Lightning Overvoltage and Transient Ground Potential Rise in large PV plants

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) power plants cover large areas that are susceptible to multiple lightning strikes. Consequences of the electromagnetic interference caused by lightning can be a major concern for people safety and equipment integrity. In this paper, we investigate lightning overvoltage and transient ground potential rise in large PV plants for different lightning strike scenarios. The main objectives of this paper is to describe the analysis that was carried out and propose cost-effective mitigation techniques based on the most advanced simulation techniques.