EMP Protection

Your problem can be solved with a Faraday Cage you can build yourself. Google it.

If you want protection from solar EMP on an everyday basis, aluminum wire cloth can be used in place but you will pay a price in your day to day efficiency.

If you're thinking about a serous EMP setback to the grid, you might be better off keeping spare panels unused in a faraday enclosure, as emergency backup.

Those comments are based on the advice on this website, with due reverence to Clarke's third law. The issue is certainly discussed all over the internet and you may well find other advice that suits you better.

can emp damage the panel itself? i can build a faraday cage around the electronics but i was worried about the wires coming from the panels being a conduit for emp. bypassing the faraday cage. i didnt know emp would damage/destroy the panels, or can emp damage the panels?

Short answer, no.

You may want to explore the LynDoor(Tm) solution, especially for Sun induced EMP. Lyn is available for consultation on many other thread. But, as a true artist in the field, may take some coaxing to warm up to the subiect. Good luck, and go for the brass ring!