Key elements of the energy transition process – ensuring the long-term profitability and stable energy efficiency of photovoltaic systems

NTCL01 Every year, many rooftop photovoltaic systems and photovoltaic power plants are built around the world and generate hundreds of megawatts of electricity. In order to ensure that these photovoltaic systems achieve a substantial return on investment, lightning and surge protection must be taken into account from the system design stage to ensure the stability and safety of the entire system. If these systems suffer from lightning strikes or network outages, in addition to being very expensive to repair, they can also lead to downtime. Therefore, effective protection against lightning and power surges is very important, not only to reduce investment risks, but also to ensure the continued availability of photovoltaic systems. Weidmuller is currently innovating and upgrading its surge protection product range in this field with the introduction of a new pentode, I+II combination for two maximum power point tracking systems (MPPT). The new pentode VARITECTOR PU PV I+II 5 1,500 surge protector provides reliable protection for your photovoltaic system with its advanced technology and compact design.

Photovoltaic systems are a sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of power generation and a popular choice in the field of renewable energy investment.

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However, because photovoltaic systems are usually installed in open environments and are directly affected by environmental factors, the risk of surge voltages from direct or near lightning strikes is extremely high. Lightning strikes may even have a negative impact within a two-kilometer radius. Therefore, in order to ensure the reliability and long-term stability of photovoltaic systems, it is essential to select and install effective surge protection equipment.

The new pentode photovoltaic surge protector from Weidmuller neatly integrates Class I and Class II protection to provide comprehensive protection against both direct lightning strikes (Type I) and indirect surge voltages (Type II). As a result of this integrated design, system planning becomes simpler and more efficient.

NTCL01 This design reduces the use of independent components, thus saving installation costs, while also complying with the IEC/EN 61643-32 standard, which can be used internationally.

The pentode VPU PV is equipped with a pluggable protection module that can be quickly replaced without the help of any tools, which is cost-effective, even when replacing a single protection module. In addition, integrated status indicators on a single protection module greatly simplify the visual inspection and testing process of the product. By using a combined potential contact design, a single surge protector can simultaneously protect two trackers with a high Power Point Tracking system (MPP) with a width of just 90mm, saving time, cost and space. One of the main advantages of 1500V photovoltaic systems is to increase the operating voltage, which effectively improves the power transmission level and increases energy output.