Lightning Protection For Solar Power Plants

If there is steel well casing nearby you can use it as a ground rod make a strong bolted connection to the casing.

Lightning protection for solar power plants.

A lot of lightning protection work is buried and out. Solar panels are especially prone to lightning strikes due to their large surface area and placement in exposed locations such as on rooftops or ground mounted in open spaces. Protecting the power plant area from lightning related damage protecting the modules inverters and monitoring systems from the effects of electromagnetic impulses. Lightning strikes are dangerous involving currents of up to several hundred thousand amps with rise and decay times of a few microseconds.

Undp flashage qxp layout 1 11 2 16 11 45 am page 1. Solar lightning protection is important as lightning strikes and related electric discharge is one of the top reasons for sudden unexpected failures of solar systems. Protection against direct lightning strikes and transient overvoltage a lightning protection system for free field systems and solar parks has two main goals. Apart from direct strikes induction.

Solar systems are often installed in open spaces away from. Earthing and lightning overvoltage protection for pv plants a guideline report november 2016 empowered lives. Lightning protection surge protection and comprehensive grounding engineering are a must when keeping power flowing to the grid. Power generation fossil solar and nuclear plants are typically constructed in large and unobstructed locations making these systems susceptible to lightning strikes.

There are 6 600 operating power plants in the u s. Solar needs surge protection. However another area in the electricity supply paradigm where application of arresters needs to be considered are relatively small power stations also known as distributed generation dg plants. Vfc and lyncole are proud to be the only company in the grounding industry that actively designs installs and verifies our utility and power generation lightning protection.

Where solar arrays are installed on residential or other rooftops lightning protection as described in nfpa 780 chapter 12 is a useful reference. How to protect your solar power system from lightning. Solar pv systems in susceptible regions should be made safe from nature s power. Direct strikes causing large ground step potential differences are hazardous to life and limb and to equipment.

Lighting can seriously harm your pv system lightning strikes and related electric discharge are one of the top reasons for sudden unexpected failures of solar systems. Solar arrays are also electronic devices and so are subject to the same potential for damage from surges. Lightning protection is usually associated mainly with distribution networks or transmission lines and substations.