To protect solar inverters from lightning damage, install appropriate Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) 1 on both AC and DC sides of the system. Select SPDs with voltage ratings matching your system's maximum voltage, and ensure they're properly grounded.
Why the best practice was used: This document provides consistent criteria for applying lightning protection design, installation, maintenance and inspection into safety programs against the NFPA and DOE requirements.
For standard PV power stations, grounding resistance should be below 4 ohms; for large-scale PV power stations or areas with frequent lightning, it should be below 1 ohm.
Do solar panels need lightning protection? The short answer is: it depends on your location, system size, and local lightning activity-but most systems benefit from some level of protection.
The recommended approach is to use a separate DC grounding electrode for PV arrays and frames, as this enhances protection against lightning and transient voltage.
What is the most cost-effective way to protect a BESS from lightning? A combination of SPDs, grounding, lightning rods, and shielding offers the best cost-to-protection ratio for BESS facilities. Need help securing your battery storage system? Get in touch with us today.
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