Solar Under Storm III

Building on the findings of Solar Under Storm (2018) and Solar Under Storm II (2020), Solar Under Storm III provides essential updates to best practices for designing and installing solar PV systems in hurricane-prone regions. The first two reports identified key design and construction choices that enabled some solar systems to survive Category 5 hurricanes like Irma and Maria, while others failed. This latest edition incorporates lessons from Hurricane Beryl — the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic — which devastated parts of the Grenadines in the Eastern Caribbean in July 2024.

Following in-depth field investigations of three ground-mounted systems directly hit by Beryl, Solar Under Storm III highlights the stark contrast between resilient and vulnerable ground-mount installations. The report updates technical recommendations based on real-world damage assessments, emphasizing proven practices such as dual-post piers, through-bolting, lateral racking support, and vibration-resistant connections. It also identifies common failure points, including inadequate load design, low-cycle fatigue of module frames, and the use of top-down clamps and self-tapping screws.

In addition to engineering specifications, the report stresses the importance of industry collaboration to strengthen resilience standards. It encourages shared testing protocols, material certification, and ongoing information exchange — supported by the PV Resiliency Working Group on the online Caribbean Renewable Energy Community (CAREC). As solar PV becomes central to energy generation in coastal and island regions, Solar Under Storm III offers timely, actionable guidance to ensure these systems endure when they’re needed most.