In a recent hailstorm that struck Texas, the renowned and largest facility in the United States with a capacity of 350 MW, Fighting Jays solar facility has suffered extensive damage.

The reports emerged warning about the potential leakage of cadmium telluride from the cracked solar panels, posing a threat to the local water table.

“My worry stems from the hail damage that has caused these panels to break. We now have highly toxic chemicals that could potentially seep into our water tables. I have a family, including two children and a wife. Many of our neighbors rely on well water, and they are deeply concerned about the possibility of these chemicals contaminating our water sources,” a Texas resident interviewed by Fox News affiliate KRIV-TV stated.

However, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released a report refuting these claims, emphasizing that the initial reports contained false information.

SEIA clarified that the damaged solar panels do not contain cadmium telluride.

The Fighting Jays solar farm utilizes crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, which do not contain that particular material.

The majority of solar panels installed across the United States are made of silicon, a substance abundantly found in sand, and quartz, and commonly used in glassware, countertops, toys, and computer equipment.

SEIA further dispelled concerns about potential leakage, stating if the panels did contain harmful levels of toxic substances, the possibility of leakage is nonexistent.

The organization explained that the panels at the Fighting Jays facility are securely laminated between two layers of sealed transparent plastic

It is covered with tempered glass, and enclosed in an aluminum frame with an additional layer of plastic or glass on the back.

SEIA emphasized that even in the event of glass breakage, it would take decades for any substance to be extracted from the broken panels.

The organisation highlighted its collaboration with a network of solar panel recyclers capable of processing 10 million panels annually, offering recycling as a viable option.

Additionally, repair and repowering are also potential solutions for certain facilities.

Nevertheless, the hail risk remains a genuine concern for the solar industry, particularly in parts of Texas.

According to hail-risk expert VDE, hail damage has accounted for over 50% of insured losses in solar projects over the past five years.

While such events are infrequent, they can result in significant financial losses. In 2022 alone, hail-related losses in Texas exceeded $300 million.

SEIA acknowledged that while solar panels are not immune to natural disasters, neither are their fossil fuel counterparts.

Freezing natural gas facilities, flooded power plants, and storms causing nuclear power plant shutdowns are examples of the vulnerabilities faced by traditional energy sources.

Despite the widespread damage caused by the hailstorm, the Fighting Jays solar facility continues to generate power at a reduced capacity.

Conversely, freezing natural gas facilities were identified as the cause behind widespread power outages during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, which affected thousands of people and led to approximately $130 billion in short-term economic consequences.

With the Fighting Jays facility and the increasing hail risk for solar assets, the industry is actively addressing this issue.

A recent webinar organized by pv magazine, featuring VDE, explored various strategies to mitigate hail risk.

These include selecting appropriate solar panels for projects, implementing software-controlled stowing mechanisms that tilt panels away from direct hail impacts, and other preventive measures.

The webinar also addressed concerns related to the Fighting Jays project and the potential toxicity risks associated with solar panels, including those containing cadmium telluride.