6.07.16,PVPositionPaper_v12.2.docx 1/5 *501(c)(3)nonprofiteducationorganization
InternationalInstituteforBuilding-Biology®&Ecology*www.building-biology.org
Photovoltaic Electrical Systems Electromagnetic Exposure Issues & Overview of Configurations
SummaryPhotovoltaic (PV)powergeneration systemsaswell asotheralternativeenergy producing systems (e.g. wind generators and gas power, on-sitegenerators) are not recommended for people who are experiencingelectromagnetic sensitivity and especially for people displaying thesymptoms of Electromagnetic Hyper-Sensitivity (EHS). Asymptomaticpeople are cautioned to evaluate all the pros and cons before movingahead, especially as pertains to the generation of unwanted EMFradiationsandeffectivenessoffiltrationoptionsofferedbyvarioussystempurveyorsfordealingwiththeseunwantedradiations.
TechnicalIssuesAssociatedwithPVSystemsAlternative energy producing systems create ElectroMagnetic Interference (EMI), popularly termed DirtyElectricity(DE)whichisbroadcastintheairinthevicinityoftheinverterandchargecontroller(ifbatterybackupispartofthesystem)andisalsocarriedtothelivingspacebytheelectricalwiringofthebuilding.Withmultiple power source systems (e.g. power grid, a PV system, on-site generator), this noise can beamplifiedbysystemconfiguration.Resolutionbyinstallingafter-marketcontrolsisdifficult.Thereareafter-marketDEfilters(knownasResistance-CapacitanceFilters)whichcandiminishthisnoise.Thesefiltersareinstalledinparallelbypluggingthemintoelectricaloutlets.However,theefficiencyofnoisereductionvariesdependingonPVequipmentbrandandmodelandontheelectricalsystemcharacteristicsinthe building served by the system. Since EHS symptoms can be frequency specific, what works for oneindividualmaynotworkforanother.TestingofResistance-CapacitancefiltershasshownthatwhilethesefiltersdoeliminatesomeDEfrequencies,thisisaccompaniedbygenerationofnewDEfrequencies.In-Line or Pi filters (also known as Capacitance-Inductance filters) appear to be themost effective filter.However,theyareplacedinserieswiththeproblematicPVsourcesupplyingelectricitytothehouse,sotheymustbeabletohandlethefullamperageofthesource.Thismakesthefiltermoreexpensiveandrequiresanelectricianforinstallation.Beawarethatadd-onfiltersthatwerenotpartoftheoriginalequipmentareatriskofbeingremovedbyPVservicepersonnelwhodonotunderstandtheirfunctionandmaybesuspiciousthattheyareresponsiblefortheserviceproblemtheyaretrouble-shooting.Youwillneedtobevigilantduringservicecallstomakesureyouradd-onfiltersarenotdisconnected.FiltrationofDEisaverytechnicalandcomplextopic.PVequipmentmanufacturers’filtersaredesignedfortheir specific systemandwouldbe themost efficient filtration for thenoise that system creates. The twomanufacturers we talked to were not filtering for biological benefit, but rather against interference withotherelectronics.TheyweretotallyunawareoftheneedforadvancedDEfiltrationtoprotectpeople.Theawarenessofthesemanufacturersisprobablyrepresentativeoftheindustryasawhole.Thecomplexityofthis issue is discussed in the following research paper available athttp://www.hbelc.org/pdf/standards/dirty-electricity.pdf
Residential Alternative Energy Systems
06.07.16,PVPositionPaper_v12.2.docx 2/5 *501(c)(3)nonprofiteducationorganization
MitigationofSolarInverterDirtyElectricitywithIn-linePifilter,MichaelJ.SchwaebePE,BBEC“Abstract:ThispaperreportsthatonebrandofsolarinvertercreatesDEandthatResistance-CapacitancetypefiltersdonotfullymitigatetheDEandcanmakemattersworse.ThisisillustratedbyoscilloscopemeasurementsofelectricalsystempropertiesandambientEMRfromdirtyelectricitywiththesolarsystemrunningandoffalongwithdifferentfilterconfigurations.ThispaperalsoillustratestheeffectivenessoftheDNAlinefiltersinremovingthedirtyelectricitycausedbysolarinverteroperation.”
In addition to DE, another issue that plagues alternate power systems with more than one generator isunwantedgroundingsystemcurrent flowthat is likely togenerateobjectionableACmagnetic fields in thehome.Thepotentialhealtheffectsofpulsingmagneticfieldsareamplifiedinsuchconditions.UnwantedcurrentflowandtheattendantACfieldsarenotcorrectablebyDEfiltration.Groundingproblemsareoftwotypes:
1. Electricalsystemgroundingerrorsinyourhouseorevenneighboringhouses.CurrentontheelectricalgroundingsystemwillcausebroadlydistributedmagneticfieldsthataccentuatetheeffectofDirtyElectricityalreadyonthewiring(i.e.DEfromthePVsystem,personalelectronicequipmentandDEthatentersyourelectricalsystemfromtheutilitysystem).Groundingerrorsaretimeconsumingtomitigate.Groundcurrentsfromneighborsarenotwithinyourcontrol.
2. Multiplegeneratingsourcesinabuildingcomplicategrounding,therefore,groundingerrorsaremorelikely.Forexample,utilityelectricitysourceandoneormorealternativepowersourceslikeaPVsystemand/oragenerator.
Movingforward,itisimportantfortheInstituteforBuildingBiology&Ecologyandpeopleitservestoexpectmore frommanufacturers in termsofDE filtration thantheyarecurrentlydeliveringasstandardproduct.This will be accomplished by consumers asking informed questions about DE generation and theeffectivenessofDEreductionbybuilt-infiltrationmethods.Companieswill design solutions based on customer demand; if no one demands safer products then it isunlikelythatmanufacturerResearch&Developmentwilladdressthisissue.Asforgroundingerrors,thatisintherealmofelectricalcodes.Electricalcodestypicallydealonlywithfireandpersonalshockissues,notDirtyElectricityorobjectionablecurrentflowonthegroundingsystem.SomeelectricianshavebeenintroducedtotheseissuesthroughtheBuildingBiologyInstitute,butunlesselectricalcodesandelectricianeducationarechangedtoreflecttheseproblemsweareinanuphillbattle.ItisvaluabletonotethatPVsystemsdonotrequirea"Smart"Meter.Anystyleofutilitymeter,analogordigital,thatmeasureselectricityusagewillwork.ThePVgrid-tieinverterconnectstothepowerpanelandtheutilitymeterconnectsontheotherside.Asmartmetersemitsburstsofpulsedmicrowaveradiationallthetime.TheWorldHealthorganization(WHO)ruledthistypeofradiationapossiblehumancarcinogen(May31,2011).TheAmericanAcademyofEnvironmentalMedicine,anorganizationrepresentingenvironmentalmedicineMDs,releasedaletteronJan25,2012tothePublicUtilitiesCommissionofCaliforniaspeakingtowirelessradiation.Themostimportantpassageisthis:Chronicexposuretowirelessradiofrequencyradiationisapreventableenvironmentalhazardthatissufficientlywelldocumentedtowarrantimmediatepreventativepublichealthaction.”(https://www.aaemonline.org/emf_rf_position.php)
Residential Alternative Energy Systems
06.07.16,PVPositionPaper_v12.2.docx 3/5 *501(c)(3)nonprofiteducationorganization
HealthIssuesAssociatedwithDEMorethantenyearsagoitwasestimatedthat3%oftheUSpopulationwaselectrosensitiveandupto35%had symptomsofElectromagneticHyper-Sensitivity (EHS).Today these figuresare surelyhigherwith theeverincreasingproliferationofelectronicdeviceswithpower-switchingnon-linearloadsproducingDE,andthealmostuniversaluseofwirelesstechnologies.IsDEahealthhazard?While researchand case studies todatehavenotbeenextensive, there is growingsufficient evidence that high frequency voltage transients canproducenegativebiological effects. Here issomeofthisevidence:• Cancer–AmericanJournalofIndustrialMedicine,51(8):579-586,2008• Diabetes–Bioelectromagnetics,25(3):160-166,2001;ProceedingsfromtheInternationalConferenceofChildhoodLeukemia,London,September6-10,2004;ElectromagneticBiology&Medicine,25:259-268,2006;ElectromagneticBiology&Medicine,27:135-146,2008
• Neurotransmitterlevels–ElectromagneticBiology&Medicine(online),InformaHealthcare,January18,2013
• Asthma–ArchivesofPediatrics&AdolescentMedicine,165(10):945-950,2011 • MultipleSclerosis–ProceedingsfromtheInternationalConferenceofChildhoodLeukemia,London,September6-10,2004;ElectromagneticBiology&Medicine,25:259-268,2006
• Headaches–ProceedingsfromtheInternationalConferenceofChildhoodLeukemia,London,September6-10,2004
• ImprovedTeacherWell-beingandStudentBehavior–ScienceoftheTotalEnvironment,April21,2008;Proceedingsfromthe3rdInternationalWorkshopontheBiologicalEffectsofElectromagneticFields,Kos,Greece,October4-8,2004
• ChildhoodLeukemia–MedicalHypothesis,56(3):290-295,2001• AttentionDeficitDisorder–JournalofDevelopmentalandBehavioralPediatrics,32(8):634,2011• AmyotrophicLateralSclerosis(ALS)–MedicalHypothesis,74(6):1086-1087,2010• SymptomsofElectromagneticHypersensitivity(EHS)–ProceedingsfromWorldHealthOrganizationWorkshoponElectricalHypersensitivity,Prague,CzechRepublic,October25-26,2004;ScienceoftheTotalEnvironment,November1,2011
TheInternationalInstituteforBuildingBiology&Ecologybelievesthatharmfromelectromagneticradiationdoesnotneedtobeconclusivelyprovenforactiontobetaken.Thismeansthatintheabsenceofscientificconsensus the Precautionary Principle needs to be invoked where scientific investigations have found aplausiblerisk.Itisatthispointthatthepublichealthshouldbeprotectedwithbiologically-basedradiationexposurestandards.RememberthatDEoccursinanintermediaterange(2kHz–100kHz)betweenthelowerpowerfrequencies(calledELF)andthehigherradiofrequencies(calledRF).TheInternationalAgencyforResearchonCancer(IARC)hasclassifiedbothofthese—ELFmagneticfields(2001)andRFmicrowavefields(2011)—asGroup2BPossibleHumanCarcinogens.ItisinterestingthatinitsconclusiontheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)EnvironmentalHealthCriteria238—ExtremelyLowFrequencyFields(2007)stated:“AcutebiologicaleffectshavebeenestablishedforexposuretoELFelectricandmagneticfieldsinthefreq-uencyrangeupto100kHzthatmayhaveadverseconsequencesonhealth.”
(Thisreportcontainsthecollectiveviewsofaninternationalgroupofexpertsanddoesnotnecessarilyrepresentthedecisions or the stated policy of the International Commission of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, theInternationalLabourOrganization,ortheWorldHealthOrganization.)
Residential Alternative Energy Systems
06.07.16,PVPositionPaper_v12.2.docx 4/5 *501(c)(3)nonprofiteducationorganization
Asmoreresearchisforthcoming,theInternationalInstituteforBuildingBiology&Ecologybelievesitwilladdtoandconfirmwithmorecertitudethatdirtyelectricitypresentsahealthhazard,andgovernmentandindustryshouldtakestepstohelpmitigatethistypeofelectromagneticradiation.TypesofSolarElectricityGenerationSystems1[AlsocalledPhotoVoltaic(PV)Systems] 1.GRID-TIE(BATTERYFREE)The simplest and most cost effective PVdesign formostsites is the "Grid-Tie" (sometimesreferredtoasintertied or utility-interactive) system.Thissystemdoes notprovide backup powerduring apoweroutage(evenifthesunisshining).Poweryougenerateinexcessofyourusageatanymomentisfedback intoyourutility’selectricalgridandoffsets thecostofthepoweryouconsumewhenthePVsystemisnotgenerating. The invertershowninthepicture istheprimarysourceofDE.
2.GRID-TIEWITHBATTERYBACKUPThe Grid-Tie WithBattery Backupsystemalsofeeds back unused electricity producedtotheelectric utility grid as with system #1. But thissystemhastheaddedability tostoreenergy inanon site battery bank for use in the dark hours orfor use during a utility service interruption.Duringaserviceinterruptionthebatteriesprovidepowertoafewselectedorcriticalapplicationslikethe refrigerator, freezer, some lights, phones,alarm system.With thisbenefit comesincreasedcomplexity, cost and maintenancerequirements. The battery charge controllershowninthepictureisanothersourceofDE.
3.STAND-ALONEorOFF-GRIDAbuildingwiththissystemisnotconnectedtotheutilityelectricalgrid.TheOff-GridorStand-AlonePVSystemincorporatesamuchlargeamountofbatterystoragethansystem#2sothereisenoughcapacitytoprovidepowerforacertainnumberofdays(andnights)inarowwhensunisnotavailable.Thearrayofsolarpanelsmustbelargeenoughtopowerallenergyneedsatthesiteandrechargethebatteriesatthesametime.MostOff-GridsystemsalsohavemorethanjustPVgenerationandcouldincludeWindand/orHydropower.Ahydrocarbonpoweredgenerator(naturalgas,propane,gasolineordiesel)isoftenusedforemergencybackuppowerandtorechargethebatterieswhenneeded.
1AllimagescourtesyofAladdinSolar,LLCservingareasofMinnesota
Residential Alternative Energy Systems
06.07.16,PVPositionPaper_v12.2.docx 5/5 *501(c)(3)nonprofiteducationorganization
TypesofInvertersUsedinPhotovoltaicSystemsThetypeofinverterisdeterminedbythegenerationobjectivesofthePVsystem.Inverterscanbedividedintothreebroadtypeslistedbelow.Invertersaretypicallyasingleboxcontainingtherequiredcomponentstomeettheobjectiveandlocatednearthemainelectricalpanelinhomeoralternativelynearthesolarpanelstypicallyontheroofinmosthomeinstallations.StandAloneInverterThisinverterisusedinisolatedsystems(notconnectedtotheutilitygrid)wheretheinverterdrawsDCenergyfrombatterieschargedbyphotovoltaicarrays.Manystand-aloneinvertersalsoincorporateintegralbatterychargerstoreplenishthebatteryfromanACsourcesuchasafossilfuelpoweredgenerator.Grid-tieInverterThisisthemostprevalentPVsystemonresidentialhomes.Thisinverterisspecificallydesignedtomatchphaseandfrequencywithutility-suppliedgridpower.Additionally,grid-tieinvertersaredesignedtoshutdownautomaticallyuponlossofutilitysupplyprimarilyforreasonsofsafetyforutilityworkers.ThisPVsystemwillnotprovidebackuppowerduringutilityoutages.InverterLocationTraditionally,theinvertershasbeenlocatedatonepointinthesystem,usuallynearthecircuitbreakerpanel.Amorerecentdevelopmentisthemicro-inverterwhichislocatedbeloweachsolarpanel.LowvoltageDCfromthepanelgoesintothemicro-inverterandisconvertedto120/240voltAC.Thisarrangementreducethemagnitudeofcurrenttobetransmittedandallowsthepanelstobefurtherawayfromthehouse.The120/240voltsisthensenttothecircuitbreakerpanelwhereitistiedintotheutilitygrid.Ofinterestwiththerooflocatedmicro-inverterapproachistheabilitytoavoidhavingasinglepointinverterinalocationthatexposessomeareaofthehousetotheunwantedradiationsemanatingfromtheinverter.However,newersolarpanelsproducehighervoltage,sothePVpanelscannowbelocatedawayfromthehousewithoutusingmicro-inverters.BecauseofthisPVpanelscanbegroundmountedawayfromthebuildingwherethereisthebestsunexposureindependentofbuildinglocation.WiththeabilitytohaveremotelocationofthePVPanels,alltheelectronics(includingtheinverter)canbemovedawayfromthehousetolessontheinherentEMFs.Additionally,intheeventofahousefire,roofmountedPVpanelsareashockhazardandmaypreventthefiremenfromchoppingholesintheroof.WithPVpanelsontheroofthefiremenmayletthehouseburnuntiltherooffallsinthenpourwaterthroughtheroofhole.BatteryBackupSystemsNeedAnotherInverterThisinverterisdesignedtodrawenergyfromabankofon-siteelectricitystoragebatteries,converttheDCtoACwhichisexactlymatchedtothephaseandfrequencyoftheutilitygridsothatexcessenergycanbeexportedtotheutilitygrid.TheseinverterproducetheirownDE.ThisisinadditiontoDEproducedbytheinvertersusedtoconvertthesolarpanelDCtoAC.–––––––––––Reportresearched,writtenandreviewedby:LawrenceGust,EE,BBEC,MichaelSchwaebePE,BBEC,SparkBurmasterEE,BBEC,SoniaHoglanderEE,BBEC,ChristopherBell,BBEC,JeanneMcLaughlin,BBEC."
