Simulation of Lightning Strikes on Photovoltaic Farms

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach to the simulation of the most common type of Cloud to Ground lightning strikes applied to a Photovoltaic farm with the view to validating its lightning protection system generally based on the electro geometric model as prescribed in the relevant international standards. It will be limited to the study of the electrostatic field distribution generated by a downward stepped leader progressing towards a large Photovoltaic Farm with a focus on its effect on the power electronics converters operating under lightning stress conditions. The Simulation was programmed using MATLAB’s Partial Differential Equations Toolbox based on the Finite Elements Analysis.

Keywords

• lightning simulation
• photovoltaic farm
• lightning protection system
• finite elements method