Renewable energy technologies and safety

The desire to reduce society’s carbon footprint has put the spotlight firmly on renewable energy technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Renewable energy technology like photovoltaic solar panels, wind turbines, motor generator sets and associated batteries can operate as stand alone power sources typically for individual remote area supply. They can also be connected to the supply grid (via electrical inverter technology) to enable the sale back to the energy distributor when excess electricity is generated by the renewable energy system.

The uptake and promotion of renewable technology has prompted the Electrical Safety Office (ESO) to investigate possible electrical safety issues.

Several electrical safety risks have been identified including the risk of fire caused by arcing of the solar panels and related electrical equipment; the risk of electric shock from contact with ‘live’ solar panels and other equipment; and the risk of electric shock to line workers if power is fed back into the supply grid. Other potential safety issues are summarised below:

• Live work issues – photovoltaic solar panel arrays currently cannot be ‘switched off’, if the sun is on them they generate electricity. Suitable methods to ensure isolation of parts need to be implemented to ensure live work does not need to be performed.
• Protection of electricity distribution workers – safety issues relating to the feeding back of electricity from a renewable installation into a de-energised supply grid and the possible risks for electrical workers working on the network in this instance need to be investigated.
• Fire hazards – the particular fire risks presented by photovoltaic solar panel arrays and related electrical equipment need to be further researched and controls developed accordingly.
• Installer qualifications and competence – correct knowledge and competency of installers of such equipment must be ensured to enable safety standards to be met. Currently the Clean Energy Council (formerly the Business Council for Sustainable Energy) accredit installers and these accredited installers must be used if the Federal Government rebate is claimed. However if the rebate is not being claimed there is no regulatory control except for electrical licensing requirements for the relevant electrical work.
• Remote area work – much of the renewable energy technology will be installed in remote areas where qualified electrical workers may not be readily available and as such the possibility of unlicensed work (and possible unsafe work) may occur.
• Operating voltages – photovoltaic solar panel arrays are being manufactured that operate at voltages above extra low voltage. Voltages in excess of 400Vdc and possibly up to 1000Vdc may emerge in the near future, potentially increasing the severity and likelihood of electrical shock or injury.

The ESO is working on a number of initiatives with industry and government partners to minimise the electrical safety risk and will keep readers informed.