Hail Damage Assessment Supports Insurance Recovery

Post-storm EL imaging revealed hidden cell damage not visible externally, supporting insurance claims and recovery planning.

Project Overview

Following a severe weather event, Aura PV conducted a comprehensive post-storm assessment of a utility-scale solar facility using drone-based EL inspection technology.

The objective was to determine the true extent of hail-related damage and provide objective documentation for insurance evaluation.

The Challenge

While broken glass is easily identified through visual inspection, hail events frequently cause internal solar cell damage without visible external signs.

Micro-cracks and cell fractures can significantly reduce energy production while remaining undetected during standard inspections.

Insurance providers increasingly require quantifiable evidence of damage before approving claims.

Inspection Methodology

Aura PV deployed:

• High-resolution drone imagery

• Electroluminescence (EL) diagnostics

• GPS-tagged defect mapping

• Module-level condition assessment

The inspection provided complete traceability and defect documentation across the affected area.

Key Findings

EL imaging revealed multiple modules containing:

• Hidden cell cracks

• Impact-induced electrical damage

• Internal degradation not visible externally

Many affected modules appeared visually intact despite exhibiting measurable internal damage.

Business Impact

The inspection data enabled the owner to:

• Quantify storm-related damage

• Prioritize module replacement

• Support insurance claim documentation

• Accelerate recovery planning

  
  

The detailed defect mapping provided objective evidence linking the hail event to the identified module damage.

Why It Matters

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent across North America.

EL inspection remains one of the most effective methods for identifying hidden hail damage and establishing defensible evidence for insurance claims and asset recovery decisions.

Key Outcome

Hidden hail-related module damage was identified and documented, providing actionable evidence for remediation and insurance support.