Factory photovoltaic panel grounding specifications and standards

Why is proper grounding of a photovoltaic power system important?

Proper grounding of a photovoltaic (PV) power system is critical to ensuring the safety of the public during the installation’s decades-long life. Although all components of a PV system may not be fully functional for this period of time, the basic PV module can produce potentially dangerous currents and voltages for the life of the system.

What is the purpose of the grounding system design guide?

Scope: This guide is primarily concerned with the grounding system design for ground-mount photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants (SPPs) that are utility owned and/or utility scale (5 MW or greater). The focus of the guide is on differences in practices from substation grounding as provided in IEEE Std 80.

Does a photovoltaic system have a DC grounding system?

Photovoltaic systems having dc circuits and ac circuits with no direct connection between the dc grounded conductor and ac grounded conductor shall have a dc grounding system. The dc grounding system shall be bonded to the ac grounding system by one of the methods in (1), (2), or (3).

Do I need a grounding electrode for a PV array?

While a separate grounding electrode system is still permitted to be installed for a PV array, per 690.47 (B), it is no longer required to be bonded to the premises grounding electrode system. In PV systems with string inverters, the equipment grounding conductor from the array terminates to the inverter’s grounding bus bar.

Do ungrounded PV systems need ground protection?

In all cases, an ungrounded array must be provided with equivalent protection for ground faults, as required by NEC 690.35. A PV system is defined as a grounded system when one of the DC conductors (either positive or negative) is connected to the grounding system, which in turn is connected to the earth.

What is a solidly grounded PV array?

A solidly grounded PV array, as permitted, in 690.41 (B), as permitted, per 690.41 (A) (5), is a special case where the PV array contains no more than two source circuits, i.e., two strings of modules, the PV system circuitry is not located in or on a building, and the system is solidly grounded.