Fire risk of Solar Farms

Solar farms require immense capital investments to construct. The longer a Solar farm can generate electric power, the better its return on investment. This reality makes those providing the capital require stringent construction standards and conscientious maintenance.

Insurance is purchased to reduce investors’ risk should an extremely rare peril occur. Humans cannot reduce perils such as weather. However, some risks, such as fire, can be reduced. The National Electrical Code is updated every three years.

To raise the needed capital, a Solar Farm must have proof of insurance. Insurance cannot be purchased unless the Solar Farm fully conforms to the National Electric Code.

The electric transmission operator will inspect a Solar farm for compliance with the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). before connecting to it and purchasing any power.

A Solar farm must conform to the insurance company’s standards and the standards of the power transmission company who will purchase their power or have no chance of ever coming online.

In extremely rare instances, just as with other structures in our modern era, even if all standards are followed fires can occur. As with all risks, all of us continue to learn from such conflagrations and modify our actions going forward, we do not stop living in houses.

Solar Farm investors will achieve their best long term gain by careful installation and maintenance of their Solar farm.