Can a photovoltaic system be tested with lightning and surge protection?

Find answers to frequently asked questions concerning lightning and surge protection for photovoltaic systems. The DEHN test centre is one of the most powerful impulse current laboratories worldwide. Here inverters and mounting systems can be thoroughly tested with a lighting current up to 400 kA.

Do PV systems need lightning protection?

With all the barriers discussed in Section 3.3, the need for lightning protection on PV systems must be evaluated on the basis of the risk analysis and protection costs. Table 10 presents the recommended standards related to PV systems including PV installations, lightning protection systems and electrical installations. Table 10.

What is PV protect?

PV Protect is the compact solution for optimal protection of the inverter against overvoltages The ready-to-connect boxes are available for different system voltages and can be supplied with various arrester types and MPP trackers.

How will a lightning protection system affect PV power generation?

All this kind of destruction will undoubtedly affect the economic aspects or the return on investment that could be earned from PV power generation as well as the cost of repair or replacement to recover from the damage, all of which can be mitigated by implementing a lightning protection system (LPS) .

Does a photovoltaic system need a discreet protection device?

When located outside the existing zone of protection on a building (see electro-geometrical pattern), a photovoltaic system needs a discreet protection device to protect it against lightning strikes. Two common situations are described in Figure 1.

Are lightning protection systems effective?

Experience shows that where lightning protection systems are installed, more often than not their design is poor and the protection they provide, ineffective. The problem becomes more serious for the industry, as the number of photovoltaic power plants increases.