As the global solar photovoltaic industry advances at an unprecedented pace, propelling installed capacities into the terawatt era, safety concerns have emerged as a critical challenge. While solar energy offers humanity an unparalleled opportunity to harness clean, sustainable power, incidents of PV-related fires have occasionally marred their progress.Recent high-profile cases include a July 2023 fire in Switzerland that engulfed an industrial building with a PV system, an August blaze at an Italian rooftop poultry farm that tragically killed over 20,000 hens, and a February 2024 fire in the UK that caused significant losses at a warehouse storing £70 million worth of goods. These incidents have underscored the urgency of enhancing PV system safety, as they not only result in economic damage but also heighten local community concerns and potentially hinder future solar development.The Hidden Risk: High-Voltage Devices on Rooftop Among the various applications of PV energy are buildings equipped with solar power systems, which can present significant hazards in the event of a fire. Surprisingly, simply turning off the solar inverter does not always deactivate the system. In certain inverter configurations, wires and circuits can remain energized even after the inverter is switched off, increasing the risk of electric shock to firefighters working on the roof or in the attic. Recently, much misinformation regarding PV systems and firefighter safety has circulated online, with some sources even suggesting the dangerous advice to “let it burn” when solar panels are detected on a roof.Global Standards Elevate Safety for Solar PV Systems with Advanced Rapid Shutdown RequirementsThe 2017 US National Electrical Code (NEC) introduced module-level rapid shutdown for solar panels, a crucial step in enhancing safety. It tightened these standards, requiring rapid voltage reduction to meet the voltage of the conductors below 30V outside the array boundary and 80V within the array boundary within 30 seconds. The 2020 NEC further strengthened safety with the introduction of “PV Hazard Control Systems,” proactively mitigating fire risks and ensuring safe operating conditions. Globally, leading PV markets are adopting stringent standards to mitigate high-voltage DC arc risks. Key examples include Brazil (NT-44-2023), Thailand (EIT 022013-22), the Philippines (PEC 690.2).These evolving regulations demand advanced performance from module-level rapid shutdown systems, reflecting a unified global effort to enhance PV system safety and reliability, setting a strong foundation for secure solar energy deployment worldwide.Sungrow’s Transformative Solution: SR20D-M Rapid Shutdown EquipmentSungrow, a global leader in PV inverters and energy storage solutions, has introduced the SR20D-M Rapid Shutdown Equipment, a state-of-the-art innovation that redefines safety standards with intuitive installation and advanced management capabilities. And this equipment bring
Gio. Gen 9th, 2025
