Lightning Protection System in Power & Energy Industry

Power-generating facilities—covering coal, hydropower, nuclear, wind, and solar energy—serve as vital infrastructure that transforms primary energy into electricity, delivering indispensable power support for economic and social progress. That said, lightning surges may lead to serious disruptions, such as power failures and human casualties.

Photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on rooftops or open outdoor areas are highly prone to lightning strikes. Lightning causes equipment damage in three ways: direct strikes, lightning electromagnetic pulses (LEMP), and induced surges. Direct strikes may damage or destroy PV modules and inverters, while induced LEMP can infiltrate equipment via wiring and damage electronic components. Thus, a comprehensive protection strategy combining external lightning protection, internal surge suppression, and intelligent monitoring is essential to ensure the safe operation of such systems.

As wind turbines continue to increase in power capacity and tower height, with their blades reaching farther into open-air sites such as mountainous regions, plains, and coastal areas, these installations have become high-risk targets for lightning strikes. Lightning strikes can inflict severe damage on wind turbines, including blade fracturing, generator insulation breakdown, control system malfunction, and even fire outbreaks, which in turn lead to substantial economic losses. Statistics indicate that in European countries, 4 to 8 out of every 100 wind turbines sustain lightning-induced damage each year, with control systems and turbine blades identified as the most vulnerable components.