How Smart Operators Are Protecting Their Assets in Real Time

In Australia’s growing solar sector, hailstorms aren’t just a weather event; they’re a business risk.

With hundreds of millions of dollars invested in infrastructure and long-term returns riding on uninterrupted operation, solar farm operators face a pressing question: how do you protect high-value assets from something as unpredictable and destructive as hail?

For many, the answer is a frustrating mix of static forecasts, delayed alerts, and reactive maintenance. But that’s changing.

At Early Warning Network (EWN), we’ve launched HailAWARE - a comprehensive hail intelligence solution designed to help solar operators make proactive, data-driven decisions when hail risk arises.

Hailstorms can devastate large-scale solar installations in a matter of minutes. Fragile photovoltaic modules and exposed tracking systems are vulnerable to even moderate hail events. And with Australia seeing an increase in convective storm activity, particularly across regions like southeast Queensland, western NSW and regional Victoria, the threat is growing.

Even “marginal” hail risk events can:

• Crack panels and compromise generation efficiency

• Damage inverters or tracking mechanisms

• Lead to operational downtime and insurance claims

• Trigger costly inspections and reputational damage

What operators need isn’t just a warning, it’s actionable intelligence. That’s where HailAWARE comes in.

Introducing HailAWARE: Your End-to-End Hail Risk Platform

HailAWARE offers three core capabilities in one seamless system, built specifically for industries that can’t afford uncertainty.

Forecasting: Days in Advance, Site-Specific

Using advanced atmospheric models and proprietary data partnerships, HailAWARE delivers hail risk forecasts up to 4 days ahead, with severity indicators tailored to your solar farm’s location.

You’ll know if conditions are building toward severe hail, and which sites are at risk—so you can adjust maintenance schedules, alert teams, and put assets in safe mode when needed.

Real-Time Alerts: As It Happens

During active storm days, HailAWARE tracks hail cells with live radar and nowcasting, issuing your team automated alerts,  customised to your site boundaries when cells are on approach.

Alerts include:

• Estimated hail size

• Speed and direction of the cell

• Real-time tracking overlays

• Polygon-based impact zones

You’ll know precisely if and when your site is under threat,  not just that hail exists somewhere in your state.

Post-Event Reporting: Instant Clarity

After a storm, clarity matters. HailAWARE provides time-stamped, geo-verified post-event reports showing whether hail occurred on or near your solar farm, and how large the hailstones were.

These reports are critical for:

• Verifying event-based downtime

• Supporting insurance claims

• Avoiding unnecessary inspections

• Justifying operational decisions to investors

Whether you run a single site or manage a portfolio across multiple states, HailAWARE is built to scale and integrate. Our alerts and forecasts can be delivered via:

• Email/SMS alerts

• Live web dashboards

• API feeds directly into SCADA or operational systems

• Custom GIS visual overlays

No technical team? No problem. Our onboarding is fast and guided, with local support available when it matters most.

HailAWARE has been developed by the team at Early Warning Network - Australia’s leader in tailored weather intelligence. Our systems are ISO27001 certified, our data is hosted locally, and we already protect critical infrastructure,  insurers, and government agencies across the country.

Ready to see it in action?
Talk to a Hail Specialist Today.