Why solar safety matters

A few years ago, the Solar Bankability project funded by the European Commission’s Horizon program determined the 20 most common failures in PV installations regarding a safe and profitable performance. Now, the Solargrade PV Health Report has been published by HelioVolta, a trusted provider of independent inspection and technical field services for renewable energy projects and energy storage systems, who is a NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector.

Data from real-world field projects
The Solargrade PV Health Report is based on the analysis of more than 60,000 PV health points from real-world field projects. The Inspections analyzed were conducted and documented with HelioVolta’s cloud-based software SolarGrade, a professional fieldwork management platform.

In fact, this white paper is a health check looking behind the modules and underneath the visible surface of PV systems answering various questions on safety in solar PV installations.

Insightful results
One of the results reveals that more than two third of the inspected systems showed critical or major safety issues that require urgent intervention and that three quarters of all issues were found in the DC distribution. The latter confirms Stäubli Renewable Energy’s awareness initiative on why small components can have a big impact on the safety and profitability of PV systems. Not only are the eBOS components responsible for transmitting the energy they can also harm the safety of the PV system if not handled and installed properly or if the used products are of low quality.

Stäubli - The safe choice in solar power connections
Stäubli continues to enhance its activities and efforts for #SolarSafetyMatters offering various specifically designed services. Through the experienced Stäubli PV specialists, the company shares its expertise also in consulting its customers regarding operating installations in the field to analyze and report the inspections.

In the area of training and education Stäubli Renewable Energy offers a program of seminars to improve reliability and safety in PV installations such as professional training courses and onsite instructions for EPCs and PV installers. An additional aspect to mitigate risks in PV installations is also correct handling during field installation – as shown in the MC4 and MC4-Evo 2 Assembly Tutorial and using appropriate and certified tools as they are part of the Stäubli PV tool case. 

The MC4/MC4-Evo 2 Assembly Tutorial shows the correct handling and installation of the MC4 PV DC connectors.

The certified Stäubli PV tool case for safe installations.