The formation of an extratropical cyclone put several homes at risk of being left without access to electricity last weekend due to heavy rain and the high incidence of lightning in the southern region of Brazil.
According to information from the Weather, in these locations, large volumes of rain were recorded, including thunderstorms, lightning and gusts of winds, with more than 60 km/h.
In Santa Catarina, for example, residents of the municipalities of Abelardo Luz, Vargeão, Passos Maia and São Domingos, suffered from a strong hailstorm, which destroyed the roofs of houses and hampered vehicle traffic.
Civil Defense had to distribute tarpaulins to residents because of the damage caused to the roofs of their homes. In other municipalities, rainfall was above 100 mm and close to the historical average predicted for the entire month of August (130 mm).
At the time of writing this report, no records of problems caused by solar plants in the region had been released.
More rain
On Tuesday night (9), however, the low atmospheric pressure system should once again reach not only the South region, but also the Southeast. The phenomenon will cause large accumulations of rain, lightning and strong gusts of wind, with more than 80 km/h.
Marcely Sondermann, meteorologist at Climatempo, explains that the most affected states will be Santa Catarina and Paraná. In the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the biggest impacts are expected from Wednesday (10). “The risk is high for disruptions to distribution networks and electricity transmission lines,” she explains.
In the assessment of the electrical engineer Matthew Vinturini, specialized in photovoltaic systems and energy storage, consumers with an off-grid solar system will not suffer from power outages and fluctuations, as the equipment guarantees energy supply in cases of grid disconnection.
Protection
However, in addition to the lack of energy, another point that raises concern is the protection of photovoltaic systems during storms.
The electrical engineer Paulo Freire, a reference in the electrical sector when it comes to grounding, explains that in times of climate instability, protection for photovoltaic systems becomes an essential item.
“Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent lightning from falling on a photovoltaic solar plant. So, what has to be done is to invest in an adequate grounding and isolation structure to reduce vulnerability and minimize problems when lightning strikes”, he highlights.
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