionable insights.

HailSens IoT equips solar farm operators with hyper-local, real-time data on hail events. This system delivers:

• Real-time hail impact data: Precise details on hailstone size, intensity and distribution.
• Accurate post-event analysis: Comprehensive records to assess damage and prioritise repairs.
• Streamlined insurance claims: Ground-truth data support faster, more transparent claims processing.
• Seamless integration: Plug-and-play compatibility with existing systems ensures smooth adoption.
• Customised heartbeat alerts: Near real-time updates on sensor and network health via Kisters Datasphere, reducing disruptions.

“HailSens IoT is more than a sensor; it’s a trusted tool that enables solar operators to make informed decisions with confidence,” said Edgar Wetzel, global head of instrumentation at Kisters. “With decades of expertise in environmental data, Kisters is delivering options that enhance resilience and operational efficiency for the solar industry.”

Building on the capabilities of HailSens IoT, Kisters also offers HailSens360, a total hail mitigation product. Combining real-time hail data with forecasting and proprietary nowcasting capabilities, HailSens360 synthesises 48-hour forecast data, updates nowcast predictions every six minutes, and delivers post-event analysis.

Its alarming system provides timely alerts to operators when severe hail is forecasted or imminent. This empowers solar farm managers to take pre-emptive action, such as moving panels into stow positions, reducing potential damage. By enabling operators to prepare before storms hit, respond effectively during severe weather, and analyse impacts post-event, HailSens360 delivers support for safeguarding solar assets and enhancing operational resilience.

“HailSens360 takes hail monitoring to the next level, delivering not only real-time insights but also predictive data that empowers operators to act with precision before, during and after storms,” said Johan Jaques, chief meteorologist at Kisters (www.kisters.net).

Together, HailSens IoT (www.kisters.net/hailsens-iot) and 360 (www.kisters.net/hailsens360) represent a shift in how the solar industry approaches hail risk. These systems provide solar developers with the tools to mitigate downtime, streamline claims and improve operational resilience.