What is the grounding of a photovoltaic installation?
Photovoltaic installations are enjoying unflagging popularity. For proper operation and protection of the photovoltaic installation, grounding is recommended. Is earthing the installation necessary? If so, what should be kept in mind when carrying it out?
In the following article you will find the answers to all your questions in the context of photovoltaic grounding!
Photovoltaic grounding - what is it?
The grounding of a photovoltaic installation plays an important role in ensuring electrical safety and protection against potential hazards associated with the photovoltaic installation. Grounding of photovoltaic installations is a connection whose purpose is to dissipate the electrical charge from the panels to earth. Excess electrical energy is discharged to earth and dissipated in a safe manner. The earthing serves to equalize the potentials of the mounting structure and the PV module proper. The ground has an electrical potential of zero, thus reducing the possible effects of excess voltage within the installation. Excess electricity 'dissipates' through the ground, protecting the PV panels from damage.
Why is earthing so important?
The earthing of a photovoltaic installation is very important, as it is intended to ensure the safety of the users and to protect the installation itself. Although photovoltaic panels do not generate a high risk of electrocution, the entire installation is connected to the building's electrical grid. This brings with it the risk of electrical surges, for example, which can occur as a result of lightning.
As a result of lightning strikes, the photovoltaic installation receives a large surplus of energy, which can overload the grid and overheat the cables. The earthing installation allows the excess energy to be redirected to earth, away from the installation. Earthing helps to maintain voltage stability in the electrical system. Earthing is therefore an important part of fire and lightning protectionas it ensures the safety of people, protects equipment and installations from damage, maintains voltage stability and helps to comply with electrical installation regulations and standards.
Does grounding photovoltaics make them safer to use?
The correct earthing of a PV system is crucial to ensure safety during the lifetime of the installation. In the event of an emergency, the PV system is protected against surges, short circuits and also the risk of fire. In the event of a lightning strike in the surrounding area, earthing ensures the safe dissipation of the enormous amount of electricity generated by the lightning.
Having a lightning protection system increases the level of protection not only for the entire PV system. It is worth deciding to ground the installation when it is installed. This solution will probably also prove to be cost-optimal, as the installation work can be immediately combined with the earthing installation.
