Solar Risk Assessment 2026
The eighth annual Solar Risk Assessment arrives at an inflection point for the energy transition. The world passed 50 million EVs on the road in 2024; data center electricity use is on track to quintuple by 2040; and global cooling demand is projected to triple by 2060. All of that demand is landing on a grid that now counts on solar, wind, and storage.
As the industry’s footprint has grown, so has the risk picture. This year’s report is organized around three themes: Resilience, Reliability, and Emerging Risks.
Resilient Power Report 2025
In June 2025, we published our 7th Annual Solar Risk Assessment, which details risks identified by industry experts to solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) assets. But after years of compiling that report, we recognized that something was missing from the industry conversation. While understanding risks is essential, we also need to celebrate and learn from our successes. That’s why we’re proud to introduce the inaugural Resilient Power Report — a companion publication to our annual Solar Risk Assessment focused on what happens when renewable energy infrastructure is designed, operated, and protected with best practices in mind.
The report draws on real-world case studies from across the industry to highlight what resilience looks like in practice. It is intended not just as a resource for risk managers, but as a playbook for developers, asset owners, and financiers who want to build and operate projects that last. We hope it becomes an annual tradition that grows alongside the industry it serves.
Solar Risk Assessment 2025
The seventh annual Solar Risk Assessment arrives at a pivotal moment for the renewable energy industry. In the past year, we’ve seen solar and wind energy production overtake coal for the first time in the US energy mix, marking a historic milestone in our clean energy transition. We installed nearly 50GW of solar capacity in 2024 alone, shattering records and expectations. As these clean energy sources become increasingly central to our grid reliability, the resilience and performance of solar, wind, and battery assets has never been more critical to our continued success.
The renewable energy sector faces evolving challenges across multiple fronts. Climate impacts have intensified, with hail damage, flooding, and wildfire becoming more frequent and severe. Operational risks persist as PV assets continue to underperform against forecasts. Battery storage safety concerns have heightened following recent incidents, highlighting the need for better thermal management and early detection systems. Fire losses are significantly driven by overgrown vegetation. Risks can be mitigated by strict vegetation management (especially around inverters, transformers, and combiner boxes), proper wire management and coordination with local fire departments. Meanwhile, cybersecurity threats have grown more sophisticated as our industry becomes increasingly reliant on connected monitoring systems.
This year’s report highlights objective industry research on these risks.
