The Vilnius-based manufacturer of photovoltaic modules SoliTek is reporting on progress in the hail resistance certification of its photovoltaic modules for greater resilience in severe weather.

MUC 17.012025

Recent tests for the new generation of modules with halved cells have produced two important innovations: Hail class 5 certification for the bifacial PV modules SoliTek modules SOLID Bifacial framed B.108 and SOLID Solrif D B.108 have successfully passed the tests with hailstones with a diameter of 50 mm and thus received hail class 5 certification. This is the highest hail resistance class, ranging from 1 to 5. The number represents the diameter of the hailstones used: 1 is 10 mm, 5 is 50 mm. The bombardment occurs perpendicularly to the module.

High resistance through design

The high hail resistance of SoliTek PV modules is achieved, according to the manufacturer, through their design:

– Fully tempered glass, which has significantly higher strength compared to heat-tempered glass.

– Thicker glass layer, which also improves resistance to pressure and impact.

The SoliTek company speaks of robust solutions that can withstand real conditions while guaranteeing a long module life.

Well prepared for growing climate challenges:

Given the increasing frequency and intensity of hailstorms, as reported of hailstones with a diameter of up to 190 mm in Europe, SoliTek’s advances in hail resistance are particularly timely. The improved resilience of SoliTek’s modules makes them ideal for regions that are at high risk of extreme weather events and gives end users more security.

According to SoliTek, the hail class 5 certification is intended especially for installations in regions particularly prone to hail, such as Switzerland, where higher hail resistance classes are crucial for insuring a system.

The company also says that it will continue to innovate and improve the longevity of its products in order to meet the changing needs of the global solar industry.

What is tempered glass?

Tempered glass is also called thermally toughened glass. In contrast to normal registered safety glass, it is more robust and can bear higher loads. Like normal single-pane safety glass, tempered glass is also scratch-resistant but can withstand significantly more in comparison. The most important properties include:

• Temperature-resistant
• The mechanical strength of fully tempered glass is 4-5 times higher than that of heat-strengthened glass.

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