Schneider Electric presents new overload and short-circuit protection solutions for photovoltaic installations, which have grown in popularity in recent years amid consumer efforts to identify alternative sources of electricity and manage their utility bills as good as they can.
Schneider Electric solutions are available in two variants – one in which the protective elements are circuit breakers (or “automatic fuses”) and the other in which the protective elements are fused disconnectors.
Both types of equipment protect the photovoltaic installation from both overload and short circuit. The difference is that, in the event of a fault, the fuse must be replaced to put the installation back into operation, while with the automatic one a reset is sufficient. The protections must be installed together with a load breaker, which will allow the circuit to be interrupted for maintenance work.
In addition to overload and short-circuit protection, Schneider Electric also recommends the installation of arresters to ensure protection against atmospheric surges. Schneider Electric surge arresters are direct current equipment, dedicated to photovoltaic installations.
An arrester protects the installation in which it is mounted, along a path length of approximately 10 meters. In cases where the circuit is longer than 10 meters, it is recommended to install an additional arrester (or several arresters) so that this distance is not exceeded.
As most photovoltaic installations – including conductor paths – are outside, Schneider Electric recommends Kaedra enclosures, with IP65 degree of protection.
“The photovoltaic installation market in Romania has experienced significant growth in recent years, being influenced by the support measures implemented by the government, but also by the increased interest in renewable energies,” says Lucian Enaru, Country General Manager at Schneider Electric Romania.
“Our company encourages the development of this market and offers efficient and safe solutions for the protection of installations. In the medium term, the implementation of alternative energy sources and the transformation of consumers into prosumers contribute both to the significant reduction of final utility costs and to the achievement of sustainability objectives.”
In recent years, a series of support measures have been implemented for the development of the renewable energy market, both for individuals and legal entities. They have given a considerable boost to the photovoltaic installation market, making their protection a priority.
These measures include green energy support schemes, mandatory renewable energy quotas, financing schemes for renewable energy investments, reduction of fees and taxes for renewable energy projects, etc.
Through the Casa Verde Photovoltaic AFM program alone, a number of 42,100 financing files were approved in 2022, through which each of the applicants was supported with a non-refundable sum of 20,000 RON to install such systems. For 2023, this amount has increased to 25,000 RON.