kWh Analytics has expanded its insurance solutions with a new Excess Natural Catastrophe coverage option, targeting the renewable energy market’s need for enhanced protection against severe convective storms. 

The coverage was introduced by Solar Energy Insurance Services, a licensed insurance entity of kWh Analytics. 

The product complements the company’s existing insurance products, which provide operational and construction coverage for solar, wind and battery energy storage assets.  

The Excess Natural Catastrophe coverage offers additional capacity of up to $20m, focusing on damage from severe storms and named windstorms in inland regions. 

Projects with hail protection features and strict maintenance protocols can benefit from additional coverage, similar to primary coverage benefits, the company said in a press release.  

To standardise hail resilience assessment, kWh Analytics has partnered with VDE Americas to create the Hail Stow and Risk Evaluation tool.  

This tool scrutinises panel specifications, tracker stow angles, forecasting systems and testing protocols.  

Projects that demonstrate hail protection strategies through this tool may obtain more “favourable” insurance terms, including within the excess coverage tier. 

kWh Analytics chief underwriting officer Isaac McLean said: “Our Excess Natural Catastrophe offering evaluates the same resilience factors we consider in primary coverage, and we request asset owners and sponsors provide us details of their hardening strategies so we can appropriately credit their risk mitigation efforts.” 

kWh Analytics CEO Jason Kaminsky stated: “Our loss database reveals that hail accounts for 73% of total solar industry losses by damage amount. As renewable projects grow in size and tax-equity investors and lenders require higher insurance limits, we are addressing a critical market gap with this specialised excess layer solution.”