Renewable energy is developing day by day. As the use of solar energy grows, so does the responsibility for keeping these systems safe, since most of the activity happens at high voltage, which calls for special readiness when it comes to fire. That is exactly why sites such as industrial plants and storage facilities for various materials, chemicals and fuels must make safety a priority.
For these very reasons, All Energy & Architecture recently turned to SolarEdge to install a photovoltaic system with the best equipment at its fuel storage facility in Italy, the Alkion terminal. The recommended system was 440 kW with 16 SolarEdge (SE27.6K) three-phase inverters and 785 SolarEdge (P600) power optimizers.
Because this project places high voltage next to a large amount of highly flammable fuel, the photovoltaic system must have the highest level of safety. That is why SolarEdge was the right partner: its systems come with two built-in functions, SafeDC and arc fault detection.
SafeDC is designed to protect installers and maintenance staff from electric shock. It does this by reducing the DC voltage to 1 V per module, making the modules safe to touch when AC power is switched off.
Arc fault detection shuts down the photovoltaic system if an electric arc occurs. Since electric arcs can easily cause fires, this detection system is an essential function for photovoltaic systems installed near flammable materials. All Energy & Architecture say that this system lets them do their work with complete peace of mind.
As the photovoltaic industry expands, stricter safety standards and regulations are becoming more common. That is why, in addition to SafeDC and arc fault detection, SolarEdge has another product designed to protect firefighters. Called the SolarEdge Firefighter Gateway, it enables automatic system shutdown and real-time voltage readings, useful functions in emergencies.
Differences between traditional and SolarEdge technology
As mentioned, the SolarEdge system was built with advanced safety functions from the start, while traditional systems, although efficient at converting energy, still require additional improvements to meet safety standards.
The SolarEdge system takes care of the safety of employees, the surroundings and ultimately the equipment itself thanks to SafeDC, which is always active. Specifically, whenever the system needs to be switched off or shuts down automatically, the voltage drops very low, to one volt per module. Such a low voltage is not dangerous to people on contact, so electric shock is avoided. In addition, SolarEdge inverters can detect problems such as electric arcs, the main cause of fires in electrical systems. When they detect such a fault, they shut down to prevent any damage, in line with the specific safety standard UL1699B.
With traditional inverter systems, a shutdown does not mean that all parts are safe to touch, because high voltage may still be present in the wires connecting the panels. For a traditional system to meet the standard provided by SolarEdge, special equipment is often required, which means additional costs.
Although safety comes first, there is another advantage of SolarEdge technology: energy savings worth up to €79,500 a year and annual energy yields of up to 560,000 kWh, delivered by the system's performance.
Source: energetskiportal.rs (in Serbian)
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