The solar farm is the new wave in energy production: cleaner and more sustainable than fossil fuels. While the installation offers greater efficiency and safety, the electrical earthing system is often overlooked but equally crucial to performance and reliability.
Proper earthing does not only ensure safety for the personnel and equipment; it also secures long-term performance. Among the many types of earthing systems available, the Marconite earthing system stands out as the best earthing system for solar farms.
What is an Earthing System?
An earthing system is an important safety feature for electrical installations. It offers a low-resistance path for fault currents and stray electricity to discharge into the earth in a safe manner. For solar farms, earthing systems safeguard expensive equipment, reduce down time, and help meet requirements on electrical safety standards. Unless the earthing system is adequate, solar farms become susceptible to damage from surges, lightning, and ground faults.
Types of Earthing Systems Available
Earthing systems have many different types in electrical installations, each with its specific advantages and applications. Let’s start with the most used types.
1. Pipe Earthing
The Pipe Earthing system requires burying a galvanized steel pipe vertically in the ground. It is quite cheap but may not be the best option for large-scale solar farms, since it has limited conductivity and is prone to corrosion.
2. Plate Earthing
In the Plate Earthing system, a metal plate, normally copper or galvanized iron, is buried in the ground as an earth electrode. While good for smaller systems, plate earthing may not be very practical for large installations like solar farms since it requires quite a lot of space and maintenance.
3. Chemical Earthing
This method is done by applying chemicals around the earthing electrode, which improves the conductivity of the soil. The chemical earthing method is efficient compared to others but has several disadvantages in the environment and the long-term operation.
4. Marconite Earthing System
The Marconite earthing system is the future of solar farms. This is made of conductive, non-corrosive material and provides superior performance and longevity as compared to other methods. It does not depend on moisture for conductivity, so it is best suited for arid and rocky terrains, which are most often selected for solar farms.
Why Marconite Is the Best Earthing System for Solar Farms
Exceptional Conductivity:
Marconite is an earthing material with a high performance which has provided a uniform low-resistance grounding, even in harsh soil conditions.
Durability and Longevity:
Compared to conventional systems like pipe earthing or plate earthing, Marconite does not corrode or deteriorate over time. Thus, it saves a lot of money on a long lifespan for a solar farm.
Environment-Friendly:
Since it doesn’t require any chemicals like chemical earthing, it is environmentally friendly.
There is usually a scarcity of space in solar farms. Marconite’s compact form has less area to be covered, which makes it an ideal choice for large-scale installation.
Lightning Protection:
The locations for solar farms are exposed to lightning strikes. The excellent lightning dissipation efficiency by the Marconite system protects equipment and personnel.
Advantages of Proper Earthing in Solar Farms
Safety First: The strong earthing system reduces the chance of electrical shock and fire.
Protects Equipment: Solar panels, inverters, and other equipment are protected from voltage surges and ground faults.
Ensures Compliance: Proper earthing is in line with safety standards, thus avoiding penalties or shutdowns of the operations.
Maximizes Efficiency: A good earthing system reduces electrical interference, thus improving the overall performance of the solar farm.
Selecting the Right Earthing System
Among the wide range of earthing systems available, the best earthing system for solar farms is the Marconite earthing system because it is a hardy, effective, and eco-friendly kind of earthing system, ideal for renewable energy.
