Abstract: An assembly, solar panel, and solar panel protection system have a deployable and retractable flexible resilient mesh barrier which can be extended to cover and protect a surface which is vulnerable to hail and other airborne projectiles. The mesh barrier can be attached to a frame so as to occupy a plane over the surface. The mesh can be held on a powered or unpowered reel and extended on demand. The reel can have an automatically acting controller which extends the mesh responsive to a remote signal such as a warning signal from a weather announcing authority. The mesh barrier can incorporate a heating element to remove accumulated ice.