As hailstorms become increasingly frequent and severe, utility-scale solar farms face significant risks of damage and downtime. Global environmental data solution company KISTERS reiterates the value of its HailSens IoT, a hail monitoring system offering real-time measurements and post-event analysis.
HailSens IoT equips solar farm operators with hyper-local, real-time data on hail events. The system delivers real-time hail impact data with precise details on hailstone size, intensity and distribution. Accurate post-event analysis provides comprehensive records to assess damage and prioritize repairs. HailSens IoT can streamline insurance claims, and its ground-truth data supports faster, more transparent claims processing. Its plug-and-play compatibility with existing systems ensures smooth adoption. Finally, HailSens IoT offers customized heartbeat alerts and near-real-time updates on sensor and network health via KISTERS Datasphere, which reduces 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 solutions that enhance resilience and operational efficiency for the solar industry.”
Building on the robust capabilities of HailSens IoT, KISTERS also offers HailSens360, a total hail mitigation solution. Combining real-time hail data with advanced forecasting and proprietary nowcasting capabilities, HailSens360 synthesizes 48-hour forecast data, updates nowcast predictions every six minutes, and delivers comprehensive post-event analysis. A key feature of HailSens360 is its extensive alarming system, which 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, significantly reducing potential damage. By enabling operators to prepare before storms hit, respond effectively during severe weather, and analyze 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, KISTERS Chief Meteorologist and HailSens360 solution owner.
News item from KISTERS