Labels & Signs
For The Solar Power Industry
Labeling In The Solar Power Industry
Solar Energy (Photovoltaics) Growth
Solar power, like wind power, is one of the fastest growing energy technologies in the world. In the United States alone, solar energy has a double-digit annual growth rate. Solar power involves converting solar energy (sunlight) into electricity, which is then added to the electric grid. This electricity is used to light up a city street, power a water pump, provide energy to run home appliances and a myriad of other things. According to the U.S. Department of Energy1, solar panels, often referred to as photovoltaic (PV) modules, covering an area about 110 miles by 110 miles of the land in the United States could supply all the electricity consumed here.
A worldwide push for renewable energy sources like solar energy translates into many new developmental projects within the power industry—good news for everyone. But with all of this growth comes a great need for safety awareness relating to solar energy.
Solar Energy Safety
To best understand safety as it relates to solar energy, it is good to have a basic understanding of how solar energy production works. Individual solar cells, or photovoltaic (PV) cells, are interconnected to make up a solar module (a.k.a solar panel). Solar modules are interconnected into arrays, which produce even more power. To form an entire PV system, modules or arrays need other structures to rest on that point them toward the sun, and components that take the direct-current (DC) electricity produced by modules to "condition" electricity, usually by converting it to alternate-current (AC) electricity. Also electricity might need to be stored, usually in batteries, for later use. All these items are referred to as the "balance of system" (BOS) components. Combining solar modules with BOS components makes up an entire PV system.
As more solar cells interconnect to form modules and arrays and entire PV systems, the result is higher voltage and more electrical current. This puts workers' safety at greater risk.
Solar Energy Hazards
While photovoltaic solar cells, modules, arrays and entire PV systems generally involve fewer safety hazards than wind turbines, they still generate and distribute energy. Any time energy is involved, safety must be taken into consideration.
Solar energy presents unique hazards during installation and maintenance procedures, and solar energy safety hazards are mainly electrical. When any amount of sunlight is shining on a solar panel's front face, the panels themselves produce and maintain a flow of electrical current. Depending on the time of day, the amount of sunlight and the size of the connected panels or arrays, this could be enough current to produce electric shock. Contact with the terminals can result in shock, burns and sparks.
Other safety hazards include improperly secure or unsupported solar modules. If they fall, glass can break. Where PV systems are in place, BOS components like batteries and supportive structures create their own safety hazards (sharp objects, wiring, acid, etc.). Because sparks from solar panels may occur, installation near flammable gases or vapors is particularly hazardous. Also, solar modules installed on rooftops or at heights present fall hazards to workers.
Given all of these hazards and opportunities to be seriously injured or worse, the presence of safety labels and signs complying with NEC Article 690—Solar Photovoltaic Systems2, ANSI standards and OSHA standards is so vital. Workers need visible safety reminders and reliable direction when installing and maintaining solar panels.
1 U.S. Department of Energy, Solar Energy Technologies Program. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/
2 For more information on NEC 690, view the NEC 2008 online edition (must register with the NFPA for online access) or order a softbound copy of NEC 2008 edition here. |
