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Lightning protection of PV systems

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DOI: 10.1007/s12667-015-0176-2

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Energy Syst
DOI 10.1007/s12667-015-0176-2

ORIGINAL PAPER

Lightning protection of PV systems

Christos A. Christodoulou1 ·
Lambros Ekonomou2 · Ioannis F. Gonos3 ·
Nick P. Papanikolaou1

Received: 9 October 2015 / Accepted: 3 November 2015

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015

Abstract The lightning protection of photovoltaic installations is of great importance,

in order to warrant the uninterrupted operation of the system and avoid faults and
damages of the equipment. Atmospheric discharges influence the proper operation of
the photovoltaic generators and their installation, involving also sensitive electronic
equipment. The determination of the need for lightning protection and the evaluation
of the performance of a risk management analysis are the first steps, in order to adopt
the appropriate protective measures against lightning. Scope of the current work is
to summarize the basic lightning protection techniques, taking into consideration the
Standards, the international literature and the common practice. The risk management,
the external and internal lightning protection system, the selection of the characteristics
of the equipment and the grounding system are discussed in the current paper.

Keywords Photovoltaic · Lightning · Surge protective devices ·

Induced overvoltages · Grounding

B Lambros Ekonomou
lambros.ekonomou.1@city.ac

1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace,

Kimmeria University Campus, 671 00 Xanthi, Greece
2 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, City University London, Northampton
Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK
3 School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon
Politechniou St., Zografou Campus, 157 80 Athens, Greece

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 C. A. Christodoulou et al.

1 Introduction

Photovoltaic (PV) systems, due to their expanded surface and their installation posi-
tion in wide-open areas, are vulnerable to direct or indirect atmospheric discharges,
which can cause damages and failures to the equipment and interruption of their nor-
mal operation. The layout of a typical PV installation is larger in comparison with
conventional power systems, so the probability to be struck by lightning is higher.
PV installation include many wire conductors of small cross section (the input and
output cables in the junctions, the metal frame and bracket of the solar modules, the
grounding system, the lightning terminals of the buildings, etc.), which are the basic
carriers of energy and, simultaneously, the main coupling channels of electromagnetic
interference [1].
Despite the fact that PV systems face the risk of damage from lightning, many
PV plants are not protected against lightning and the designers ignore or underesti-
mate the need for surge protection [2]. The lack of lightning protection system can
cause significant destructions and damages of critical electromechanical parts of the
PV installation; note that some times the cost of the damages exceeds the cost of the
lightning protection system (LPS) implementation. Moreover, an inadequate protec-
tion against lightning phenomena can increase the time of the return of investment of
the PV power generating system [3]. Therefore, it is recommended to take into consid-
eration techno-economically balanced protection measures [4]. For these reasons, the
design and the establishment of an appropriate LPS is necessary, in order to prevent the
development of overvoltages and restrict the repercussions of a potential lightning hit.
However, only the avoidance of lightning attachment to unprotected parts of the instal-
lation is insufficient, since lightning currents passing through the LPS parts may still
impact on the PV system due to inductive coupling. Hence strategic placement of PV
systems and shielding of conducting systems wherever possible is recommended [5].
In any case, the compliance with the national and international standards is important,
in order the guarantee the effectiveness of the protection measures and consequently
to ensure the safe operation of the installation and the quality of the supplied energy
[6].
Various researches have studied, either theoretically (by using appropriate sim-
ulation tools) [1,2,5,7–10] or experimentally (by performing laboratory or field
measurements and tests) [11–17] the lightning performance of PV systems. In [7]
the dynamic lightning protection, which focuses on the preventive actions for improv-
ing lightning performance of the whole system is discussed. In [1] a sensitivity analysis
is performed for the development of lightning overvoltages in a rooftop PV system,
taking into consideration the effect of lightning striking spot, the lightning current
amplitude, the building height, the soil resistivity and the distance between the solar
arrays and the external protection system. In [2] an appropriate computer program has
been developed for making a decision on either the need to install lightning protection
in PV system or not; the computer program can give a design on how to install lightning
rods by using the protective angle method. In [8] two different external LPS installed
to two different PV technology power plant systems are compared. The respective
system performances were compared in terms of total energy generated and energy
yield. The authors emphasize the importance for power plants to minimize PV system

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Lightning protection of PV systems

lightning damages by installing LPS and highlight the role of the shadow of lightning
poles that drops on the PV modules to increase solar cell temperature and reduce power
generation. The researchers in [9] estimate the arising overvoltages due to lightning
discharges and evaluate the actual need of lightning protection measures on the basis
of the results of the risk analysis and of the protection costs. In [5] the impact of
lightning on PV systems is directly related to the isokeraunic level of the region and
elevation of the building, providing also recommendations for the appropriate design
of the air termination system for a roof with PV panels in high isokeraunic regions. In
[10] the authors implement the generalized modified mesh current method, in order
to establish a time-domain multiport model of thin-wire system for lightning transient
simulation for PV power system with and without external LPS. In [11] the researchers
present the experiences during the measurements of the effects of lightning transient
currents injected by means of a surge generator on the DC overvoltage protection
system on a real MW-Class PV plant. In [17] the voltage at the terminals of two PV
arrays is monitored, considering lightning-induced voltage transients in PV arrays.
In [12] scaled laboratory tests and geometrically accurate simulation models are pre-
sented in an attempt to assess the induced overvoltages on long DC cabling loops. In
[13] the effect of lightning impulse voltages on the power output of the PV module
is studied. In [14], experiments of applying standard lightning impulse voltages on a
type of polycrystalline silicon PV module were performed and comparisons of their
dark I-V characteristics curves and I–V characteristics are presented. In [15] a light-
ning surge analysis model with a concrete foundation for PV panels was made and
has experimentally validated. The foundation model was used to model a DC power
distribution system within a full-scale PV system, and the required current withstand
capability of surge protective devices (SPDs) is evaluated using the finite difference
time domain (FDTD) method. The PV panel damage caused during a lightning strike
was discussed in [16].
The current work deals with the design of a protection system for PV installations
against lightning. It emphasizes to the coordination of the various surge protection
parts and summarizes the basic procedures for the sufficient and effective study of
PV lightning performance. The presented design techniques include the risk manage-
ment, the separation into lightning protection zones (LPZ), the internal and external
LPS, the selection of the electrical characteristics, the efficient placement of the surge
protective devices (SPDs) and the grounding system, according to the existing Stan-
dards, considering, simultaneously, the international research results and the common
practice.

2 Overvoltages in PV installation

PV systems have a major role in the renewable energy technologies, since they are
eco-friendly, nonpolluting and reliable power sources [18–21]. The application of PV
technology concern both stand-alone and grid-connected systems [18,22]. Lightning is
a main cause of faults, damages and interruptions in any kind of PV systems. Direct and
indirect lightning flashes can damage PV modules and equipment (inverters, cables,
batteries [22], boards, etc.). Direct lightning hits at the basic elements of the PV or at

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 C. A. Christodoulou et al.

the external lightning protection system (LPS) resulting to the insulation breakdown
and the grounding potential rise. In addition, lightning strikes create a magnetic field
around the flash channel or/and the conductors, inducing surges in all wiring loops of
the installation [19].
The scale of the consequences depends on:
• the characteristics of the structure,
• the LPS,
• the characteristics of the lightning flash, and,
• the lightning position hit.
According to [23] the sources of the expected damages due to lightning currents are
distinguished as following: flashes to the PV (S1), flashes near the PV (S2), flashes
to a service which is connected to the PV (S3) and flashes near a service which is
connected to the PV (S4). As result, the developed overvoltages can cause three basic
types of damages, i.e., injury of the occupants due to touch and step voltages (D1),
physical damages (D2) and failures of electrical and electronic system due to lightning
electromagnetic impulse (LEMP) (D3) [23]. Each type of the above damages, alone
or in combination with others, may produce different consequential losses, i.e., loss
of human life (L1), loss of service to the public (L2), loss of cultural heritage (L3)
and loss of economic value (L4) [23,24].

3 Risk management

The necessity a PV lightning protection system shall be examined, in an effort to

reduce the pre-mentioned losses (L1, L2, L3, L4). The determination of the need for
lightning protection and the design of the lightning protection system is performed
according to the risk management procedure, described in [3,24]. The risk R is the
value of a probable average annual loss. For each type of loss (L1 − L4) corresponds
a type of risk, i.e., risk of loss of human life (R1), risk of loss of service to the public
(R2), risk of cultural heritage (R3) and risk of loss of economic value (R4). Each
risk is the sum of different risk components R X (where X = A, B, C, M, U , V , W ,
Z ), which are grouped according to the source and the type of the damage [24]. Each
risk component R A , R B , RC , R M , RU , R V , RW and R Z is calculated according to the
equation:
R X = N X · PX · L X (1)
where:
N X is the number of dangerous events per annum,
PX is the probability of damage to the structure, and
L X is the consequent loss.
N X depends on the ground flash density and the equivalent collection area of the
object, taking into account correction factors for objects’ physical characteristics. PX
is selected by a Table presented in [24], considering various cases. L X depends on
the number of persons and the time for which they remain in the hazardous place, the
type and importance of the service provided to the public and the value of the goods
affected by the damage [19,24].

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Lightning protection of PV systems

S1

LPZ0A

S3

LPZ1

LPZ0B
S4 LPZ2 S2

Fig. 1 Lightning protection zones for a residential PV installation

Figure 1 presents the lightning protection zones (LPZ) in a residential PV; protec-
tion measures such as LPS, magnetic shielding and surge protective devices (SPDs)
determine the above zones. LPZ0 A is threated by the direct lightning strike and the
full electromagnetic filed, while LPZ0 B is protected against direct hit and is at risk
only by the non-attenuated electric field. In LPZ1,2,...n the surge currents are limited
due to sharing and SPDs’ installation; in addition, spatial shielding may attenuate the
lightning electromagnetic field [24].

4 External and internal lightning protection system

Risk management analysis determines the need of protection of the PV installation.

In case that lightning protection is required, the appropriate lightning protection level
(LPL) has to be defined, according to [24,25]. These LPLs equate directly to classes
of LPS [23]. IEC 62305-1 has defined four LPLs, based on probable minimum and
maximum lightning current parameters, i.e., peak current (kA), short stroke charge
(C), specific energy (MJ/) and steepness (kA/µs). The maximum values are used to
design lightning protection components, since the minimum values are used for the
position of the air termination system.
The LPS comprises external and internal parts; the external LPS is intended to
intercept direct lightning flashes to the PV installation and to disperse the lightning
currents into the earth without causing thermal or mechanical damage, nor dangerous
sparking which may cause fire or explosion [25,26]. The external LPS is composed
of the air termination system, the down conductor system and the earth termination
system. The protection angle, the rolling sphere and the mesh method are common
practices for the design of the external LPS in a way that all PV equipment to be
included to the protection volume. The classification of the LPS, the isolation or not
of the air termination system, the use of natural components (attics, guttering, railings,
cladding) [27] and the specifications of the grounding system are analytically discussed
in [25].

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 C. A. Christodoulou et al.

The main scope of the internal LPS is to avoid the occurrence of dangerous sparking
within the PV system to be protected, due to lightning current flowing in the external
LPS or in other conductive parts. Internal LPS includes equipotential bonding (inter-
connection of the LPS with structural metal parts, metal installations, internal system,
external conductive parts and lines connected to the structure) and electrical insulation
between the parts (compliance with a separation distance between the air termination
or the down-conductor and the metallic parts of the installation, which is depended
on the class of the LPS, the length of the conductors, the insulation material and the
sharing of the lightning current) [1,2,28,29].
The described LPS does not warrant the protection of the electrical and electronic
equipment of a PV installation against conducted or induced surges, developed by
the LEMP. For this reason, the division of the installation to be protected into LPZ
is performed, in a way that, for each zone, the LEMP severity is compatible with
insulation withstand capability of the equipment. A LEMP protection measures system
(LPMS) includes earthing, bonding, magnetic shielding, line routing and coordinated
SPD protection. In details the grounding system (Type A or Type B) leads the lightning
current to earth; in case of two internal systems, which are referenced to separate
grounding systems, the following methods have to be applied, in order to limit the
potential difference: (a) several parallel bonding conductors running in the same paths
as the electrical cables, or the cables enclosed in grid-like reinforced concrete ducts
(or continuously bonded metal conduit), which have been integrated into both of the
earth-termination systems; (b) shielded cables with shields of adequate cross-section,
and bonded to the separate earthing systems at either end [19,27,30].
An equipotential bonding network reduces the hazardous potential drops between
all equipment in the inner LPZ, as well as restricts the magnetic field. The achievement
of low impedance bonding system is realized by a meshed bonding network (consid-
ering as a 3-d meshed structure), which integrates all metal components aided by
equipotential bonding conductors inside the LPZ of the structure (all metal instal-
lations, reinforcements in the concrete, gratings, cable ducts, metal flour, supply
lines, etc.) directly or through surge protection devices (SPDs). Magnetic shielding
(spatial shielding or shielding of internal lines) attenuates the magnetic field and min-
imizes internal induced overvoltages. Suitable routing of the internal lines minimizes
induction loops and reduces internal surges. Spatial shielding and line routing can be
combined of used separately.
SPDs are installed between phase and earth in order to protect the electrical and
electronic equipment against overvoltages; SPDs present a non-linear voltage-current
characteristic, behaving as insulators for nominal current and as conductors in cases
of incoming surges. SPDs direct the lightning current to the grounding system through
low impedance paths and, simultaneously, keep the developed overvoltages below the
insulation withstand of the equipment [31,32].
The designer of the lightning protection system may choose either air termination
and down conductor system attached with the PV or air termination and down con-
ductor system non-attached from the PV, in combination with SPDs. It is noted here
that the frames of PVs are grounded to the metallic structure (there is electrical conti-
nuity between PVs frame and metallic structure). A non-attached lightning protection
system consists of a mast, installed away from the PV at a distance greater than [25]:

123
Lightning protection of PV systems

d>s
no connection
is needed

d<s

connection
is needed

Fig. 2 Attached or non-attached external LPS in combination with SPDs

ki
s= · kc · l (2)
km

where:
ki is a constant that depends on the selected class of the lightning protection system,
km is a constant that depends on the insulation, and
kc is a constant that depends on the lightning current flowing in the air termination
and the down conductor
l is the length, in m, along the air-termination or the down-conductor, from the
point where the separation distance is to be considered, to the nearest equipotential
bonding point.
In case that a PV installation is protected against lightning discharges by an external
LPS, the above distance s between the PV equipment and the parts of the LPS should
be respected, in order to avoid sharing of discharge currents through the metallic
components of the PV system. However, in some cases (i.e., PV installed on rooftops)
the demanded separation distance s cannot be satisfied, because of lack of adequate
space. For this reason, the frames of PVs are connected with LPS, something that
affects the selection of the SPDs characteristics [32,33] (Fig. 2).

5 Earthing system

The achievement of low values of grounding resistance in PV installation is of great

importance, in order to minimize any potentially dangerous overvoltages. In general, a

123
 C. A. Christodoulou et al.

low earthing resistance (if possible lower than 10  when measured at low frequency)
is recommended [25].
The lightning current that hits the PV installation is diverted through down conduc-
tors (and SPDs) to the grounding system. According to [25] two basic types of earth
electrode arrangements apply, i.e., type A and B arrangements. Type A arrangement
comprises horizontal or vertical earth electrodes installed outside the structure to be
protected connected to each down-conductor, since Type B arrangement comprises
either a ring conductor external to the structure to be protected, in contact with the
soil for at least 80 % of its total length, or a foundation earth electrode.
In details, in case of Type A grounding system, the total number of earth electrodes
shall be not less than two [25]. Furthermore, in Type B systems with ring conductor,
when the radius of the ring electrode is less than the length specified in the Type A
system, additional horizontal or vertical electrodes shall be added [32,34].
In [25] details about the configurations, the components the materials and the con-
struction of the earth-termination systems are given. In any case the cost, the lifetime
and the galvanic corrosion between metals of dissimilar nature are parameters that
should be taken into consideration during the design and the installation of a ground-
ing system [30,34].

6 SPDs: electrical characteristics and installation position

The basic electrical characteristics of SPDs are [35–38]:

Maximum continuous voltage (Uc ): it is the rms value of the maximum voltage
which may be applied to the terminals of the surge protective device. The value of Uc
shall be selected in accordance with the nominal voltage of the system to be protected.
Lightning impulse current (Iimp ): it is a 10/350 µs impulse current waveform that
simulates lightning surges. SPDs must be able to discharge such lightning impulse
currents several times without consequential damage to the equipment.
Nominal discharge current (In ): The nominal discharge current In is the peak
value of the 8/20 µs impulse current flowing through the SPD.
Voltage protection level (U p ): it denotes the maximum instantaneous value of the
voltage on the terminals of an SPD while at the same time characterizes their capacity
to limit surges to a residual level.
Short-circuit withstand capability: it is the value of the prospective power-
frequency short circuit current controlled by the surge protective device in case it
is furnished with an upstream backup fuse (backup protection).
The limiting voltage on the equipment terminals (Fig. 3) is given by the equation:

Ut = Ures + U1 + ΔU2 (3)

where:
Ut is the limiting voltage on the terminal equipment,
U1 is the inductive voltage drop on the phase side connection of the SPD, and
U2 is the inductive voltage drop at the earth-side connection of the SPD.

123
Lightning protection of PV systems

Fig. 3 Limiting voltage on the L/N

terminal equipment

U1

Ures Ut

U2

PE

The inductive voltage drop depends on, the resistive (R) and inductive (L) com-
ponent of the connecting conductors, the impulse injected current (i) and the rate of
current change (di/dt), according to Eq. (4):

di
U = R · i + L · (4)
dt

In order to keep this dynamic voltage drop low, the electrician carrying out the work
must keep the inductance of the connecting cable and hence its length as low as
possible. The installation of SPDs shall be performed with short connection wires,
since large loops especially by the PE conductor shall be avoided; they must be installed
as close to the terminals of the equipment, by using the shortest and straightest routed
conductors of sufficient cross sectional area. In case that the above criterion is not
fulfilled, then the developed surges will exceed the insulation level of the equipment
to be protected [27,35,39,40].
Surge protection devices (SPD) are divided into three classes [37,41]:
Type I: SPDs type I are installed mainly at the entry point of the installation at
the borders between LPZ 0–LPZ 1 or LPZ 0–LPZ 1 and provide primary protection
against 10/350 µs lightning current.
Type II: SPDs type II are installed at main node points of the installation at the
borders between LPZ 1–LPZ 2 and provide protection against 8/20 µs surge currents.
Type III: SPDs type III provide fine protection against 8/20 µs surge currents and
1.2/50 µs surge overvoltages and they protect sensitive electronic devices from impact
by lightning striking far away. Type III SPDs should always be installed at least after
at least type II SPDs.
SPDs are connected at critical positions (to both the AC and DC side) of the PV
installation and offer primary or secondary protection against overvoltages to the
equipment of the system; the appropriate placement of SPDs restricts the developed
surges that would otherwise stress the equipment terminals. Furthermore, the effective
protection of the PV equipment has to be ensured against oscillation and induction
phenomena, which can lead to equipment failures and damages. As far the oscillation
phenomena concerns, if the length of the circuit between the SPD and the equipment

123
 C. A. Christodoulou et al.

Fig. 4 Induction loops formed in a PV installation

is too long, propagation of surges can lead to overvoltages up to 2Ut (in case of an
open-circuit at the equipment’s terminals); if Ut > Uw (where Uw is the impulse
withstand voltage of the equipment) then a fault occurs [19,37].
The oscillation protection distance l po is the maximum length of the circuit between
the SPD and the equipment, for which the SPD protection is still adequate. If the circuit
length is less than 10 m or Ut < Uw / 2, the protection distance l po may be disregarded.
When the maximum length of the circuit between the SPD and the equipment is greater
than 10 m and Ut > Uw / 2, the oscillation protection distance can be estimated using
the following equation, taking into account a factor k equal to 25 V/m [19,37]:
Uw − Ut
l po = (5)
k
Lightning flashes can induce an overvoltage in the circuit loop between the SPD
and the equipment, downgrading the protection efficiency of the SPD. The induced
surges depend on the magnetic field (due to the lightning discharge current) around the
flash channel and the down conductors of the LPS, the lightning characteristics, the
geometrical characteristics of the PV system and the position of the stroke hit (Fig. 4).
The magnitude of the developed surges depends on the lightning characteristics,
the geometrical characteristics of the PV system and the position of the stroke hit.
In details, the steepness of the lightning current determines the level of the induced
overvoltage, since the induced voltages are proportional to the self-inductance of the
loop multiplied by the steepness of the lightning current [19,37]. Induced overvoltages
increase also with the dimensions of the loop (i.e., line routing, length of circuit,
distance between protective earth conductors and active wires) and decrease with
attenuation of the magnetic field strength [41,42]. Approximated equations for the
calculation of induced voltages and currents are given for different types of LPS
and lightning flashes in [9,19]. The induced overvoltages can also be estimated by
appropriate techniques given in [10,17,43–45]. As far as the hit position is concerned,
the severity of the overvoltage is inversely proportional to the distance of the point of
impact [46–48]. Figure 5 presents the induced overvoltage in relation to the lightning
hit position, considering a loop of 1 m2 .

123
Lightning protection of PV systems

Fig. 5 Developed induced overvoltage in function with the lightning hit position (loop surface: 1 m2 ) [49]

Fig. 6 SPDs installation switch

positions PV panel inverter board
A B C D

SPD

The induction protection distance l pi is the maximum length of the circuit between
the SPD and the equipment, for which the protection of the SPD is still adequate.
The avoidance of large loop surfaces or line shielding car reduce the effect of induced
phenomena, so the induction protection distance l pi can be disregarded. Otherwise,
the induction protection distance l pi can be estimated using the following equation:

Uw − Ut
l pi = (6)
3000 · K S1 · K S2 · K S3

where:
K S1 is the factor of the shielding effectiveness at boundary LPZ 0/1,
K S2 is the factor of the shielding effectiveness at boundary LPZ 1/2 or higher, and
K S3 is the factor of routing precaution on wiring [19,37].
Figure 6 presents a simplified PV system and the installation positions of the SPDs
(A, B, C, D). SPDs at A protect the PV panels against atmospheric discharges; their
implementation is not obligatory in case that the length between A and B is not greater
than 10 m. SPDs at positions B and D protect the DC side of the inverter and the
entrance of the main switching board, correspondingly, and are always required. Note
that, the developed overvoltages on DC wiring are also influenced by the grounding
system, the set-up conditions of each PV system and the wirings [50]. SPDs at C
protect the AC side of the inverter and are required if the distance between C and D
exceeds 10 m [36].
As far as concerning the selection of the type (class) of the SPDs, Table 1 summa-
rizes the basic cases, considering the external LPS and the separation distance s (see
Eq. (2)) [30].

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 C. A. Christodoulou et al.

Table 1 Basic cases of SPDs types

Lighting protection DC side of inverter AC side of inverter

No external LPS SPD type II SPD Type II

External LPS: d >s SPD type II SPD Type I
External LPS: d <s SPD Type I SPD type I

7 Conclusions

The current paper provides an overview of the basic aspects about the lighting pro-
tection of PV installations. The initial estimation of the possible dangers due to
atmospheric surges and the need for protection against lightning strikes (consider-
ing techno-economic criteria) is the first step for the efficient design of LPS. The
compliance with Standards requirements (e.g., separation distances, grounding sys-
tems, etc.) and the suitable selection and installation of SPDs, ensures the adequate
lightning protection, achieving a longer operational PV life by reducing the possibility
of faults and interruptions.

Acknowledgments The paper is supported by IKY fellowships of excellence for postgraduate studies in
Greece - Siemens program.

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