{"id":96954,"date":"2025-12-30T05:31:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T20:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=96954"},"modified":"2025-12-30T12:22:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T02:52:32","slug":"solar-panels-hail-resistance-mb3346","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/solar-panels-hail-resistance-mb3346\/","title":{"rendered":"How Hail-Resistant Are Solar Panels Really?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Solar

Image: @RACQOfficial<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

While all solar panels installed on homes in Australia have basic hailstone resistance attributes, some manufacturers take it a step further to provide a bit of extra peace of mind and a competitive edge. But we see some hail storms here that no panel could be expected to survive.<\/p>\n

What Standard Level Of Hail Resistance Do Solar Panels Have?<\/h2>\n

Hail impact testing is mandatory under both Australian and international photovoltaic (PV) standards. For crystalline and thin-film modules, IEC 61215 requires modules to withstand impacts from ice balls measuring 25 mm in diameter at a velocity of 23 m\/s (82.8 km\/h) at 11 locations across the module under a moderate test (Class MH); or 75 mm in diameter for the severe test (Class SH).<\/p>\n

More rigorous, enhanced tests include the Swiss Hail VKF HW4 Standard used by organisations such as Germany’s T\u00dcV Rheinland.<\/p>\n

The Glass Factor<\/h3>\n

A solar panel’s<\/a> main hail protection is the front cover glass. This is “tempered” glass created by heating normal glass and then rapidly cooling it, making it 4-5 times stronger than regular glass.<\/p>\n

The glass also contributes significantly to a panel’s weight. Older solar panels tend to have 3.2 mm cover glass. But over the years, some manufacturers have been reducing front glass thickness. It could be as little as 1.6 mm; but that is usually in double-glass (front and back) and bifacial modules; with the back glass providing extra strength.<\/p>\n

Which Panel Manufacturers Offer Enhanced Hailstone Resistance?<\/h2>\n

The following isn’t an exhaustive list, but shows some residential rooftop example models with enhanced hailstone resistance available in Australia from several manufacturers currently included on the SolarQuotes recommended solar panel brand chart<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer<\/th>\nExample Model<\/th>\nHailstone Size<\/th>\nSpeed<\/th>\nStandard<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Aiko<\/a><\/td>\nAll current<\/td>\n40 mm<\/td>\n100 km\/h<\/td>\nSwiss VKF HW4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Canadian Solar<\/a><\/td>\nCS6.2-48TD<\/td>\n35 mm<\/td>\n83 km\/h<\/td>\nIEC 61215<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maxeon (Sunpower)<\/a><\/td>\nAll current<\/td>\n45 mm<\/td>\n108 km\/h<\/td>\nSwiss VKF HW4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Phono Solar<\/a><\/td>\nDiamond Dual Glass<\/td>\n45 mm<\/td>\n110km\/h<\/td>\nIEC 61215<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Suntech<\/a><\/td>\nAll current<\/td>\n45 mm<\/td>\n110 km\/h<\/td>\nVDE – inspired by Swiss standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
REC<\/a><\/td>\nAlpha Pure RX<\/td>\n45 mm<\/td>\n110 km\/h<\/td>\nIEC 61215:2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trina Solar<\/a><\/td>\nVertex S+<\/td>\n45 mm<\/td>\n110 km\/h<\/td>\nIEC 61215<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TW Solar<\/a><\/td>\nTWMNH 48HE470<\/td>\n45 mm<\/td>\n110 km\/h<\/td>\nIEC 61215<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Winaico<\/a><\/td>\nAll current<\/td>\n35 mm<\/td>\n100 km\/h<\/td>\nSwiss VKF HW4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

As for the difference in kinetic energy per impact, according to REC the ability to withstand 45 mm at 110 km\/h represents ten times more per impact than the industry standard baseline of 25mm at 82.8 km\/h.<\/p>\n

If hailstone resistance is important to you, make sure you check a solar panel’s datasheet carefully as there can be differences between models from the same brand.<\/p>\n

Hidden Damage – Microcracks<\/h2>\n

Something to be aware of is testing doesn’t assess the potential for cell damage below the glass, even when the glass isn’t broken \u2014 such as microcracks.<\/p>\n

Microcracks are tiny, sometimes invisible fractures to the cells caused by stress. Microcracks can grow over time, causing power loss, creating hotspots, degrading panel performance and potentially leading to safety issues including moisture ingress.<\/p>\n

Microcracks in solar panels are best detected using Electroluminescence (EL) imaging, where these and other defects are marked as dark areas.<\/p>\n

\"Microcracks

EL imaging showing microcrack damage (dark areas). Source: Winaico.<\/p><\/div>\n

When Are The Hailstorm “Seasons” In Australia?<\/h2>\n

Severe hailstorms can happen at any time of the year under the appropriate atmospheric conditions. But general seasonal trends in each Australian state and territory are:<\/p>\n