The 2025 Solar Risk Assessment report, recently released by kW
h Analytics, has sparked significant discussion among industry professionals about the evolving challenges fa
cing renewable energy assets. To explore the report’s findings in depth, kWh Analytics convened its Renewable Energy Broker Council, bringing together lea
ding insurance brokers specializing in solar and battery storage to share their perspectives on the industry’s most pres
sing risks. The council provided a platform for these experts to discuss the implications of the report’s findings and identify strategies for stakeholders.
The Broker Council consisted of the following participants: Rob Battenfield (AmWins), Todd Burack (McGriff), Mike Cosgrave (Renewable Guard), Brian Fitzge
rald (WTW), John Katilus (Aon), Geraldine Kerrigan (CAC Specialty), Alex Post (Alliant), and Luke Slemeck (Marsh).
Advancing Hail Risk Mitigation
The 2025 Solar Risk Assessment highlighted hail as the dominant cause of solar losses, accounting for 73% of total losses by damage amount despite rep
resenting only 6% of loss incidents. This finding resonated strongly with the brokers, who empha
sized the critical importance of robust hail defense strategies and the evolution toward more data-driven approaches.
Watch More Image Part 2 >>>
Distributions of loss counts and losses by $ amount incurred, by different event types. Source: kWh Analytics 202
5 Solar Risk Assessment
Mike Cosgrave from Renewable Guard emphasized how clients are embracing more sophisticated risk eng
ineering: “What’s really resonating with our clients is asking resources, like VDE Americas, to rerun models to see the e
and different stow angles on Probable Maximum Losses (PMLs, a
n important metric in insurance). In some cases, our clients are collaborating with us very early in the proc
ess. Design and equipment decisions are being made on this basis very early in the development process. For the Spon
sors, it’s both a question of cost benefit, along with an overall desire to reduce risk. That’s where I’m seeing a lot more collaboration between insureds and others in the industry.”