Fibre optic technology provides quick and effective fire and hotspot detection and monitoring for optimal solar farm fire protection.
The global expansion of solar energy has heightened the demand for dependable monitoring and fire detection for photovoltaic (PV) panels.
The Clean Energy Council found in its annual report that large-scale solar managed to generate more than 11 million megawatt hours of power in 2022. For reference, solar farm sizes can start anywhere from 500 kilowatts in size
When operating under high electrical loads, PV systems may produce significant heat, attributed to factors such as ageing components, faults in connection points, or environmental factors.
Elevated temperatures pose a risk of electrical fires, causing extensive damage to the PV facility and its surroundings, disruptions in power supply, and potential safety hazards.
Recognising and addressing these risks through effective solar farm fire protection and detection measures is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of solar energy.
Using fibre optic solutions to improve solar farm safety
Reportedly, Australia is one of the cheapest countries for solar energy per kilowatt, which explains the growing rise in solar farms.
Solar farms are increasing in Australia due to the country’s large size and high levels of sunlight. There is a wide variety of solar farms in the country, with massive utility-scale facilities often prone to fire risk.
This growth has been followed by an increase in the number of fires linked to PV panel operations.
Fires in solar facilities can have serious consequences for the environment. This can include the start of a bushfire, burnt-out solar panels, batteries, and other electrical equipment and interruption to the power supply of a region and nearby communities.
The causes of solar panel fires can be various, including issues on installation, isolators, and inverters, among other issues.
Sometimes wild animals in the area can pose a serious threat and can start a fire. That was the case of a fire started on a solar farm in California. This resulted in damage to more than 1,000 acres and impacted wildlife.
When solar farm fire risks are high and the cause can be difficult to pinpoint, having a safety system in place that is accurate and reliable is key.
Our fibre optic Distributed Temperature System (DTS) technology can quickly identify higher and abnormal temperatures or early-stage fires.
Our fibre optic cable measures thousands of temperature points in real-time, monitoring PV system temperatures and detecting and locating hotspots within 0.5 metre.
The fibre optic cable can monitor individual assets as needed or the entire solar farm, including electrical panels and cables.
Our solar farm fire protection systems can provide a temperature profile within seconds. Even in difficult-to-access areas on rooftops or remote greenfield installations, a fire risk can be mitigated.
Witness our fibre optics precision live.
Trusted & reliable solar farm fire protection
Advanced Photonics Australia goes beyond providing fibre optic fire detection. We offer a tailored solar farm safety system that will mitigate fire risks without compromising operations.
Our DTS technology can monitor the conditions of solar farm panels in real-time with one single fibre cable to detect and prevent overheating and fire incidents.
Our system is suitable for:
After installation, you won’t require additional operational time on upkeep – as our product is maintenance-free.
The solar farm fire system can be fully integrated into your site operational system.
In the case of any abnormal conditions, notifications will be automatically sent via the control panel or smartphone for an early response.
Another advantage is that this technology has a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The cable has a life expectancy of up to 40 years.
This contributes to a safer, more sustainable, and productive practice when it comes to renewable energy in Australia.
Advanced Photonics Australia brings practical engineering expertise and innovative technology to the forefront. Harnessing cutting-edge photonics technology, we tackle each unique challenge head-on using Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS).
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