⚡ Quick Read
As large-scale solar installations expand across diverse geographical regions, the risk of lightning-induced damage remains a critical concern for developers and EPC contractors. While traditional Lightning Protection Systems (LPS) using Franklin rods are standard, they do not always prevent transient overvoltage during direct strikes on PV modules or mounting structures. A research team in Indonesia has recently proposed a novel grounding strategy to mitigate these risks by optimizing grounding-point locations and evaluating various configurations to improve surge dissipation.
The study utilized an equivalent electrical circuit model developed in ATPDraw 7.2 software, simulating an array of ten 200 W solar panels. The researchers modeled the electrical characteristics of frames, mounting structures, and electrodes under a simulated lightning strike with a peak amplitude of 50 kA and an impulse waveform of 1.2/50 μs. The simulation tested two primary configurations: direct grounding through PV module frames and grounding through mounting structures.
Key findings indicate that soil resistivity plays a major role in transient voltage distribution. As soil resistivity increased from 30 Ωm to 3,000 Ωm, peak voltages shifted from the injection point toward the grounding connection. Notably, the study revealed that introducing a second grounding point provided substantial benefits, reducing transient voltages by 47.5% to 54.8% for frame-grounded systems and 43.2% to 50.7% for mounting-based grounding. The researchers concluded that grounding through mounting structures generally yielded lower maximum voltages due to reduced electrical resistance.
For EPC contractors operating in India, where lightning activity is prevalent in many regions, these findings offer a practical pathway to enhance system resilience. By strategically placing grounding points closest to potential lightning injection points and adopting dual-grounding configurations, developers can significantly lower the risk of transient overvoltage. This approach not only protects the PV modules but also ensures that the overall system remains within the safety limits prescribed by IEEE Std 80. Incorporating these findings into the design phase can lead to more robust infrastructure, reducing long-term operational expenditure (OPEX) related to component replacement.
The industry is expected to evaluate these simulation results against real-world field data. As the India renewable energy sector continues to scale up, the adoption of advanced grounding techniques will become increasingly vital to protect multi-megawatt assets. Future project designs may integrate these findings to refine EPC standards, ensuring that large-scale solar farms are better equipped to withstand extreme weather events while maintaining grid stability.
Aditya Pathre is the Founder of MVApulse and covers India’s renewable energy sector, including solar, wind, battery energy storage systems (BESS), green hydrogen, transmission infrastructure, renewable energy policy and competitive bidding. His reporting focuses on project developments, market trends, government policies and energy transition across India.
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