The wind is a force of nature that can sneak up on you if you aren’t prepared for it. When it reaches high speeds, it can uproot trees, send debris crashing into cars and homes, and knock down power lines. If you live in an area prone to strong winds, installing solar panels that could be potentially blown away is a concern. So, how much wind can solar panels tolerate? Most solar panels are certified to withstand wind speeds up to 140 miles per hour. However, with the right mounting system and an expert installation team, solar panels tolerate wind speeds even higher than that.
Here in northern CA and Nevada, we don’t get too many high wind issues, but still, they do arise from time to time. You may have more concerns based on where your home is located geographically and topographically — especially if you are in a mountain community, a coastal community, OR in the flatland valleys with a lot of open ground where powerful windstorms can rip through the area quickly.
Many of our Gold Country customers in Angels Camp, San Andreas, Mountain Ranch, Sonora, Copperopolis, Murphys and the greater Calaveras, Stanislas, Amador, Tuolumne, Alpine County and Sierra Foothills region approach us with questions about solar generation as well as battery backup options for their homes and commercial properties. Sometimes these concerns include weather and geographical issues like wind, fire risk, shading, snow piles and accumulation as well as wildlife interruption. We approach each customer install with a thoughtful, intelligent view of the entire picture to make sure the solution is right for you and addresses your concerns.
Quality Mounting System
It’s important to not skimp on the mounting system. Whether it’s a roof or a ground mount system, the mount materials must be extremely durable.
What makes roof-mounted solar panels susceptible to the wind is the space between the roof and the panels. An extremely strong wind can suck underneath a panel and rip it off the roof. Especially if the roof is weak. In fact, if you’re worried about winds damaging your solar panels, look first at your roof. If your roof has not been inspected or maintained in any way in the last ten years, it probably can’t tolerate extreme wind as well as your solar panels. However, with a good roof and a durable mounting system, your solar panels should stay in place … no matter how gusty the day is.
Ground mount solar panels are even more tolerant of high winds. Though they are typically more expensive to build, their structures are a bit more aerodynamic, allowing wind to pass under, over, and behind without uprooting them. Not every yard or property has space for a large ground mount system, but it’s worth looking into. Particularly if you live in an area prone to strong winds.
Speak with one of our Aurora Energy solar consultants to learn which mounting system would be best for your property. Exploring your options will help you to narrow down which type would be the most wind tolerant. We’ll be able to make a recommendation based on our survey of your home pre-visit. Then, we’ll confirm it during our onsite visit inspection before we design your system.
Installation
Even if your solar panels and mounts are designed to withstand powerful winds, poor installation will make your panels flutter in the wind like a kite. Working with a qualified solar installation team is a must.
Aurora Energy only works with the best solar installation teams with extremely comprehensive warranties in the US. They have been thoroughly trained to install your panels so that they are secure. And of course, part of that expert installation includes making sure your panels meet the guidelines for local wind requirements.
With the right mounting system and expert installation, your solar panels can easily tolerate high wind speeds.
At Aurora Energy, we partner top quality customer service with thoughtful, creative customized solutions for each of our customers. We ask smart questions, we provide helpful insights to save you time and money, and we create each customer proposal and system design from scratch for each home and business. We won’t create a system for your home or business that wouldn’t stand up to the wind speeds and weather in your area.
Contact us today to see which panels would be the best fit for your home or business.
