I've been thinking a long time about renewable energy methods. I've drawn the conclusion (years ago) that solar is 100% idiotic in tornado alley, especially central OK, due to frequent softball size hail. Stack that with zero incentives or rebates, and it turns into a ~25-30 year process just to break even, assuming nothing goes wrong. Wind is the best option here, but even that isn't a wise financial decision. So today, I randomly stumbled across an image of a set of solar panels suspended about 15 feet in the air on a large thick metal pole. Somehow I've never seen this type of setup. I've only seen panels fixed to rooftops or on poles/racks just a couple of feet off the ground. Since all I could see in my head was the ground clearance, it got me thinking, is it possible to not have a permanently fixed array of panels? Can you either manually or via a motorized contraption (in my head I'm thinking of something like a drywall hoist) turn the panels to face the ground during severe weather? If the underside is a heavy duty material that can withstand hail, such as a thick metal, this may be the one magic bullet to make me consider solar again. If by miracle chance this is feasible, I still won't be doing it anytime soon, but looking in 3-5+ years, if at all. If this hasn't already been thought of/invented, I claim dibs on the patent (or at least 15% in royalties)!
If using a fixed rooftop setup, how feasible is a 'cover' that can be motorized to protect the panels? I'm picturing an industrial type garage door that rolls up like a 'P' shape, only instead of creating a vertical barrier, it creates a parallel shield for the panels. Or perhaps just a solid sheet of thick metal on wheels with a track to allow it to slide over the panels...? The imagined possibilities are vast, I just don't know how it would all work in the real world.
Thoughts?
If using a fixed rooftop setup, how feasible is a 'cover' that can be motorized to protect the panels? I'm picturing an industrial type garage door that rolls up like a 'P' shape, only instead of creating a vertical barrier, it creates a parallel shield for the panels. Or perhaps just a solid sheet of thick metal on wheels with a track to allow it to slide over the panels...? The imagined possibilities are vast, I just don't know how it would all work in the real world.
Thoughts?
![[Linked Image]](https://www.revisionenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/londonderry-nh-solar-sanders-05-1.jpg "[Linked Image]")
