Learning video


What to expect?

Various factors in the design of photovoltaic projects can lead to possible damage of equipment due to lightning if not executed correctly. These factors could be directly related to the design of the PV facility, such as cable routing, the type of inverter, ground fuses etc., but could also be due to the surrounding environment with external influence such as overhead lines or railways near the facility. In this webinar, Ivan Grobbelaar, Professional Engineer, Technical Director at DEHN Africa looks at real world data from previous experiences and how it correlates to simulated results using XGSLab. Simulation results are shown for lightning frequency and time domain analysis to showcase possible expected damages for various parts of the generation facility and why this happens if the correct mitigation techniques are not applied. From these simulations, the mitigation recommendations from various standards will be tested to present the reduction in losses if lightning protection is applied correctly.

Duration: 45 minutes



The course is new.: No

Learning video


What to expect?

Lightning current transients injected onto PV modules may cause damage to equipment farther downstream, resulting in equipment loss and production down time. Surge protective devices for the DC side of PV plants will not be able to withstand peak value lightning strikes without sufficient energy dissipation through the PV field. With the correct implementation of external lightning protection and grounding, it is shown that the surge protection is not overstressed due to sufficient energy dissipation before reaching equipment. The resultant current propagation, transient waveform and specific energy are calculated at critical locations in the PV field through XGS Lab simulations.

This webinar, given by Ivan Grobbelaar, Professional Engineer, Technical Director at DEHN Africa, shows the importance of external lightning protection and grounding design during the planning phase of a new PV plant.

Duration: 45 minutes

The course is new.: No

Learning video


What to expect?

In this training session, an example for conducting a Lightning Risk Assessment (LRA) is adopted for a rooftop PV system installation.

The calculation methods for conducting a lighting risk assessment for PV systems are based on IEC 62305-2, but these methods cannot be applied directly.

Different factors and mitigation measures applicable for rooftop PV systems are adopted and discussed in this training video.


Duration: 45 minutes

The course is new.: No