In today’s pursuit of clean energy, outdoor photovoltaic energy, as a sustainable energy solution, has garnered widespread attention and application. Sin embargo, current photovoltaic system products are standardized as simple power generation devices, and they face numerous severe challenges when confronted with extreme weather conditions. These issues cause concern and difficulties for photovoltaic users, investors in photovoltaic power plants, and managers alike.
Tabla de contenido
- Problems of Existing Photovoltaic Systems in Extreme Weather
- The Impact of Strong Winds on Photovoltaic Systems
- Conclusión
Problems of Existing Photovoltaic Systems in Extreme Weather
Strong Winds
During strong winds, photovoltaic systems endure immense wind pressure. Photovoltaic modules may be blown off or damaged, and the mounting structures might deform or collapse due to their inability to withstand the wind. This not only leads to direct financial losses but also poses a threat to the surrounding environment and the safety of people.
Hail Impact
Hailstorms are highly impactful and pose a significant threat to photovoltaic modules. The impact of hail can cause cracks or breakage on the surface of the modules, or even completely shatter them. These damages not only immediately affect power generation but may also lead to short circuits in the module’s internal circuitry, potentially resulting in fires or other more severe consequences. Además, replacing damaged modules requires considerable time and cost.
High Temperatures
During hot summer months, high temperatures frequently occur. Excessive heat can affect the performance of photovoltaic modules, leading to reduced power generation efficiency. Además, prolonged exposure to high temperatures may accelerate the aging of the modules and other PV accessories like cables, shortening their lifespan. In a high-temperature environment, the system’s heat dissipation becomes a critical issue, and poor heat dissipation can further affect the system’s stability and reliability.
Heavy Snow Accumulation
In cold winters, heavy snowfall can place a significant burden on photovoltaic systems. Snow accumulating on the surface of the modules blocks sunlight, drastically reducing power generation. Furthermore, icicles formed from melting snow can damage both the modules and the mounting structures. Snow removal also requires substantial labor and resources, increasing maintenance costs.
The Impact of Strong Winds on Photovoltaic Systems
In recent months, hurricanes Milton and Kirk have caused significant damage to parts of the U.S. and several European countries, with many photovoltaic power stations severely affected. In recent years, the occurrence of strong winds and other extreme weather events has dealt a heavy blow to photovoltaic power stations, revealing numerous concerning issues.
Damage and Loss Analysis of Building Photovoltaic Power Stations
Strong winds and typhoons have severely damaged rooftop photovoltaic systems. The destruction of building photovoltaic systems results in direct financial losses, and rebuilding rooftop photovoltaic systems requires substantial time and money. Reinstalling photovoltaic modules demands significant human, material, and time resources, which becomes a heavy burden for power station operators. For instance, in similar extreme weather events, many rooftop photovoltaic systems need to procure new modules and undergo installation and debugging, a process that could take weeks or even months, with power generation interrupted and economic losses incurred during this period.
Además, the current designs and implementation plans clearly cannot effectively withstand local climatic conditions. Strategies must be adjusted to address hazardous weather, with new, reliable solutions selected. The reality is that most photovoltaic companies’ products and solutions on the market are highly homogeneous, making the choice of a new reliable solar solution the top priority for decision-makers.
Analysis of the Inability of Existing Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems to Cope with Strong Winds
Limited Load-Bearing Capacity
Many rooftops were not originally designed to accommodate photovoltaic systems, so their load-bearing capacity is limited. Por ejemplo, some older residential or lightweight commercial buildings have relatively weak roof structures. When strong winds strike, the roof must not only bear the additional weight of the photovoltaic system but also resist the forces of the wind, which can lead to roof deformation or even damage. This compromises the stability of the photovoltaic system and may also pose a threat to the safety of the entire building.
Poor Compatibility Between Roof Structures and Photovoltaic Systems
Different roof structures have varying impacts on the installation and wind resistance of photovoltaic systems. Curved roofs or irregularly shaped roofs may not provide a stable surface for photovoltaic systems. When installing photovoltaic modules, mounts and cables, achieving an ideal layout and securing them properly can be challenging, making the system more susceptible to uneven wind forces in strong winds and increasing the risk of damage. An installation with a certain tilt angle significantly increases the roof’s shape coefficient and wind load, making it more prone to damage from strong winds.
Unstable Installation Structures
The fixing methods used for rooftop photovoltaic systems often have weak points. Common methods, such as using concrete ballast blocks to secure the mount to the roof, may not offer sufficient wind resistance. For lightweight roofs (such as color steel plate roofs), using clips for securing may not provide enough tension to resist strong winds, making the photovoltaic system prone to being lifted off entirely.
The mounting structure is critical for supporting photovoltaic modules, but some current rooftop photovoltaic mounts have design flaws. Certain mounts are structurally simple and lack sufficient strength and stability. Por ejemplo, some mounts have relatively thin frame structures that easily bend or deform under strong winds. Además, the connection points between mounts are often stress weak points that may break under wind impact, causing the entire photovoltaic system to lose support and be damaged.
Module Area and Wind Resistance
Photovoltaic modules have large surface areas, and in recent years, module sizes have increased. In strong winds, these large surface areas create significant wind resistance. Large photovoltaic panel arrays on rooftops act like “sails,” enduring substantial wind loads during strong gusts.
Material Strength of Photovoltaic Modules
The frames and internal structures of photovoltaic modules have limited strength. Under repeated impact from strong winds, the frames may deform, and the internal structures may break. Por ejemplo, modules with aluminum alloy frames may not be able to withstand the stress from prolonged wind exposure, causing the frame to bend and affecting the tightness of the connection between the module and the mount. This instability can compromise the module’s secure positioning on the rooftop.
Conclusión
From the above analysis, it is clear that the inability of existing photovoltaic systems to withstand strong winds is due to multiple factors, including the structural limitations of rooftops and installation methods, as well as the inherent characteristics of photovoltaic modules. We look forward to new PV products and technological solutions that can enhance the disaster resilience of photovoltaic systems, mitigating risks and reducing potential losses.