Storm reported to have damaged panels at Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, India

On 17 April 2019 a severe storm, with wind speeds reported as high as 130 km/h recorded at the site, struck Bhadla Solar Park in Bhadla, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan. The park is one of the largest solar parks in India, with an existing installed capacity of over 1500 MW across about 10,000 acres and a planned capacity of 2255 MW. Trade reporting says the storm damaged a large number of solar panels, although the extent of the damage was not confirmed by the developers at the time of publication. The park hosts several developers including ACME, SB Energy, Azure Power, Adani Energy and ReNew Power. The same storm caused widespread damage across several Indian states, with over 50 fatalities reported in the wider area, and also affected a solar powered railway station in Udaipur. Casualties or injuries at the solar park were not reported either way. Developers were reported to be assessing damage and repair requirements.

High wind speeds during the storm. An EPC contractor speaking anonymously to the publication said that design and specifications for the area already provided for sandstorms and extreme heat, but that factors such as undulating terrain or small construction errors could be greatly exaggerated at the wind speeds experienced. No root cause has been confirmed.

1. Solar installations in storm-prone regions benefit from design and verification against extreme wind loads, not only typical regional conditions.
2. Terrain variability, such as undulating ground, should be reflected in mounting structure design and in construction quality assurance.
3. Rapid post-storm inspection and damage assessment procedures help operators quantify losses and prioritise repairs across large multi-developer sites.
4. Insurance and weather risk arrangements should be reviewed for large parks exposed to seasonal extreme weather.

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