EN 
PT_BR 
In recent years, the number of photovoltaic systems installed in Brazilian territory has grown considerably, so much so that solar now represents around 16% of the entire electrical matrix, being the second largest source in the country, behind only hydropower.
Although the transition to a low-carbon economy is essential to combat climate change, the accelerated massification of solar energy generation has also brought technical challenges.
“Solar energy systems when in normal operation are safe. However, it is important to pay special attention to the unique characteristics and challenges that this type of system presents in relation to security, as its characteristics can significantly increase the risks involved in fighting fires in buildings, as it is not possible to turn off the solar panels during the day without using equipment suitable for this purpose”, he stated. Juliano Pereira, Country Manager from the SolarEdge Brazil.
According to the executive, as the demand for solar sources gains more and more space in the Brazilian energy matrix, the safety of installations needs to be reviewed. Currently, there are 2.3 million photovoltaic distributed generation systems in the country, the vast majority of which do not have safety devices that allow the panels to be de-energized.
“Without turning off the electricity, in the event of a fire, there could be great danger in any fire-fighting operations”, highlighted the engineer João Souza, technical manager from the Ecori Solar Energy. According to him, safety devices and functions are not only necessary for firefighting situations, but also in operations and maintenance situations, especially involving lay people.
“Imagine, for example, a homeowner who wants to clean their modules. However, during the day, the photovoltaic modules are energized, with voltages that can reach 1500 V. Situations like this are being discussed at ABNT meetings. Therefore, this is a safety need not only for firefighters, but also for society in general”, he reported.
ABNT Committees
To define and implement technical regulations, whose objective is to mitigate the risks of fire and electric shock in photovoltaic systems, companies in the sector are actively participating in discussions at ABNT, Inmetro and with the Fire Department.
“This will benefit the solar market as a whole. Furthermore, these safety standards will also act as a guideline for the performance of the Fire Department teams, as the corporation uses the Regulatory Standards as a reference that deal with Safety in Electrical Installations and Services, but which do not specifically address the systems photovoltaics”, said André Scabbia, coordinator from the commission in ABNT studies about Fire Safety for Photovoltaic Solar Energy System.
Second Mauricio Ritter, manager in SolarEdge Brazil products, in countries with greater maturity and a long history of use in the sector – such as the United States – photovoltaic systems have become safer for firefighters and workers in the solar energy market, mainly due to the latest updates to the NEC (National Electric Code) code. which outlines requirements for emergency cases.
“In Brazil, the new standard, which is being written by agents in the photovoltaic sector and will be published by ABNT, is based on a technical report (IEC TR 63226), the content of which is used as guidance for reducing the risks of fire or electrocution and for site-specific needs for buildings with solar panels,” he explained.
“In addition to the general recommendations, technical, installation and maintenance measures may be selected to achieve the desired level of safety of the photovoltaic system and the building, depending on the results of a prior risk assessment”, highlighted Scabbia.
Safety in photovoltaic projects
According to the ABSOLAR (Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association), the standardization of projects developed by the solar sector – aiming to strengthen the process of diversification of the Brazilian energy matrix based on safety and quality, including projects, installation, inspection and maintenance of systems – is a strategic and essential part of the evolution of the segment.
The association also points out that the rapid and dynamic evolution of different photovoltaic technologies brings strategic opportunities for constant improvement of the technical standards used by the market, as a way of improving and standardizing processes, products and services.
States adopt fire safety standards for PV systems
O Body in Military Firefighters of state in Goiás has just joined the states of Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso in regulating safety in photovoltaic systems. At the end of October 2023, the body published Technical Standard 44/2023, which establishes guidelines and essential safety measures related to photovoltaic systems.
The document aims to guarantee safety against fire and panic in buildings or risky locations equipped with modules. The technical standard came into force in the second week of November and existing installations will have a period of one year to completely adapt to the standard's safety requirements.
Fire fighting and other risks
Firefighters and first responders called to fight a fire typically cut power to a burning building for safety. If there is a photovoltaic installation in the building and there is sun, the modules continue to generate voltage, even if the system is not connected to the grid.
“Photovoltaic modules have an output voltage of 30 V to 60 V each. The panels are typically interconnected in series (strings) that can reach voltages of up to 1000 V for residential systems and 1500 V for commercial and industrial systems, bringing a high degree of risk to installers and maintenance teams on site,” he said. Evandro Maroni Mascarenhas, 1st Lieutenant of Body in Firemen in Minas Gerais.
Solutions available in the sector
Among the companies that offer solutions for this segment is SolarEdge, which has a photovoltaic energy capture system that consists of power optimizers connected at module level, an inverter and complete system monitoring.
“Since the beginning of our activities in the Brazilian market, we have offered equipment that was already aligned with international safety standards, with shutdown and electric arc detection and interruption functionalities. We have always had a pioneering position in this sense, betting on the evolution and maturity of photovoltaic solar sources in Brazil”, emphasized Juliano Pereira.
SolarEdge systems have a built-in SafeDC™ safety mechanism that minimizes risk. “When the power optimizers are connected, the modules continue to operate only when an inverter signal is constantly received.”
“If there is no signal from the inverter or if the inverter is not operating, the SafeDC™ mechanism is designed to automatically turn off the DC current, as well as reduce the voltage on the string cables. In safety mode, the output voltage of each optimizer is just 1 V”, concluded Maurício Ritter.
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