LSU Professor Studies Implications of Extreme Wind on Solar Installations

Funded by a $100,000 grant from the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation, LSU Professor Aly Mousaad Aly is researching the potential impact of extreme wind events on solar power installations, and in the process hoping to improve their design and durability.  

LSU’s Windstorm Impact, Science, and Engineering (WISE) Open-Jet Testing facility will play a vital role in Aly’s research, as it will provide a realistic representation of hurricane-strength wind conditions through large-scale turbulent generation, enabling comprehensive testing of the panels.

After conducting testing in the WISE lab, Aly will develop recommendations for optimized design and configuration of rooftop and grount-mounted solar systems to maximize power production and reduce wind-induced damage and performance degradation. “Substantial photovoltaic (PV) installations are experiencing resurgent attention in clean and sustainable energy production,” says Aly, a civil and environmental engineering professor. “However, the high cost and potential of damage in windstorms bring real challenges for large-scale solar deployment.”

Aly’s project stems from an existing collaboration between industry and academia called “Advanced Hurricane Testing of Critical Infrastructure to Protect the People and Businesses Along the Coast,” with the outcomes providing recommendations for economic and resilient solar installations.

A series of seminars and workshops will follow, with stakeholders providing valuable feedback and recommendations regarding solar deployment across Louisiana. “Central to our narrative is an earnest call for collaboration,” Aly says. “We do not just invite passive interest; we actively seek engagement from a broad audience, including professionals from the renewable energy industry, policymakers, environmentally conscious homeowners, government personnel and the general public.

“We understand the critical need for resilient solar energy systems not just in Louisiana but across the nation and globally, especially in the face of severe weather,” he adds. “Our project subtly aligns with the Department of Energy’s core messaging and aims to be a beacon of innovation.”