solar technology & firefighting phil denbow director of risk management services hartford steam...

SOLAR TECHNOLOGY & FIREFIGHTING

Phil DenbowDirector of Risk Management Services

Hartford Steam Boiler

DRAFT

PAMIC November 12, 2015

© 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

Solar Technology Intro

History

Types

Market

System Components and Configuration

PV Exposures (Property and Equipment Breakdown Risk)

Firefighting Aspects and Code Changes

Agenda

2© 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

Solar TechnologyIntroduction

Using sunlight (solar irradiance) to complete

work

Two main types of solar:

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Heating a fluid

Photovoltaic Conversion of solar energy into electricity

3© 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.Photo Courtesy of DOE/NREL

Solar TechnologyConcentrated Solar Thermal Power (CST / CSP)

Rooftop Solar ThermalHeat house or hot water

Parabolic Trough

Systems

Solar Power Towers More efficient vs. trough

systems Better energy storage

capability

4© 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.Photo Courtesy of DOE/NREL

Solar TechnologyConcentrated Solar Thermal Power (CST / CSP)

100MW+ establishments Steam boilers or salt receivers set

atop 400’+ tower 100,000+ mirrors tracking and

reflecting sun

Photovoltaic ConcentratorCourtesy of DOE/NREL 5© 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

Solar TechnologyPhotovoltaic (PV)

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are

devices that convert

sunlight into direct current

(DC) electricity.


Photo Courtesy of DOE/NREL

Solar TechnologyHistory

History of Solar

Greeks in 3rd century B.C.

Mid 1800s idea for solar powered steam engines

1957 first PV solar cell at Bell labs

NASA helps develop solar technology for use in

spacecraft and satellites



Solar Technology Residential

Residential

Rooftop or yard

Behind the meter &

net-metered

Typically leased and

signed with a PPA

< 10 kW



Solar Technology Commercial

Commercial

Fixed, flush-mounted

panels

Racked panels

50 – 500 kW

Area – ½ acre


Photos Courtesy of Baltimore Sun

Solar Technology Residential, Commercial & Utility Scale


Photo: Artist rendering of a SunPower Corp. solar power canopy similar to the one planned for Munich Reinsurance America, Inc.’s Princeton area headquarters.

MunichRe, Princeton

Non-Utility Installations

GooglePlex – Mountain View, CA

• 1.6 MWp

• 197,000 ft² of solar paneling

• 30% of Google’s peak demand

• 7.5 year payback

© 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.11

Solar Technology Utility Scale


Commercial

Fixed, flush-mounted

panels

Peek power – 421 kW

Area – 32,000 sq. ft.

Tracking – None

Utility

Multi-MW units: 1 MW

to dozens of MW

Potentially 100 MWs

Spread over acres

Utility owned or

developer owned

Tax equity purposes

PPA signed with Utility

for 10, 15 or 20 years


Utility Type Installations

Las Vegas Valley Water DistrictRonzone Reservoir Denver International

Airport

Part of a 3.1 MW LVWD Project

Completed Spring 2006

Peak Capacity: 821 kWp

Area: 5 acres

Panels: 4,005 Sharp (200W)

Inverters: 2-225 kW Xantrex

Completed: 2008

Peak Capacity: 3.6 MWp

2011 expansion increased solarproduction to 8.0 MWp


Solar Technology Other Stand-Alone Installations


Portable trailer PV generator Farm water pump PV system

Photos Courtesy of DOE/NREL

08/19/2014

Building Integrated PV (BIPV)

PV systems are being integrated into building components and materials

PV integrated into building awnings, windows, and rooftop shingles


Shingles

Awning

Windows


PV Market What’s Driving the Growth?

Independence from volatile fossil fuel prices

Rising energy demand

Improved power generation technology

29 states and Washington DC have renewable portfolio

standards (RPS), which mandate the fraction of energy

supplied from renewable sources

Production Tax Credit (PTC)

Investment Tax Credits (ITC) of 30%

Social and corporate responsibility and pressure from

investors


NEXT: PV SYSTEM COMPONENTS


PV System ComponentsConfiguration

Stand-Alone PV System


Grid-Connected PV System

DC Interfaceand Regulation

Battery Bank

Load (DC)

PV Module PV Module

PowerConditioner

Load

Meter

Source: http://www.1.eere.energy.gov

PV Configuration Definitions

PV Cells are configured into

modules

Modules are configured into

factory sealed units called

panels

Panels are connected in

series into strings

Strings are connected in

parallel to form arrays

A failed panel must be replaced with a panel having similar electrical characteristics


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PV System Components

Panels

Inverters

Racking/Mounting

Tracking

Transformer

GSU



PV System ComponentsModules / Panels

Modules / Panels used

interchangeably

Cells built on a silicon-

wafer substrate

Generally ~350

microns thick

Proven technology


Selection of Crystalline Silicon Modules for residential and commercial buildings


PV System ComponentsInverter (PCU)


Large (Central) Inverter Microinverter

Used to convert DC to AC

Should be at least 90% efficient

150 kW, 500 kW, 1 MW

100w, 300w, 1 kW

Moving towards micro inverters per panel/module


Solar Power: Photovoltaic Key System Components

String Inverter

Used to convert DC to AC

Connects ~100 PV panels

10kW – 30kW

Inverters

© 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved. 23


Mounting SystemsFixed

Fixed Position Flat Panel Ballasted Array

Fixed Position Cost effective but

inefficient

The racks & panels are set in one position facing southward

Rack System

Ballasted Racks

Penetrating Racks

Photo Courtesy of DOE/NREL © 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

24

PV System ComponentsTracking

Multi Axis

East to West

Horizon


Single Axis Solar Tracker Dual-Axis Solar Tracker

Single Axis

East to West


PV System ComponentsTransformer

Transformer

Located throughout

the site

Divides out arrays

~1.5 MVA for 2 MW

site

Typically 600 V to

13.2kV or 35 kV



PV EXPOSURESEQUIPMENT BREAKDOWN/PROPERTY

FIREFIGHTING IMPLICATIONS


PV ExposuresEquipment Breakdown Risks

PV Module

Inverter

Tracking Systems

Electrical System

Transformer

Substation


PV ExposuresProperty Risk

Wind – Panels can act like

sails

Tornado –flying objects

Snow Loading – Typical

design for snow loads up to

5400Pa (Pascal) or about 5.5

ft of snow

Hail – typical design is to

withstand 1 inch hailstone at

51MPH (car window)

Flooding – Depth of flooding

determines damage

Earthquake

Lightning – protection should

be integrated


PV ExposuresProperty Risk – Theft / Security

Normally closed and locked gates Fencing preferably with clear space to slow

or stop outside wildfire spread to the PV

system.


PV ExposuresProperty Risk

Roof top - Wood roofs or built-up combustible roof coverings are an exposure.

Ground Mounted Systems – Vegetation can be an exposure if not kept controlled



PV ExposuresProperty Risk - Fire

Rooftop fires

Fire departments hesitant to access roof

Possible electrical hazards


PV Rooftop Fires

April 2010 Greenbell, MD Residential PV System – 48Vdc grid-tied system – possible rodent damage and debris under array

April 2010 San Diego, CA Residential PV system – inverter fire on side of residence – lack of DC disconnect delayed extinguishment of fire

May 2010 Fresno, CA Combiner box fire on parking lot trellis system

April 2011 Yorba Linda, CO BIPV fire on new residential development – Fire Department vents roof and severs conductors

April 2011 Mt Holly, NC US Gypsum rooftop PV system – undetected ground fault fire – Fire damage to several combiner boxes – resulted in Duke Energy taking 10MW offline until all systems could be evaluated

Dec 2011 Redlands, CA 1.2MW system on 750,000 sf of Tire Warehouse – fire isolated to 4 modules, combiner box, and cable tray. Cause still under investigation.

Jan 2012 Waltham, MA Rooftop PV system on elementary school – fire in combiner box – cause still under investigation

Apr 2012 Trenton, NJ Rooftop PV system on recycling facility – wiring error caused fire during start-up

Oct 2013 Delanco, NJ 400,000 sf Warehouse fire with 1.4MW PV system on roof – keeps fire fighters off roof – total loss – cause under investigation.


Fire Chief – Delanco Fire DeptRon Holt

“ With a normal roof, we would be able to get on there, trench it, cut it off and stop it at a certain point. With the power sitting on top of that roof, that building is not worth one of my guys’ lives.”

Dietz & Watson warehouse in Delanco, NJ 09/03/2013 Photo by Tony Kurdzuk / The Star-Ledger


34

What Are the Hazards?

1. Shock hazard due to presence of water and PV power during fire suppression

activities

2. Shock hazard due to direct contact with energized components during

firefighting operations

3. Lack of emergency disconnects and disruption system design techniques

4. Severing of live conductors with rotary saw

5. Assessment of PV power during low ambient light, artificial light, and light

from the fire

6. Assessment of potential shock hazard from damaged PV modules and

systems


Additional Concerns for Emergency Responders

Shielding effect – blocked access to areas of the roof due to location of rooftop

panels,

Slips and trips – over equipment, conductors, or conduits while trying to move

around the panels,

Structural Collapse – due to extra weight of responders and their equipment on

the roof in addition to the incremental weight of the PV system,

Chimney effect – channeling of air due to restrictive air flow around panels, can

cause flame spread and intensification,

Battery hazards – exposure to electrical shock or battery chemicals or chemical

combustion where PV battery systems are used.


Firefighting Concerns

Firefighter Safety

• Roof Access and Ventilation

• Method to secure power.

• Trip Hazards

© 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved. 37

2012 International Fire Code

605.11 Solar photovoltaic power systems. Solar photovoltaic power systems shall be installed

in accordance with Sections 605.11 through 605.11.4 of the International Building Code and

NFPA 70 (NFPA 70 – Installation of electrical conductors & equipment for Res, Comm, Ind occupancies)

. This includes:

Marking of PV system

Identification of location of DC conductors

Access and pathways

Smoke ventilation

Residential rooftop PV system setback requirements: 3ft setback at each gable, 3ft setback from

ridge, 3ft setback at hips and valleys

Commercial Flat Roof Access Pathways

6ft or 4ft clearance perimeter at parapets

8ft pathways

4ft clearance around skylights and roof access hatches


38

NEC Code Revisions for 2014

Ground fault detection and interruption

Detect DC ground fault in PV array & isolate it

PV Source and Output

Change in PV system voltage threshold 600V 1000V

Arc-fault circuit protection

PV systems quick trip interrupt for arcing faults on DC

Rapid shutdown of PV systems on buildings

Limit voltage to 30V (240VA) within 10 seconds of initiation of rapid shutdown

Ground fault protection in ungrounded PV systems

Detection requirements for DC conductors & components

Systems grounding

New requirements for safer grounding of PV systems© 2015 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

39

Unsatisfactory PV Systems

No access around rooftop or too tight pathways between arrays

Panels mounted right up against skylights, vents, or standpipes

Arrays installed right to the edge of the rooftop

Ballasted systems installed without review of structural engineers in advance

Exposed live electrical conductors

Installer of system is not NABCEP certified

DC conductors unmarked

Systems with no means of quick disconnect and/or shutoff switches for DC power

Ungrounded or improperly grounded systems

NABCEP North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners


40

Good PV Systems

DC conductors and equipment marked,

System has a means of quick disconnect or shutoff switches for DC power,

Proper spacing and access provided around PV arrays,

Tier 1 component manufactures used (panels/inverters),

System properly grounded,

System installed by experienced and NABCEP certified contractor,

Ground fault detection and clearance on DC side,

OEM equipment replacement spares kept on site,

Walkthrough provided to local fire department with review of components,

disconnects, hazards and means of access.

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTIONANY QUESTIONS?

© 2015 THE HARTFORD STEAM BOILER INSPECTION AND INSURANCE COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS

PRESENTATION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. HSB MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESENTATION. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL HSB OR ANY PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING OR DELIVERING THIS PRESENTATION BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE THAT RESULTS FROM THE USE OF THE INFORMATION OR IMAGES CONTAINED IN THIS PRESENTATION. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PERMITTED BY HSB IN WRITING, NO PORTION OF THIS PRESENTATION MAY BE REPRODUCED OR DISTRIBUTED IN ANY WAY.


solar technology & firefighting phil denbow director of risk management services hartford steam...

Documents

solar types

history of solar

type of solar generation

main types of solar

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suns energy

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