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Important

Important. The Systems, Drawings And Pictures Depicted In This Presentation Are Used For Discussion Purposes Only. PV Systems And Their Components Vary In Design, And Appearance. It Is Imperative That Your Department Become Familiar With The Systems Installed In Your Community. . !.

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  1. Important The Systems, Drawings And Pictures Depicted In This Presentation Are Used For Discussion Purposes Only. PV Systems And Their Components Vary In Design, And Appearance. It Is Imperative That Your Department Become Familiar With The Systems Installed In Your Community. !

  2. Coordination Between Your Fire Department And Your Municipalities' Building And Fire Code Officials Is Essential To Understanding &Identifying PV Systems Installed In Your Community! !

  3. Solar Power & Its Impact on the Fire Service

  4. Program Goals: • To Provide Firefighters with an Awareness of Photovoltaic Systems so Informed Fire Ground Decisions can be Applied for Safe Fireground Operations

  5. Program Topics: • What is Solar Power? • Why are People Using it? • What is it Used For? • Types of Systems • Impact on The Fire Service • Target Hazards in Your Jurisdiction

  6. Currently… • New Jersey Is Second Largest Solar Energy Market In The United States Note: California with 4 times the population is ranked #1

  7. 2001 = 6 2006 = 12+ NJ Installations 2009 = 4000+ 2011 =>9000

  8. Why Does it Concern Us 2011 - Over 9,000… • Equates to About 15 Per Municipality

  9. They’re in Your Town!!!! Why Does it Concern Us

  10. They’re in Your Town!!!! Why Does it Concern Us

  11. Renewable Energy Sources WHY • State Purchase Incentives (up to 25% of cost) • State Sales Tax Exemption • Federal Tax Credits • Lower or Non-Existent Energy Bills • Note: Utilities Required To Buy Back Excess Solar Energy

  12. Importance to New Jersey In 2006 • 4,709,000 Megawatt Hours Used In One Month • Only 36 Megawatt Hours Were Generated By Solar Energy

  13. Importance to New Jersey • New Jersey also Houses the Nation’s Highest-Capacity & Oldest Running Nuclear Power Plants • (Salem & Oyster Creek)

  14. Solar Energy • Light & Radiant Heat From the Sun that Influences Climate & Weather • Naturally Replenished - Renewable Energy Source • Also Referred to as Solar Power Or Photovoltaic (PV) Solar: Electricity Generated From Solar Radiation

  15. Types of Solar PV Systems Grid Interconnected • Power from the Solar System is Added to the Normal Home Power Supply Supplied by the Utility Company

  16. Types of Solar PV Systems System Components

  17. Types of Solar PV Systems System Components • Roof Mounted Photovoltaic (PV) Panels • DC Energy ►AC Energy Inverter • Solar Junction Box • Electric Meter

  18. Grid Inter-Tied with Battery Backup • System - Similar to Previous System with the Addition of a “Battery Bank” to Store Power Generated from Solar Panels Types of Solar PV Systems

  19. Grid Inter-Tied with Battery Backup Types of Solar PV Systems

  20. Off Grid Systems • Not Tied to Any Utility Service or Power Lines • Main Source of Power for Building • Can Have Wind-Power, Water-Power & Back-Up Generators Factored in to Provide Energy at Night Types of Solar PV Systems

  21. Off Grid System Components • Roof Mounted Solar Panels • Array DC Disconnect • Charge Controller: Prevents Overcharging Types of Solar PV Systems

  22. Off Grid System Components • Battery Bank • System Meter: Bank Level, Panel Production, House Usage • Main DC Disconnect Types of Solar PV Systems

  23. Off Grid System Components • DC Energy ►AC Energy Inverter • Rectifier- Changes AC Energy ► DC Energy To Be Stored In Battery Bank • Solar Junction Box Types of Solar PV Systems

  24. Off Grid System Components • Generator Junction Box • Power Meter Types of Solar PV Systems

  25. How Solar PV Systems Work • Panels Contain PV Cells Made of Semi-conductive Materials Such as Silicon • The Cells Form Layers/ “Wafers” & Contain a Positive Side & Negative Side

  26. How Solar PV Systems Work • Photovoltaic Panels • Photo Means Light • Voltaic Means Electricity • Also Commonly Referred to as PV Panels

  27. How Solar PV Systems Work • Electric Conductors Attached to Panel Sides Form Electric Circuit • Sunlight Energy Excites Electrons & Knock Them Loose • Conductors Capture Energy Creating an Electrical Current

  28. How Solar PV Systems Works • Direct Current Electrical Energy is Produced • Power Is Combined in a “Combiner Box” Or “Combination Box” & Sent to Inverter

  29. How Solar PV Systems Works • Inverter: Changes DC to AC • Information such as Power Level, Energy Production, & Fault Messages can Usually be Observed Here

  30. Combiner Box How Solar PV Systems Works How Solar PV Systems Works

  31. Combiner Box • Conduit to Inverter Note: Always Consider This HOT How Solar PV Systems Works

  32. Alternating Current (AC) is Distributed to House Service Panel for Use. Excess Power is Transported Back Through the Utility Meter How Solar PV Systems Works

  33. Solar Panel Mounting Systems • MountingBolts

  34. Solar Panel Mounting Systems • Grid Tracks

  35. Flat Roof Mounting Systems • Weighted or Ballasted System

  36. Flat Roof Mounting Systems • Bolted Through or Anchored System

  37. Integrated Roof Systems Virtually impossible to tell from the ground. This is why preplanning is so important.

  38. Preplanning is Essential • Some Systems Unidentifiable from Street

  39. Preplanning is Essential • Systems Differ

  40. Preplanning is Essential • Disconnect Locations Vary

  41. PV Hazards • Shock Hazards • Batteries • Roof Collapse • Trip hazards • Roof Ventilation

  42. Shock • Primary Firefighter Danger • Maximum Voltage Of A Solar Panel System: 600 Volts (Low Voltage) • Note: Nearly 300 workers die yearly from low voltage electrical incidents PV Hazards

  43. Shock • Momentary Contact With Low DC Voltages May Produce: • Continuous Shock • Thermal Injury • Ventricular Fibrillation • Note: Unlike fire, which produces burns in a relatively predictable manner, electricity can strike unsuspecting victims — sometimes fatally! PV Hazards

  44. Inhalation • Protect Yourselves – Use Your SCBA PV Hazards

  45. Batteries • As a Rule, Batteries Burn with Great Difficulty • Batteries Exposed to Fire Generate Extremely Corrosive Fumes & Gases • Note: NEVER USE WATERto Extinguish lead-acid battery fires - Use CO2 or Dry Chemical PV Hazards

  46. Roof Collapse Approx. Weights Normal Dwelling - 40 Panels 35# Each • PV Panel – 35 lbs • Modules & Racking Hardware –4 lbs/ft2 1,400 Pounds Total Added Dead Load to Roof System PV Hazards

  47. Other Hazards • Trip Hazards PV Hazards

  48. Electrical Hazards • PV “Wiring Harness” is CONSIDERED ALWAYS HOT PV Hazards

  49. Roof Operations Hazards • During Daytime Firefighting Operations PV Panels Are Still Generating Electricity • Do Not Cut Into Or Walk Across Panels • Do Not Break Protective Glass • All Energy In Entire System Could Be Released At Break Point PV Hazards

  50. Roof Ventilation • Ventilate The Highest Point Over The Fire Without Cutting Through The PV Array (other side of the roof) • Flat Roofs With Complete PV Coverage • Horizontal With Supplemental Hydraulic & Positive Pressure Ventilation PV Hazards

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