https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716

What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...

--
Any fool can believe in principles - and most of them do!

On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>
> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>

https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/

It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known solution:

https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/

On Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:59:50 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
<tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>
>What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...

They have BIG hailstones in Texas https://tinyurl.com/2tzc6pkd but not
world record sizes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_costly_or_deadly_hailstorms

I see on WUWT that a farmer local to that solar farm is worried about
his water supply being contaminated by nasties leaching out of the
damaged panels. https://tinyurl.com/2zkymnwv

Unfortunately they seldom if ever reach those sizes in the UK, so our
green and pleasant land will continue to be blighted by solar farms
for the foreseeable future.

--
Chris

On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>
>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>
>
> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>
> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known solution:
>
>
> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/
>
>
All I see is blurred text. Did you actually read it?

>
>

--
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice, there is.
-- Yogi Berra

On 27/03/2024 15:00, Chris Hogg wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:59:50 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
> <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>
>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>
> They have BIG hailstones in Texas https://tinyurl.com/2tzc6pkd but not
> world record sizes
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_costly_or_deadly_hailstorms
>
>
> I see on WUWT that a farmer local to that solar farm is worried about
> his water supply being contaminated by nasties leaching out of the
> damaged panels. https://tinyurl.com/2zkymnwv
>
> Unfortunately they seldom if ever reach those sizes in the UK, so our
> green and pleasant land will continue to be blighted by solar farms
> for the foreseeable future.
>
I doubt it. not enough sun, and not enough subsidy

--
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice, there is.
-- Yogi Berra

On 27/03/2024 15:21, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>>
>>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>>
>>
>> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>>
>> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known
>> solution:
>>
>>
>> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/
>>
>>
> All I see is blurred text. Did you actually read it?

There are numerous techniques to use multiple images to improve overall
resolution.

I'm sure the concept is way beyond your comprehension, or indeed near
religious beliefs when it comes to diesel cars and fires in a car park.

Do you love diesel cars so much you cannot bear the thought of just one
diesel car burning down a whole car park together with 1400 cars?

On 27/03/2024 15:41, Fredxx wrote:
> On 27/03/2024 15:21, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>>>
>>>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>>>
>>> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known
>>> solution:
>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/
>>>
>>>
>> All I see is blurred text. Did you actually read it?
>
> There are numerous techniques to use multiple images to improve overall
> resolution.

How good is your latin? Since if you did manage to remove the blur from
that "text" you would see it is just "Lorem Ipsum" placeholder text.

Having said that, the site authors seem to have made a good job making
it hard to dodge the paywall, but I would doc them points for also
including a second full copy of the articles text in the html source, in
English, in addition to the blurred latin copy :-)

tl;dr - they describe a hail "early warning system" used to trigger
panel rotators *ON ALL THE PANELS*, that would rotate them out of direct
path of the hail storm. Does not sound like something that will be
particularly cost effective on an array spanning 1000s of acres.

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

On 27/03/2024 16:48, John Rumm wrote:
> On 27/03/2024 15:41, Fredxx wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 15:21, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
>>>> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>>>>
>>>>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>>>>
>>>> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known
>>>> solution:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/
>>>>
>>>>
>>> All I see is blurred text. Did you actually read it?
>>
>> There are numerous techniques to use multiple images to improve
>> overall resolution.
>
> How good is your latin? Since if you did manage to remove the blur from
> that "text" you would see it is just "Lorem Ipsum" placeholder text.
>
> Having said that, the site authors seem to have made a good job making
> it hard to dodge the paywall, but I would doc them points for also
> including a second full copy of the articles text in the html source, in
> English, in addition to the blurred latin copy :-)
>
> tl;dr - they describe a hail "early warning system" used to trigger
> panel rotators *ON ALL THE PANELS*, that would rotate them out of direct
> path of the hail storm. Does not sound like something that will be
> particularly cost effective on an array spanning 1000s of acres.
>
>
Probably only practical on arrays that already have steering mechanisms
to track the sun. I would, however, have thought that hailstone guards
would be possible. I am think either of fixed mesh guards, which
admittedly slightly would reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the
panels, or a solid guard that hinges up over the panels when hailstones
are detected or expected. Although costly, they might be cheaper than
replacing thousands of acres of arrays so, even if the owners don't want
them, their insurers might.

--
Colin Bignell

On 28/03/2024 09:45, Colin Bignell wrote:
> On 27/03/2024 16:48, John Rumm wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 15:41, Fredxx wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2024 15:21, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>> On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
>>>>> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>>>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>>>>>
>>>>> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known
>>>>> solution:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> All I see is blurred text. Did you actually read it?
>>>
>>> There are numerous techniques to use multiple images to improve
>>> overall resolution.
>>
>> How good is your latin? Since if you did manage to remove the blur
>> from that "text" you would see it is just "Lorem Ipsum" placeholder text.
>>
>> Having said that, the site authors seem to have made a good job making
>> it hard to dodge the paywall, but I would doc them points for also
>> including a second full copy of the articles text in the html source,
>> in English, in addition to the blurred latin copy :-)
>>
>> tl;dr - they describe a hail "early warning system" used to trigger
>> panel rotators *ON ALL THE PANELS*, that would rotate them out of
>> direct path of the hail storm. Does not sound like something that will
>> be particularly cost effective on an array spanning 1000s of acres.
>>
>>
> Probably only practical on arrays that already have steering mechanisms
> to track the sun. I would, however, have thought that hailstone guards
> would be possible. I am think either of fixed mesh guards, which
> admittedly slightly would reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the
> panels, or a solid guard that hinges up over the panels when hailstones
> are detected or expected. Although costly, they might be cheaper than
> replacing thousands of acres of arrays so, even if the owners don't want
> them, their insurers might.

I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:

1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
absorb maximum energy.
2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass downwards
when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.

On 28/03/2024 12:03, GB wrote:
> I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:
>
> 1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
> absorb maximum energy.
> 2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass downwards
> when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.

The great thing about 'free' solar and wind energy is how much it costs
and how much more it costs to make it reliable.

I've never heard of nuclear power plants needing batteries, massive grid
interconnectors, mechanisms to protect against hail, backup power
stations for when the sun don't shine, or, indeed, replacing every 15
years...with the waste disposal at the public's expense...

You cant make a silk purse out of a sow's ear...

--
The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to
rule.
– H. L. Mencken, American journalist, 1880-1956

On 28/03/2024 12:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 12:03, GB wrote:
>> I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:
>>
>> 1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
>> absorb maximum energy.
>> 2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass downwards
>> when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.
>
> The great thing about 'free' solar and wind energy is how much it costs
> and how much more it costs to make it reliable.
>
> I've never heard of nuclear power plants needing batteries, massive grid
> interconnectors, mechanisms to protect against hail, backup power
> stations

The irony is that the Fukushima disasters was precisely because backup
systems didn't work.

On 27/03/2024 16:48, John Rumm wrote:
> On 27/03/2024 15:41, Fredxx wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 15:21, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
>>>> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>>>>
>>>>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>>>>
>>>> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known
>>>> solution:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/
>>>>
>>>>
>>> All I see is blurred text. Did you actually read it?
>>
>> There are numerous techniques to use multiple images to improve
>> overall resolution.
>
> How good is your latin? Since if you did manage to remove the blur from
> that "text" you would see it is just "Lorem Ipsum" placeholder text.
>
> Having said that, the site authors seem to have made a good job making
> it hard to dodge the paywall, but I would doc them points for also
> including a second full copy of the articles text in the html source, in
> English, in addition to the blurred latin copy :-)
>
> tl;dr - they describe a hail "early warning system" used to trigger
> panel rotators *ON ALL THE PANELS*, that would rotate them out of direct
> path of the hail storm. Does not sound like something that will be
> particularly cost effective on an array spanning 1000s of acres.

I seemed to have replied on the wrong thread, not sure what happened
there. I was trying to say that the registration number of the Landrover
in the Luton car park fire was read using various super-resolution
techniques from multiple images.

On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>
>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>
>
> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>
> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known solution:
>
>
> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/

One wonders if a cost benefit analysis was made on the probability that
one or more panels would be damaged by hail? If it only occurs every 3
or more years then I doubt protection is warranted.

On 28/03/2024 12:15, Fredxx wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 12:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 28/03/2024 12:03, GB wrote:
>>> I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:
>>>
>>> 1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
>>> absorb maximum energy.
>>> 2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass downwards
>>> when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.
>>
>> The great thing about 'free' solar and wind energy is how much it
>> costs and how much more it costs to make it reliable.
>>
>> I've never heard of nuclear power plants needing batteries, massive
>> grid interconnectors, mechanisms to protect against hail, backup power
>> stations
>
> The irony is that the Fukushima disasters was precisely because backup
> systems didn't work.

But modern reactor designs don't need those backup systems. Older
designs had to keep the pumps running, newer ones can be shut-down with
no active cooling.

On 28/03/2024 12:40, SteveW wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 12:15, Fredxx wrote:
>> On 28/03/2024 12:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>> On 28/03/2024 12:03, GB wrote:
>>>> I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:
>>>>
>>>> 1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
>>>> absorb maximum energy.
>>>> 2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass downwards
>>>> when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.
>>>
>>> The great thing about 'free' solar and wind energy is how much it
>>> costs and how much more it costs to make it reliable.
>>>
>>> I've never heard of nuclear power plants needing batteries, massive
>>> grid interconnectors, mechanisms to protect against hail, backup
>>> power stations
>>
>> The irony is that the Fukushima disasters was precisely because backup
>> systems didn't work.
>
> But modern reactor designs don't need those backup systems. Older
> designs had to keep the pumps running, newer ones can be shut-down with
> no active cooling.
>

Why weren't these 'modern' designs implemented in the first place?

On 28/03/2024 12:27, Fredxx wrote:
> On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>>
>>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>>
>>
>> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>>
>> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known
>> solution:
>>
>>
>> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/
>
> One wonders if a cost benefit analysis was made on the probability that
> one or more panels would be damaged by hail? If it only occurs every 3
> or more years then I doubt protection is warranted.
>
>

And how reliable is the prediction of hail?
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 28/03/2024 12:40, SteveW wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 12:15, Fredxx wrote:
>> On 28/03/2024 12:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>> On 28/03/2024 12:03, GB wrote:
>>>> I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:
>>>>
>>>> 1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
>>>> absorb maximum energy.
>>>> 2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass downwards
>>>> when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.
>>>
>>> The great thing about 'free' solar and wind energy is how much it
>>> costs and how much more it costs to make it reliable.
>>>
>>> I've never heard of nuclear power plants needing batteries, massive
>>> grid interconnectors, mechanisms to protect against hail, backup
>>> power stations
>>
>> The irony is that the Fukushima disasters was precisely because backup
>> systems didn't work.
>
> But modern reactor designs don't need those backup systems. Older
> designs had to keep the pumps running, newer ones can be shut-down with
> no active cooling.

There are various forms of passive safety measures. Three Mile Island
was meant to have a passive safety system.

On 28/03/2024 12:51, GB wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 12:40, SteveW wrote:
>> On 28/03/2024 12:15, Fredxx wrote:
>>> On 28/03/2024 12:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>> On 28/03/2024 12:03, GB wrote:
>>>>> I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
>>>>> absorb maximum energy.
>>>>> 2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass
>>>>> downwards when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.
>>>>
>>>> The great thing about 'free' solar and wind energy is how much it
>>>> costs and how much more it costs to make it reliable.
>>>>
>>>> I've never heard of nuclear power plants needing batteries, massive
>>>> grid interconnectors, mechanisms to protect against hail, backup
>>>> power stations
>>>
>>> The irony is that the Fukushima disasters was precisely because
>>> backup systems didn't work.
>>
>> But modern reactor designs don't need those backup systems. Older
>> designs had to keep the pumps running, newer ones can be shut-down
>> with no active cooling.
>>
>
> Why weren't these 'modern' designs implemented in the first place?

Some are, but most reactors in the West are now very old. Shamefully
it's convenient for governments not to invest in power and the return is
too long or risky for private investment.

On 28/03/2024 12:15, Fredxx wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 12:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 28/03/2024 12:03, GB wrote:
>>> I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:
>>>
>>> 1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
>>> absorb maximum energy.
>>> 2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass downwards
>>> when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.
>>
>> The great thing about 'free' solar and wind energy is how much it
>> costs and how much more it costs to make it reliable.
>>
>> I've never heard of nuclear power plants needing batteries, massive
>> grid interconnectors, mechanisms to protect against hail, backup power
>> stations
>
> The irony is that the Fukushima disasters was precisely because backup
> systems didn't work.
>
It was a failure of prediction of conditions, rather than one of the
systems themselves. The first backup, diesel generators, only failed
because the fuel tanks floated away on water that was about a meter
higher than anticipated. The second backup, the batteries, worked fine
for the eight hours it had been predicted it would take to restore a
connection to the grid.

--
Colin Bignell

On 28/03/2024 12:51, GB wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 12:40, SteveW wrote:
>> On 28/03/2024 12:15, Fredxx wrote:
>>> On 28/03/2024 12:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>> On 28/03/2024 12:03, GB wrote:
>>>>> I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
>>>>> absorb maximum energy.
>>>>> 2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass
>>>>> downwards when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.
>>>>
>>>> The great thing about 'free' solar and wind energy is how much it
>>>> costs and how much more it costs to make it reliable.
>>>>
>>>> I've never heard of nuclear power plants needing batteries, massive
>>>> grid interconnectors, mechanisms to protect against hail, backup
>>>> power stations
>>>
>>> The irony is that the Fukushima disasters was precisely because
>>> backup systems didn't work.
>>
>> But modern reactor designs don't need those backup systems. Older
>> designs had to keep the pumps running, newer ones can be shut-down
>> with no active cooling.
>>
>
> Why weren't these 'modern' designs implemented in the first place?

Economies of scale. The reactors at Fukushima were all around 750MW. It
is only practical to cool up to around 500MW passively.

Since the time the reactors were built however, the regulatory
ratcheting surrounding nuclear power has meant that far more time and
money is spent on meeting regulations than actually buildng the
reactors, hence the move towards reactors under 500MW that can be
factory built and type approved, and so wont need individual approval,
and also not require active cooling, which is subject to even more
regulatory overburden.

But the point is that the backup was always part of nuclear's design and
part of its cost. In the case of renewables, its SomebodyElsesProblem,
and e.g. wind companies get paid *not* to pay for it.

--
“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the
other is to refuse to believe what is true.”

—Soren Kierkegaard

On 28/03/2024 13:01, alan_m wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 12:27, Fredxx wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>>>
>>>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>>>
>>> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known
>>> solution:
>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/
>>
>> One wonders if a cost benefit analysis was made on the probability
>> that one or more panels would be damaged by hail? If it only occurs
>> every 3 or more years then I doubt protection is warranted.
>>
>>
>
> And how reliable is the prediction of hail?

Not bad if you have weather radar
Just add it to the cost of the solar farm, along with the servos to tilt
the panels...

--
Climate Change: Socialism wearing a lab coat.

On 15:00 27 Mar 2024, Chris Hogg said:
> On Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:59:50 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
> <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>
>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>
>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>
> They have BIG hailstones in Texas https://tinyurl.com/2tzc6pkd but not
> world record sizes
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_costly_or_deadly_hailstorms

Nevertheless Texan hailstones are big enough to leave dents in cars, as
this news story describes.

https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/north-texas-body-shops-flooded-with-
vehicles-damaged-in-thursdays-hailstorms/

The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 13:01, alan_m wrote:
> >
> > And how reliable is the prediction of hail?
>
> Not bad if you have weather radar
> Just add it to the cost of the solar farm, along with the servos to tilt
> the panels...

Er, but, predicting hail accurately in the next few hours isn't going
to help. You'd need to predict it at least months in advance to
enable you to do something to protect the solar panels.

--
Chris Green
·

On 28 Mar 2024 at 12:15:28 GMT, "Fredxx" <fredxx@spam.invalid> wrote:

> On 28/03/2024 12:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 28/03/2024 12:03, GB wrote:
>>> I don't know about costs, but a pivot system could have two uses:
>>>
>>> 1) Keep the panels at 90 degrees to the sun throughout the day, to
>>> absorb maximum energy.
>>> 2) Rotate the panels so they are horizontal with the glass downwards
>>> when storms are expected, in order to prevent hail damage.
>>
>> The great thing about 'free' solar and wind energy is how much it costs
>> and how much more it costs to make it reliable.
>>
>> I've never heard of nuclear power plants needing batteries, massive grid
>> interconnectors, mechanisms to protect against hail, backup power
>> stations
>
> The irony is that the Fukushima disasters was precisely because backup
> systems didn't work.

Not really a disaster: no one died or was injured. And if the seawall had been
a few feet higher or the diesel gennies upstairs instead of downstairs, there
would have been no reactor damage at all.

Bad things usually require a chain of events / bad luck / bad decisions /
fuckups.

And sometimes really bad things are averted by good luck. If the Tungusta
meteor had struck a few hours after it did it would have been goodnight
Vienna.

--
The truth of the matter is that we Scots have always been more divided amongst ourselves than pitted against the English. Scottish history before the Union of Parliaments is a gloomy, violent tale of murders, feuds, and tribal revenge. Only after the Act of Union did Highlanders and Lowlanders, Picts and Celts, begin to recognise one another as fellow citizens.

Tam Dalyell

On 28/03/2024 13:29, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 28/03/2024 13:01, alan_m wrote:
>> On 28/03/2024 12:27, Fredxx wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2024 14:51, GB wrote:
>>>> On 27/03/2024 12:59, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>>> https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1772466901345599716
>>>>>
>>>>> What's left of a Texas solar farm after a hailstorm...
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/texas-hailstorm-damages-thousands-of-solar-panels-at-350-mw-farm/
>>>>
>>>> It seems to be a well-known issue, to which there's a well-known
>>>> solution:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://www.pv-tech.org/how-stowing-can-reduce-hail-damage-to-solar-modules/
>>>
>>> One wonders if a cost benefit analysis was made on the probability
>>> that one or more panels would be damaged by hail? If it only occurs
>>> every 3 or more years then I doubt protection is warranted.
>>
>> And how reliable is the prediction of hail?
>
> Not bad if you have weather radar

Radar helps predict hail in the next 3 years? That's a new one.