When bad weather strikes, good solar technology steps up.
Earth Day often brings to mind sunny skies, green fields, and maybe even a sheep or two grazing on a solar site. But for those of us working in utility-scale solar energy, we know that’s only half the picture.
Because the truth is, solar sites don’t just face sunny days—they face hail, wind, and heavy snow. And as weather patterns become more extreme and less predictable, resilience can’t be an afterthought. It has to be engineered into every element of the system.
That’s why Earth Day isn’t just about celebrating our planet at its best —it’s a reminder of our commitment to helping deliver energy that can stand up to the real world.
Resilience Built In: Solar that Performs in Every Season
Utility-scale solar has a critical role to play in meeting the world’s energy demands. But what happens when the sun disappears behind thick clouds—or worse, when severe weather strikes?
Delivering dependable energy in the face of climate volatility takes more than just tracking the sun—it takes anticipating the storm.
At ARRAY, we’re focused on exactly that. With decades of field experience and a commitment to continuous innovation, we’ve built tracker systems that don’t just survive extreme conditions—they adapt in real time to help minimize risk and maximize uptime.
Engineering for Extremes: What Sets ARRAY Apart
ARRAY has introduced a suite of advanced tracker systems and features designed to help protect projects from increasingly unpredictable weather:
- ARRAY SmarTrack® Hail Alert Response: our software uses predictive algorithms to detect potential hail events and deploys automated technology to stow trackers up to 30 minutes in advance of a storm.
- ARRAY SmarTrack® Automated Snow Response: uses environmental inputs to detect snow accumulation and adjusts tracker positioning to shed snow and resume production.
- ARRAY Skylink Tracker System: delivers automated wind protection using a fully passive design—no sensors, no power required.
Each of these innovations reflects our mission to build solar infrastructure that lasts—no matter what nature has in store.
Proof in the Field: Fort Bend County
In Fort Bend County, Texas, a series of severe hailstorms caused widespread damage to utility-scale sites—making national headlines in the process. One solar project, the Fighting Jays site, is estimated to have had tens of millions of dollars’ worth of damages.
But not all sites told the same story.
Just miles from the hardest-hit projects, three solar farms equipped with ARRAY trackers emerged with little to no damage. What set these solar sites apart? They were equipped with ARRAY’s stow-enabled trackers, which positioned the panels at angles that helped dramatically reduce the impact from falling hail.
It was a powerful real-world example of how smart engineering and automated response can protect critical infrastructure—and keep energy flowing reliably for the life of the power plant.
Stronger Systems, Smarter Future
This Earth Day, we’re not just looking up at the sun. We’re looking forward—toward a future where solar power isn’t just available in ideal conditions but thrives through adversity.
At ARRAY, we’re proud to build tracker systems that reflect the reality of modern energy: engineered for extremes, backed by data, and trusted in the field.
Because no matter what the weather holds, the sun will keep rising.
Click here for other articles by this author
