The Use of Lightning Rods in Solar Power Plants Creates Risks

To prevent photovoltaic systems from damage caused by sudden overvoltage and lightning strikes, protecting them under the IEC 62305-5 Standard is mandatory. As the Lightning Protection Center, we do not recommend the use of lightning rods in solar investments within the scope of IEC 62305 standards. The reason is that cumulonimbus clouds, which cause lightning in open areas, may prefer ion-emitting systems. However, in solar power plants, a system that activates only when a lightning strike occurs should be preferred.

Partial Faraday design with non-ionizing lightning capture rods according to the rolling sphere method is the most effective protection method for solar power plants.

Instead of a lightning rod system, it is important to install long capture rods around the facility while considering the S protection distance. This minimizes insurance and bank risks. In solar energy investments, this issue is crucial for insurance purposes. External lightning protection systems should also be included in the equipotential bonding using damping spark gap surge arresters. However, an external lightning system only provides protection against the physical effects of lightning. It directly captures the lightning and transfers it to the ground, preventing the strike from hitting the system, but it does not provide electrical protection.