Protection of 100kWp photovoltaic system against atmospheric overvoltages: A case study

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) systems, due to their installation position, are exposed to direct and indirect lightning hits, which can damage the equipment of the system, resulting in interruption of the power supply, repair or/and replacement costs and dangers for the personnel. So, the implementation of an effective lightning protection system is a critical issue, in order to achieve safe and uninterrupted operation of photovoltaic installations. In the current work, the developed lightning surges in a 100kWp PV system are computed, by using appropriate computer tool; a sensitivity analysis is carried out in order to examine the impact of the soil resistivity, the lightning strike position and the connection of the grounding systems with the metallic frame of the PV on the arising surges. © 2016 IEEE.