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Over the years, many studies have been conducted to measure, analyze, and characterize the lightning electric field waveform for a better conception of the lightning phenomenon. Moreover, the characterization mainly on the negative return strokes also significantly contributed to the development of the lightning detection system. Those studies mostly performed the characterization using a conventional method based on manual observations. Nevertheless, this method could compromise the accuracy of data analysis due to human error. Moreover, a longer processing time would be required to analyze data, especially for larger sample sizes. Hence, this study proposed the development of an automated negative lightning return strokes characterization using a brute-force search algorithm. A total of 170 lightning electric field waveforms were characterized automatically using the proposed algorithm. The manual and automated data were compared by evaluating their percentage difference, arithmetic mean (AM), and standard deviation (SD). The statistical analysis showed a good agreement between the manual and automated data with a percentage difference of 1.19% to 4.82%. The results showed that the proposed algorithm could provide an efficient structure and procedure by reducing the processing time and minimizing human error. Non-uniformity among users during negative lightning return strokes characterization can also be eliminated.

This paper discusses the lightning-induced voltage effect on a hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV)-battery energy storage system with the presence of surge protection devices (SPD). Solar PV functions by utilizing solar energy, in generating electricity, to supply to the customer. To ensure its consistency, battery energy storage is introduced to cater to the energy demand. For the countries located at the Equator, lightning has always become a major issue for the system to operate at maximum efficiency, due to its nature of installation in open space areas where the equipment may suffer serious damage that may stop the operation abruptly. To minimize the possible damages, insulation coordination on the lightning protection system is needed. Hence, three case studies, i.e., lightning current amplitude, lightning strike distance, and cable length are presented in this paper, which the quantified analysis is taking into account, to identify the performance of the system with the single installation of SPD Class II at DC and AC sides. The simulation results have contributed towards a better understanding of the importance of SPDs, and the need to properly coordinate according to the standard, taking into account the quantified information obtained from this work, hence providing the necessity of proper installation of SPD will provide better maintenance and prolong the lifespan of the equipment.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of different earthing designs’ performances, with particular interest on the use of earthing enhancing compound (EEC) for a selected earthing design of 500 kV transmission towers in a rocky soil, using the SESCAD tool of the Current distribution, electromagnetic field grounding and soil structure analysis (CDEGS) software. The simulation included the interpretation of soil profile and comparison between designs A, B and C, which are currently used for the 500 kV tower footing resistance (TFR) improvement. Results showed each design had reduced the TFR by 66%, 54.7% and 63.2% for the towers T42, T48 and T50, respectively. In some cases, further improvement of TFR is required, especially in the rocky area where the soil resistivity (SR) value is of more than 500 Ω⋅m. In this case, EEC was used in Design C, encasing both the vertical and horizontal electrodes, and it reduced the TFR further by 16% to 20%. The characteristics of the soil and earthing arrangement design play an important role in achieving a low TFR value, which is directly proportional to the backflashover occurrence and thus to the transmission line performance.

The solar PV has become an alternative solution in Malaysia to generate electricity. Unfortunately the solar PV installed in Malaysia is attracted to the lightning strike. There were two points that have high possibilities of being strike by the lightning; on the DC side between the solar PV and inverter and on the AC side, between the inverter and the substation. Therefore, this study was performed to analyse the effects of lightning strike at these two different points at the solar PV farm without any lightning protection system (LPS).

The Malaysian government implemented the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) and the Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, and encourage the production of clean green energy approaches like the solar PV system. Malaysia is a good fit for the deployment of solar PV system due its high daily radiation but unfortunately, the solar PV farm in Malaysia is highly susceptible to lightning strikes considering most solar PV farms are installed in wide-open areas that consequently attract lightning. This leads to very considerable repair costs, replacement of parts and the interruption of power supply to a large number of consumers. Therefore, the installation of a lightning protection system (LPS) in the solar PV farm is imperative to ensure the protection of all electronic equipment from damage due to lightning strikes. However, no specific standard or guideline is available for LPS, specifically for the solar PV system. Currently, installation of LPS for the solar PV system refers to Malaysian standard, which include MS 1837, MS IEC 62305, and technical document CLC/TS 50539-12 which provide just a brief overview. Hence, this study was conducted to determine a guideline and recommend suitable installation of LPS especially the surge protective device (SPD). This study provides a comprehensive model of a grid-connected solar PV farm system in PSCAD software consisting of a typical arrangement of solar PV modules, inverter, and transformer to observe the lightning effect and to coordinate an appropriate LPS. Depending on the location of the solar PV farm, engineers can obtain information on the peak current and median current of the site from the lightning location system (LLS). A statistical analysis of lightning peak current was performed and the findings revealed that the solar PV farm at Puchong Gateway have a total of 8788 strikes lightning strikes. In the simulation, the lightning strikes were applied without any LPS installed at the so

The solar PV farm is expected to gain greater popularity in Malaysia as an alternative energy source. Malaysia lies in the tropics and enjoys abundant sunlight, but is also prone to frequent lightning strikes. The solar PV farm is at great risk of being struck by lightning because of its location and installation in an open and flat area. Due to the high cost of maintaining the solar PV farm, a suitable lightning protection system should be installed to avoid or minimise the potential damage. Hence, the objective of this study is to offer a basic reference for the installation of a surge protection device (SPD) for a proper location according to the standard.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) farms currently play a vital role in the generation of electrical power in different countries, such as Malaysia, which is moving toward the use of renewable energy. Malaysia is one of the countries with abundant sunlight and thus can use solar PV farms as alternative sources for electricity generation. However, lightning strikes frequently occur in the country. Being installed in open and flat areas, solar PV farms, especially their electronic components, are at great risk of damage caused by lightning. In this paper, the effects of lightning currents with different peak currents and waveshapes on grid-connected solar PV farms were determined to approximate the level of transient effect that can damage solar PV modules, inverters and transformers. Depending on the location of the solar PV farm, engineer can obtain information on the peak current and median current of the site from the lightning location system (LLS) and utilise the results obtained in this study to appropriately assign an SPD to protect the solar panel, inverter and the main panel that connected to the grid. Therefore, the simulation results serve as the basis for controlling the effects of lightning strikes on electrical equipment and power grids where it provides proper justification on the ‘where to be installed’ and ‘what is the rating’ of the SPD. This judgment and decision will surely reduce the expensive cost of repair and replacement of electrical equipment damages due to the lightning.

A solar PV system was modelled and the effect of lightning striking different parts of a solar PV system was studied and the results discussed appropriately. Lightning strikes of different wave shapes and different magnitudes were considered. The purpose of this research is to observe the transient current and voltage that appears in a solar PV system when struck by lightning. The results show that a transient current will appear at the nearest point to the lightning strike and the value of the transient current is same as the lightning current, while the transient voltage will appear at AC side at any point of lightning strike. This could damage the inverter which requires a high cost to repair or replace. The information of this paper can be useful to decide a suitable lightning protection system before installing a solar PV system.

Lightning events are one of the factors that affect performance of a solar power system either by direct or indirect strikes. When lightning strikes directly to a panel, it can affect function and life cycle of the panel. Therefore, considering the electrical performance characteristics such as open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and maximum power of the solar panels under high voltage conditions is an important issue. In this paper, the effect of impulse voltage on the change of electrical behaviour of a polycrystalline solar panel is studied. The experimental platform is tested by a lightning impulse generated over a range of 100 kV to 300 kV. The results revealed that as the lightning impulse voltage is increased, the maximum power output gradually decreases. The performance of percentage difference from normal between 100 kV to 300 kV increased to 10.02 % for the maximum power output and the graph showed an increasing non-linear trend. After testing with lightning impulse voltages, the electrical performance of the solar panel under different thermal conditions (temperature) was evaluated in the range of 25 °C to 70 °C and the results are discussed accordingly. When the different temperatures were applied, efficiency of the polycrystalline panel continuously degraded. The percentage difference of the maximum power between samples of 100 kV to 300 kV at 70 °C increased from 2.09 % to 7.11 %.

There are three important parameters in solar photovoltaic (PV) panel performance, namely maximum output power, short-circuit current, and open-circuit voltage. All these parameters are affected by temperature fluctuations. This research is focused on the behaviour of a mono-crystalline solar PV panel under different temperatures using experimental work and the results are validated with a corresponding simulation using Matlab/Simulink software. The experimental and simulation results show that the electrical parameters change with a variation in temperature. When the temperature rises, the maximum output power and the open-circuit voltage decrease while the short-circuit current increases. Typically, when the surface temperature of the solar PV panel increases, the efficiency of the solar PV panel reduces.

The development of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) plants in Malaysia is on the rise since Malaysia is typically tropical and also has high potential for generating electricity. The climate in Malaysia is always humid and hot over a year, hence this paper the influence of temperature variations on a poly-crystalline solar panel is studied. It is very useful to understand the influence of temperature on solar panel output performance in order to predict panel performance under various temperature conditions. This study was founded on experimental results by setting up 50 W polycrystalline silicon panels under various temperatures. It was determined that the short circuit current, Isc gradually increased with marginal changes, while the open circuit voltage, Voc decreased linearly when the temperature increased. Due to this effect the maximum power output, Pmax as well as its efficiency was linearly reduced once the temperature increased. All the results are considered and discussed accordingly.