Lightning protection of photovoltaic systems: Computation of the developed potentials

Abstract

In this paper, the performance of a lightning protection system (LPS) on a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) park is studied by simulating different scenarios with the use of an appropriate software tool. The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of an LPS and optimize its design for the protection of equipment and personnel in case of a direct lightning strike. In particular, developed potential due to lightning strikes is examined considering isolated and non-isolated external LPS. Moreover, the effect of the separation distance on the lightning performance of the PV installation is investigated for different soil structures and grounding systems. The extracted results are expected to support the design and implementation of a secure PV park and endorse its uninterrupted operation considering techno-economically balanced protection measures.