☀️ You’ve Invested Big — But Are You Protected?
🔥 True Story: A Costly Lesson
A business owner in Jharkhand installed a rooftop solar system but skipped insurance, thinking, “What could go wrong?”
In 2023, a freak thunderstorm hit Ranchi. A lightning strike damaged 60% of the panels and the inverter. The cost of repairs? ₹1.8 lakhs.
No insurance. No help.
All from a 5-minute decision not to insure.
Why a Separate Insurance Cover Is a Must (Even if You Have a Warranty)
🤔 Think of It Like a Car
- Warranty is like your car’s company guarantee – if something inside fails due to poor manufacturing, they’ll fix it.
- Insurance is what saves you when a tree falls on your car during a storm or someone steals it.
Your solar plant is no different.
🧠 Think of It Like Health Insurance
Just like a mediclaim policy covers your hospital bills for unforeseen illnesses, solar insurance protects your plant from sudden disasters. Even if one mishap occurs in 6–10 years, it can easily justify the entire premium paid over that period.
🔎 Real Risk: Solar Plants Are Exposed 24×7 for 25+ Years 🌦️
Solar plants are not sitting safely inside your home. They face:
- 🔥 Fire & Explosion/Implosion due to electrical short circuits or inverter faults
- 🌩️ Lightning strikes during thunderstorms that can damage inverters, panels, or surge protection systems.
- 🌪️ Cyclones and heavy winds ripping off panels and frames
- 🌊 Storm, Tempest, Flood, Cyclone, Inundation: The natural calamities that can severely damage panels, mounting structures, foundations, and damage the inverters and junction boxes.
- ⚔️ Vandalism, riots, Civil disturbances, or targeted attacks can result in significant losses.
- Landslide, Rockslide: Especially relevant in hilly or mining-prone areas, this risk isn’t under standard warranties.
- 🚰 Bursting/Overflowing of Water Tanks & Pipes: Can cause panel shorting or ground erosion around the plant.
- 💣 Missile Testing Operations: Rare but possible, especially near defense zones. Covered under specific insurance clauses.
- 🥷 Theft of solar panels and cables during unrest
Warranties won’t cover these. But insurance will.
Let’s break it down simply.
⚖️ Warranty vs Insurance – A Simple Table
| Feature | Warranty | Insurance (Tata AIG) |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Covers | Manufacturing defects | External damages (fire, lightning, theft, etc.) |
| ⚙️ Provided by | Equipment Manufacturer | Insurance Company (Tata AIG) |
| 🕒 Duration | 5–10 years (limited) | Renewable annually |
| 💥 Covers accidents? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| 🌩️ Natural disasters? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| 💰 Theft/Vandalism? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (conditions apply) |
| 🔧 Cost of replacement? | Partial (and slow) | Full (as per sum insured) |
| 💡 Purpose | Quality assurance | Financial protection from unexpected losses |
