KWh Analytics has launched a data sharing pilot program to reward the efforts of renewable energy assets in mitigating extreme weather. KWh Analytics is expanding its risk modeling capabilities by utilizing data from solar projects that employ advanced resilience measures beyond the information typically captured in standard insurance submissions.

The initial focus of this pilot was to improve the capture method of project level elastic data and forward it to insurance companies. The advancement of tracker technology, including 70 ° loading function, automatic loading program, and continuous increase in historical loading performance data, has created new opportunities for insurance companies to have a clearer understanding of asset design and operation before adverse weather events occur.

Compared to baseline assumptions and storage protocols, modeling these elastic configurations can significantly reduce the average annual losses and insurance premiums at the portfolio level. Projects that include additional risk mitigation measures, including thicker tempered glass modules, can further reduce losses.

For solar energy developers participating in collaborative remote information processing programs, Nextpower will share real-time and historical hail storage performance data to achieve a more dynamic and evidence-based view of project risks. By integrating these operational data into its proprietary risk modeling platform, kWh Analytics can better assess how system design and operational readiness affect expected losses. This method reflects the use of remote information processing in the automotive insurance industry, where driving behavior data is shared with insurance companies to better align premiums with actual risks.

Jason Kaminsky, CEO of kWh Analytics, stated, "Extreme weather remains a significant factor contributing to utility scale solar losses, and the industry is rapidly advancing the management of these risks." "By integrating real-world data, including storage performance from Nextpower tracking systems, we can more closely link insurance structures with demonstrated resilience, encourage investment in asset protection, and enhance the long-term financing capabilities of solar projects. ”

In the kWh Analytics solar risk assessment 2024, Longroad Energy and Nextpower released a case study showing that actively retracting 75 ° can reduce the probability of damage from actual events in 2022 by 87% compared to 60 ° retraction.

Jyoti Jain, Head of Software Product Management at Nextpower, said: "We are pleased to collaborate with kWh Analytics on this groundbreaking program, which will bring greater transparency and accuracy to solar asset risk assessment. ”By allowing customers to share validated storage performance data from our NX Horizon tracker with Hail Pro technology, we are achieving a transition from modeling assumptions to real-world evidence. This insight enables insurance companies to reward projects that are truly designed and operated for long-term resilience. ”

The new framework recognizes that advanced solar tracking systems and site design strategies are playing an increasingly important role in enhancing project resilience to adverse weather risks such as strong winds, hail, and floods. As extreme weather events become increasingly frequent in the United States, this approach aims to better integrate insurance pricing with engineering, technology, and operational choices, thereby significantly reducing potential losses and improving long-term asset durability.

KWh Analytics expects that over time, as data quality, validation, and modeling continue to improve, more technologies and operational practices will qualify for high-quality differentiation. The company plans to expand the framework through ongoing collaboration with industry leaders.