Solar stations, such as Sunology, Beem Energy, Sunethic, etc., have been very popular products for the past two years. And for good reason: they allow you to reduce your electricity bill in 5 minutes, thanks to solar energy. A plug-and-play solution, installed in your garden or on your patio, simply requires plugging into a standard electrical outlet. But since this type of solution is new, it raises many questions. Insurance is a major one.
Standard home insurance guarantees
Most homes are normally covered by home insurance. The same guarantees are found in most home insurance policies:
- fire risk (accidental, of course)
- water damage risk, due to an external event (storm, burst pipe), or improper use (forgotten faucet)
- natural disasters
- vandalism
- glass breakage
These are standard guarantees, which we have already detailed in other articles. But be careful: unless explicitly mentioned, outdoor equipment is not covered by home insurance.
Outdoor Equipment: An Option to Consider!
Many people think that their home insurance also covers outdoor equipment. Unfortunately, they realize their mistake when the problem arises.
A bicycle parked in the garden, a robotic lawnmower, a competitive barbecue, garden furniture, etc. are generally not covered by home insurance, unless you opt for this option. In the event of theft or damage, no compensation will be paid! Garden equipment can, however, represent a small fortune.
Solar stations are, of course, included in this category and fall under the umbrella of garden equipment: by definition, they are mobile products, easily moved as desired.
So, of course, you might think that no one would bother stealing such a large piece of equipment. Think again: inflatable hot tubs, despite their size, have been a target for thieves for the past two years. After a reconnaissance, thieves remove the caps from the hot tubs to empty them, then return a few hours later to take off with the emptied and deflated hot tub, all before the occupants have even gotten up. These are fashionable pieces of equipment that have become more widespread, and they represent a significant budget. In contrast, a solar station is generally simply placed on the ground and plugged into an electrical outlet, making it much easier to transport. And it costs twice as much as an inflatable hot tub. Do we really need more reasons to insure it?
Besides theft, insuring your solar station can protect it from possible damage. Even though the glass on photovoltaic panels is very durable, a hailstorm like the one that occurred a few months ago, with hailstones the size of tennis balls, will easily destroy it. A gust of wind that knocks the panel over, or causes an element to fall on it, could also damage it. Finally, if all the necessary precautions are taken, insurance to protect against a possible fire caused by an electrical appliance is always recommended as a precaution.
In short, there are plenty of reasons to insure your solar power station(s), as this type of equipment represents a significant investment. However, be sure to clarify with your insurance company that this is, by definition, mobile equipment, as it's a new type of equipment that insurers aren't always familiar with. And often, when we start talking about photovoltaic panels, the insurance implies securing the equipment, which isn't the purpose of solar power stations. It's therefore important to thoroughly check with your home insurance!
If you have any personal experience with insuring your solar power station, feel free to share it in the comments!
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