Affordable Wire Management unveils first-of-its-kind Hail-Stow Hanger

Affordable Wire Management (AWM) announced the solar industry’s first Hail-Stow Hanger today at RE+ 2024 in Anaheim, California. AWM’s unique, asymmetrical Hail-Stow Hanger is engineered specifically for Nextracker’s NX Horizon Hail Pro, which is designed to stow PV modules up to four times faster than standard trackers.

Nextracker’s Hail Pro-75, the industry’s first tracker capable of 75-degree stow angles, improves PV module survivability against potentially devastating hailstones. The AWM team analyzed more than 20 cable arrangements to ensure their Hail-Stow Hanger would fit under the Hail Pro-75 when it is stowed, while still delivering the same level of ampacity optimization.

“As extreme weather events become more catastrophic and commonplace, industry leaders respond with transformative offerings,” said Scott Rand, CEO and cofounder of AWM, which provides utility-scale solar cable management systems (CMS). “In lockstep, AWM designs solutions with the first movers in our market sector.?

The 75-Degree Angle Advantage

In a co-authored memo  “Best Practices for Hail Stow of Single-Axis Tracker Mounted Solar Projects,” VDE Americas and Wells Fargo Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance (REEF) provided comprehensive recommendations on hail stow protocols, emphasizing the effectiveness of the 75-degree tilt angle in damage mitigation. Additionally, according to kWh Analytics’ 2024 Solar Risk Assessment a 75-degree tilt angle reduces the probability of hail module breakage from 33% at 50 degrees to a mere 1% at 75 degrees.

Considering that hail damage has become the costliest weather-related risk for solar assets globally, a 75-degree tilt is becoming the industry best practice in extreme weather risk reduction strategies. According to GCube Insurance, hail damage accounts for less than 2% of solar project insurance claims by volume but is responsible for more than 50% of the total dollar losses, averaging over $58 million per incident.  

“Adopting a 75-degree hail stow tracker position represents a proactive and effective strategy for safeguarding solar installations against damage,” said Dan Smith, CTO of AWM. “However, up until now, there has not been a compatible wire management solution available. Today, we are proud to announce AWM’s Hail-Stow Hanger for the industry’s leading defensive hail stow tracker technologies.”

Key benefits and features of AWM’s Hail-Stow CMS include:

• The unique hanger and messenger cable system is specifically designed to fit within the tight gap that is formed from Nextracker’s Hail Pro-75 and the Damper Bracket.
• At Damper Piles, AWM’s Hail-Stow Hanger aligns the bottom of the cable with the bottom of the module to minimize flood plain clearance issues.
• At Non-Damper Piles, the Hail-Stow Hanger mounts directly to the pile flange, allowing high placement to eliminate any flood plain clearance concerns. 

As with all AWM’s CMS offerings, the Hail-Stow Hanger is free of polymeric material, withstands all weather conditions and corrosive environments and will last 40+ years. In addition to the Hail-Stow Hanger, the company’s CMS includes the Arden Messenger Cable Hanger, the Pinyon Hanger, HELIOS Beam Rod and the PHOTON Toolkit.

“Value-engineering isn’t just about cost-effective designs. It is also about responsiveness to industry needs, a relentless focus on innovation and quick time to market,” concluded Rand.

The AWM team is exhibiting at RE+ 2024, Sept. 10-12, on the third level of the Anaheim Convention Center. Stop by Booth #L31509 to see live demos of their ampacity optimization and learn more about their comprehensive CMS.

Tags: Affordable Wire Management