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					</table><p>Recent extreme weather events in Rajasthan and other parts of the country <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/extreme-weather-exposes-hidden-risks-in-rooftop-solar-module-design-in-depth-analysis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> concerns about the structural durability of rooftop solar installations, with industry experts citing aluminum frames used in solar modules as a key vulnerability. During high winds and storms, several solar modules have reportedly been bent, torn, or detached.</p>
<p>Rising solar <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/indias-solar-industry-shifting-focus-to-timely-module-sourcing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">demand</a> across India, driven by rooftop subsidies, clarity on open access, and commercial and industrial adoption, is prompting developers and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors to update their project execution strategies. According to industry experts, companies are shifting procurement decisions more closely towards domestic manufacturing availability, compliance with the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, and solar system quality, durability, and reliability.</p>
<p>The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/maharashtra-adopts-tariff-for-2-5-gw-round-the-clock-renewable-power-procurement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company’s (MSEDCL) proposal for long-term procurement of 2,500 MW of round-the-clock renewable energy. The Commission adopted a tariff of ₹5.90 (~$0.06)/kWh and directed MSEDCL to submit the final signed power purchase agreement.</p>
<p>The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/tamil-nadus-sldc-rules-maintain-must-run-status-for-renewables" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> the State Load Dispatch Center (SLDC) Functions and Accountability Regulations, 2026, mandating renewable energy generating stations, nuclear power stations, and run-of-river hydro stations be treated as must-run stations and should not be curtailed except for grid security reasons.</p>
<p>The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rajasthan-treats-gst-rate-cut-on-clean-energy-equipment-as-change-in-law-event" target="_blank" rel="noopener">held</a> that the reduction in goods and services tax on renewable energy devices and parts from 12% to 5% will be treated as a change-in-law event under power purchase agreements signed in the state. The revised GST rate took effect in September 2025.</p>
<p>NTPC Renewable Energy (NTPC REL) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-renewables-issues-epc-tender-for-240-mw-solar-project-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for an EPC package to develop a 240 MW grid-connected solar project near Devikot in Rajasthan. The scope of work includes design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packing and forwarding, transportation, unloading, storage, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar project, including the supply of solar modules. The last date to submit bids is June 26, 2026. Bids will be opened on the same day.</p>
<p>NTPC REL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-renewables-floats-epc-tender-for-550-mw-solar-project-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> an EPC tender to set up a 550 MW grid-connected solar project near Shimbhoo Ka Bur in Rajasthan. Bids must be submitted by June 26, 2026. Bids will be opened on the same day. The scope of work entails the designing, engineering, manufacturing, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar project. It also involves providing operation and maintenance services for three years.</p>
<p>Telecommunications Consultants India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/tcil-seeks-consortium-partner-for-31-2-mw-solar-projects-across-ghana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> expressions of interest to select a pre-bid consortium or backend partner to supply, deliver, and install 645 solar systems, with a cumulative capacity of 31,210 kW at public facilities across Ghana. The projects are spread across the country, including Greater Accra, Central, Western, Western North, Volta, Oti, Eastern, Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, Northern, North East, Upper East, Savannah, and Upper West regions.</p>
<p>Inox Clean Energy, the renewables arm of INOXGFL group, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/inox-clean-energy-to-acquire-vena-energys-6-gw-renewables-portfolio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a definitive agreement to acquire Vena Energy India’s 6 GW renewable energy portfolio. Vena Energy India’s portfolio includes 1.2 GW of operational renewable energy assets, 1.8 GW of projects at an advanced stage of development and nearing commissioning, and 3 GW of projects under development.</p>
<p>Australia is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/australia-weighs-2-5-billion-polysilicon-facility-in-new-south-wales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assessing</a> the potential development of a 50,000-ton-per-year solar-grade polysilicon facility at the Hunter Energy Hub in New South Wales, according to a study supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. According to the report, the proposed facility in Australia could produce 50,000 tons of ultra-pure polysilicon annually, enough to support about 27 GW of solar module manufacturing.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: Extreme Weather Puts Solar Modules to the Test


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					</table><p>Climate change-induced extreme weather events like hail, flooding, and high winds are accelerating solar module damage above certain thresholds, causing greater long-term losses in system performance, according to researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (<a href="https://www.nrel.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NREL</a>).</p>
<p>Researchers compared photovoltaic (PV) system performance against the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration&#8217;s</a> weather maps and studied how performance was affected when extreme events occurred within 10 kilometers of the systems.</p>
<p>They found that flooding and hail caused most short-term solar outages, where the median outage length after an extreme weather event was two to four days, resulting in a 1% median loss in annual performance.</p>
<p>However, above certain levels, such as hail over an inch in diameter, winds over 90 kilometers per hour, and snow depths greater than 1 meter, the system had greater annual performance losses. This was due to mechanical stress, which can lead to cracked cells within PV modules.</p>
<p>Overall, however, the analysis of thousands of PV solar power systems across the U.S. has found that solar modules are degrading at expected rates, losing about 0.75% of performance per year, which confirms previous studies.</p>
<p>&#8220;It shows that our fleet of PV systems, on the whole, is not failing catastrophically, but rather degrading at a modest rate within expectations,&#8221; said Chris Deline, group manager for PV field performance at NREL, stressing the importance of accurately quantifying the rate of degradation as it is used in financing agreements that fund solar projects.</p>
<p>The analysis, compiled from over 25,000 solar inverters across 2,500 commercial and utility solar sites in 37 states and U.S. territories, also revealed that performance in hotter regions like the Southwest degrades nearly twice as fast as cooler climates. Degradation in hotter climates was 0.88% per year compared to 0.48% per year in cooler climates.</p>
<p><strong>Countering Extreme Weather Impact</strong></p>
<p>Accurate solar module testing standards, manufacturing quality, and weather-resilient mounting and installation practices are key to minimizing power loss, the researchers said. Data sharing and analysis can also help the solar industry proactively identify issues and improve real-world solar system lifetimes and performance.</p>
<p>With solar panel warranties spanning 25 years and project financiers planning on decades of power production, small differences in sustained energy output are crucial for maintaining system economics. The small differences can even determine if a system operates at a profit or a loss.</p>
<p>Additionally, the researchers also warned the industry that recent trends, such as larger modules, thinner cells, and thinner front glass, may increase system vulnerability if not designed and tested appropriately.</p>
<p>In January, an International Energy Agency report said the soiling of solar PV systems from dust and snow could <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solar-pv-soiling-cut-energy-production-worldwide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lead</a> to a 4-5% loss in energy production worldwide.</p>


Extreme Weather, Degradation Impact US Solar Projects in a Small But Significant Way

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