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.
Last updated 21 July 2009
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