Yesterday, we examined how weather can play havoc with solar panel arrays. Today, we will look at another potential disaster to an array and the surrounding area: fire.
You might not think that fire would be associated with solar panels. Well, folks, think again. Solar arrays have frequently been the cause of devastating fires. The combination of high voltage, lack of regular maintenance, and remote locations of the arrays can lead to fires that might rage through the forests and fields of Chesterfield County.
To understand how a solar array can create a fire, we must have a basic understanding of electricity. This is a simple explanation. The voltage produced by a single solar cell is between 0.5 and 0.6 volts. The wattage is approximately 0.5, resulting from the 1 amp produced by the cell (Wattage = Amperage x Volts). This is all direct current, known as DC electricity.
A solar panel is created by combining many of these individual cells. This is what you see when you look at a solar array. The number of solar panels determines the output of the solar array. All of this electricity is being generated as Direct Current. The problem is that we use Alternating Current in our homes and businesses. We also need a much higher amperage since this is the actual flow of electricity that makes those motors run, lights, lights, and heaters heat. The solar arrays have inverters that convert the DC power to AC to make the current compatible with the power system. They then have transformers that increase the voltage standards for transmission by the power lines that will carry it to where it will be used.
I have mentioned the above to show you that the electricity generated by solar cells must go through a host of transitions to make it compatible with the electric grid. Every step increases the places that a spark or other ignition sources can result in a fire.
It was tough to find information about solar array fires in America. It seems that the frequency of occurrences must be a national security issue. But, not all countries cover up the occasions of such events. Australia, for one, is very open about such fires. Here is a small statement from a company that reports on such events.
If you dig a little deeper you can find information on the fire damage in America, but this article affirms what I told you about the lack of transparency in America when it comes to Solar Array fires.
But sometimes, it is not just an electrical problem that can cause a fire. This is one example of an outside source contributing to a massive fire.
The causes of solar panel fires can be various, including issues on installation, isolators, and inverters, among other issues. Sometimes even wild animals that are in the area can pose a serious threat and start a fire due to the panel’s high temperature. That was the case of a large fire started on a solar farm in California that reached more than 1,000 acres and impacted the wildlife. The fire started because of a bird wing that touched multiple electrical conductors that were at a high temperature, starting a fire almost immediately. The fire spread quickly and destroyed 1,127 acres of land before it could be controlled and extinguished. This episode reveals how critical it is to have technology in places to detect fires early as most of its locations are unmanned.
So, I hope you have learned that those Solar Arrays starting to take over the Chesterfield County landscape are not exactly what the salesman made them out to be. They are, in fact, the possible spark that could cause a devasting event in our county, one that would have consequences beyond the mere fact that it is a fire. I will explore those issues in part 3 of this series of articles.