Month: December 2024

As the solar energy industry continues to expand, ensuring the safety of field technicians working in solar farms becomes increasingly critical. Solar energy farms, which consist of large arrays of photovoltaic (PV) panels, inverters, and substations, pose several electrical hazards that require specialized training. Electrical safety training is not only essential for protecting workers but also a regulatory requirement to meet industry standards and maintain operational efficiency. This article outlines the electrical safety training requirements, qualifications, and certifications for solar field technicians, while also highlighting the relevance of STL USA’s courses in equipping workers with the skills needed for this critical role.

Key Electrical Safety Challenges in Solar Energy Farms

Field technicians working on solar energy farms are regularly exposed to electrical systems that operate at high voltages, both during installation and maintenance. The key hazards include:

• Arc Flash and Shock Hazards: Technicians work with inverters, transformers, and high-voltage substations, where electrical arcs and shocks can cause severe injury or fatality.

• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO): Controlling energy sources during maintenance is critical to prevent accidental energization of equipment.

• Fire Risks: Faults in electrical systems, improper handling, or damaged panels can result in fire hazards.

• String Voltage and DC Power: Solar PV systems generate direct current (DC) power, which behaves differently from alternating current (AC), requiring additional knowledge for safe handling.

To address these risks, proper electrical safety training and certifications are mandatory for field technicians to comply with safety regulations and industry standards.

Essential Electrical Safety Training Requirements

Field technicians must undergo comprehensive electrical safety training to work safely and effectively in solar energy farms. The following certifications and training programs are typically required:

1. NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

   • The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 70E standard provides guidelines for identifying electrical hazards, assessing risks, and implementing safety measures. Training based on NFPA 70E focuses on:

     • Arc flash awareness and protection.

     • Shock hazard analysis.

     • Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

     • Safe work practices for energized and de-energized systems.

   • Relevance: Technicians who work on inverters, combiner boxes, and substations must understand arc flash hazards and how to prevent them. NFPA 70E compliance is often a legal and industry requirement.

2. Qualified Electrical Worker (QEW) Certification

   • The QEW certification is designed for workers who perform tasks involving live electrical systems. The training focuses on:

     • Electrical system operation and maintenance.

     • Safe switching practices.

     • Emergency response to electrical incidents.

   • Relevance: Solar energy farms require QEWs to safely perform maintenance and troubleshoot electrical components without endangering themselves or others.

3. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Training

   • LOTO training teaches workers how to isolate and control hazardous energy sources before servicing equipment. The key components include:

     • Energy isolation procedures.

     • Proper use of lockout devices and tags.

     • Verifying energy isolation.

   • Relevance: LOTO procedures are essential during inverter maintenance and substation operations to ensure that equipment is properly de-energized.

4. OSHA Electrical Safety Standards

   • The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates safety training to protect workers from electrical hazards. Relevant OSHA standards include:

     • OSHA 1910.269: Safety standards for electrical power generation, transmission, and distribution.

     • OSHA 1926 Subpart K: Electrical safety requirements in construction.

   • Relevance: Compliance with OSHA standards ensures that solar farm technicians follow best practices to prevent electrical incidents.

Professional and Regulatory Bodies for Certifications

Several professional and regulatory organizations play a key role in certifying and standardizing electrical safety training for solar energy workers:

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Sets electrical safety standards, including NFPA 70E.

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Regulates workplace safety, including electrical hazards.

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): Develops standards for safe handling of electrical systems.

• Global Wind Organization (GWO): While focused on wind energy, GWO’s safety courses include modules applicable to solar energy.

STL USA Electrical Safety Training Courses

STL USA offers several specialized training programs that align with the electrical safety requirements of solar energy field technicians. These courses provide workers with essential skills to identify hazards, manage risks, and operate safely in solar energy environments. The following courses are particularly relevant:

1. QEW NFPA 70E Training

   • STL USA’s QEW NFPA 70E course focuses on compliance with NFPA 70E standards. Technicians gain hands-on experience in:

     • Arc flash risk analysis and PPE selection.

     • Safe work practices for live and de-energized electrical systems.

     • Emergency response for electrical incidents.

   • Application: This course equips solar farm technicians with the knowledge and skills to safely work on inverters, string arrays, and high-voltage systems.

2. GWO Control of Hazardous Energies

   • Although originally designed for wind energy, this course’s principles are highly applicable to solar energy. Technicians learn:

     • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.

     • Risk assessment and energy isolation.

     • Hazard identification during maintenance.

   • Application: The LOTO skills taught in this course are essential for isolating energy sources during inverter servicing and substation work on solar farms.

3. BOP Substation Training

   • This course focuses on operating and maintaining Balance of Plant (BOP) substations, which are critical for integrating solar farms with the electrical grid. Topics include:

     • Substation safety protocols.

     • Switching operations and isolation.

     • Transformer and switchgear maintenance.

   • Application: Technicians working on large-scale solar farms rely on substation training to ensure safe grid connectivity and maintenance of critical infrastructure.

4. PMT Switching Course

   • The PMT Switching course trains workers to safely switch and isolate high-voltage equipment for maintenance. Key components include:

     • Safe switching operations.

     • Equipment isolation and testing.

     • Risk assessment before and during switching.

   • Application: Solar energy technicians use these skills to isolate strings, inverters, and transformers when performing maintenance or upgrades.

Why Electrical Safety Training Matters

Electrical safety training is not just about compliance; it’s about protecting lives and ensuring the reliability of solar energy systems. Technicians equipped with the proper training can:

• Identify and mitigate electrical hazards before accidents occur.

• Safely perform maintenance and repairs without risking injury or damage.

• Meet industry standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring legal and operational compliance.

STL USA’s courses are particularly beneficial because they combine theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on training. By completing programs like NFPA 70E, QEW certification, and BOP Substation training, technicians gain the skills necessary to work confidently and safely in solar energy environments.

Conclusion

Field technicians working in solar energy farms face unique electrical safety challenges that require specialized training and certifications. Compliance with NFPA 70E, OSHA standards, and professional qualifications such as QEW certification ensures that workers can safely handle high-voltage systems, arc flash risks, and energy isolation. STL USA’s electrical safety courses, including QEW NFPA 70E, GWO Control of Hazardous Energies, BOP Substation, and PMT Switching, provide the essential training needed to meet these requirements. By investing in electrical safety training, solar energy companies not only protect their workforce but also ensure the reliability and success of their renewable energy projects.

As the renewable energy sector grows at a rapid pace, the demand for skilled workers in wind and solar energy industries has risen significantly. While these industries share many overlapping skill sets and safety concerns, they also have distinct requirements that reflect the unique nature of their operations. A well-trained workforce is essential for ensuring safety, efficiency, and reliability in both sectors, and various specialized courses like the GWO Control of Hazardous Energies, QEW NFPA 70E, BOP Substation, and PMT Switching courses offered by STL USA provide crucial training tailored to the needs of these industries. This article examines the core skills, training requirements, and specific overlaps in competencies needed by wind and solar energy workers.

Key Skills and Challenges in Wind and Solar Energy

Both wind and solar energy workers must be adept at handling complex electrical systems and work in hazardous environments. A foundational understanding of electrical theory, and mechanical systems is critical for both sectors. However, each industry also requires specialized skills due to differences in infrastructure and operations.

• Wind Energy: Workers in this sector often need to scale wind turbines that can reach heights of over 100 meters. This demands proficiency in fall protection, and working at heights. Additionally, turbine maintenance involves knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems, major component maintenance, and composites.

• Solar Energy: Solar workers, in contrast, focus more on ground-level tasks such as installing and maintaining photovoltaic (PV) panels, troubleshooting inverters, and optimizing system performance.

Despite these differences, both industries face common hazards, such as electrical shock arc flashes and require robust electrical safety programs. Specialized training courses address these hazards and ensure workers meet safety and operational standards.

Training Overlaps and Industry-Specific Needs

The GWO Control of Hazardous Energies, QEW NFPA 70E, BOP Substation, and PMT Switching courses offered by STL USA are particularly relevant for preparing workers for the challenges in both wind and solar industries. Below is an overview of the critical aspects of these courses and their applications.

1. GWO Control of Hazardous Energies

   • This course, designed by the Global Wind Organization (GWO), focuses on identifying and controlling hazardous energies during installation, maintenance, and decommissioning of energy systems. Workers learn lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, risk assessment, and energy isolation techniques.

   • Applications in Wind Energy: The course is crucial for turbine technicians who need to safely manage the high-voltage systems within wind turbines. Turbine systems often involve multiple energy sources, such as hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical, making LOTO procedures essential.

   • Applications in Solar Energy: While solar systems involve less moving mechanical energy, the principles of hazardous energy control apply equally to PV systems—especially during inverter maintenance and troubleshooting.

2. QEW NFPA 70E

   • This course focuses on electrical safety in line with NFPA 70E standards. Participants learn about arc flash hazards, shock protection, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

   • Applications in Wind Energy: Wind technicians benefit from this course when working with high-voltage switchgear and performing electrical maintenance inside turbine nacelles. Arc flash hazards are a significant risk in such confined spaces.

   • Applications in Solar Energy: Solar electricians require this training to safely handle PV systems and manage the risks associated with arc flashes during panel installation, inverter maintenance, and string troubleshooting.

3. BOP Substation Training

   • The Basic Balance of Plant (BOP) Substation training introduces workers to the equipment, terminology and overview function of BOP — key components in connecting renewable energy systems to the grid.

   • Applications in Wind Energy: Wind farms typically rely on substations to transmit power to the grid. Workers must understand transformer operations, relay protection, and switchgear maintenance.

   • Applications in Solar Energy: Similarly, solar farms depend on substations for grid integration. Workers trained in substation operations ensure the seamless transfer of energy from PV arrays to utility lines.

4. PMT Switching

   • This course provides training in safe switching operations and the isolation of equipment for maintenance.

   • Applications in Wind Energy: Turbine technicians often perform switching operations to isolate turbines or other equipment for repairs. This course ensures they can do so safely and efficiently.

   • Applications in Solar Energy: Solar energy workers use similar skills when isolating strings or inverters for repairs or upgrades, particularly in large-scale solar farms.

GWO Basic Safety Training: Transferable Skills Across Sectors

The GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) course is a foundational program designed to prepare workers for the general hazards encountered in wind energy environments. However, several modules within the course provide transferable skills that are highly applicable to the solar energy sector and other industries.

• First Aid Module: This module equips workers with life-saving techniques and emergency response skills, which are universally applicable across industries. Whether responding to accidents in a wind turbine or a solar farm, these skills are critical for ensuring worker safety.

• Fire Awareness Module: This module teaches workers how to identify fire risks, use fire extinguishers, and evacuate safely. Solar farms and rooftop installations can also face fire hazards, making this training valuable for solar technicians.

• Manual Handling Module: Workers are trained in safe lifting and handling techniques to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. This is a key competency in both wind and solar sectors, where workers frequently handle heavy or awkwardly shaped components like turbine parts or PV panels.

These transferable elements make the GWO Basic Safety Training course an excellent entry point for workers seeking to move between wind and solar energy roles or diversify their skill sets for broader opportunities within the renewable energy sector.

Overlapping Competencies: Building a Versatile Workforce

The training and skills required for wind and solar energy workers often intersect in areas such as electrical safety, energy isolation, and substation maintenance. Workers who complete courses like GWO Control of Hazardous Energies and QEW NFPA 70E gain competencies that are transferable between the two industries, providing flexibility in a rapidly evolving job market.

• Electrical Safety: Understanding shock protection and arc flash protection, PPE and equipment selection is indispensable in both sectors.

• Energy Isolation: Establishing an electrically safe work condition and safe work procedures taught in the GWO CoHE and QEW NFPA 70E are critical for preventing accidents during maintenance in both wind and solar environments.

• Substation Skills: With many renewable projects relying on substations, our Basic Balance of Plant Training teaches safe substation entry, equipment familiarization, high and medium voltage protection principles, introduction to high and medium voltage schematics including relay, ANSI and IEE naming conventions.

Conclusion

The wind and solar energy industries share a common goal: harnessing renewable resources to produce clean energy. While their operational differences necessitate specific skill sets, overlapping competencies in areas such as electrical safety, hazardous energy control, and substation maintenance highlight the value of cross-industry training. By participating in courses like GWO Control of Hazardous Energies, QEW NFPA 70E, BOP Substation, and PMT Switching, workers can not only enhance their expertise but also adapt to the evolving demands of the renewable energy sector. Investing in such training is not just about compliance—it’s about building a skilled workforce capable of advancing the global transition to sustainable energy.

STL USA took delivery today of the latest addition to our technical and electrical safety site, a brand new pad mounted transformer. This fantastic piece of kit will drastically improve the range and scope of the electrical safety courses on the STL USA roster.

Courses that will use the pad mounted transformer include:

1. BOP Substation/PMT Switching: A New Offering for 2025

The Basic Balance of Plant (BOP) Substation/PMT Switching Training is designed to equip participants with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to work safely in substation environments. This course emphasizes safety protocols, equipment familiarity, and the fundamental principles of medium and high-voltage systems. It also introduces key concepts such as ANSI and IEEE naming conventions, inspection practices, and switching order basics. While this training provides a solid foundation, workers must still receive task-specific approval from a qualified professional and employer validation before undertaking independent tasks.

Course Highlights

• Safe substation access and equipment familiarization.
• Principles of high and medium voltage protection.
• Introduction to electrical schematics, including ANSI/IEEE standards.
• Conducting basic substation inspections.
• Switching order fundamentals.
• Written assessments and hands-on exercises for switching orders.
• Practical application: PMT switching, energy state verification, and personal grounding procedures.
• Substation walk-throughs with authorized personnel.
• Optional practical switching in the substation (per client request).

Why This Training Matters

BOP Substation/PMT Switching training is critical for electrical workers managing medium-to-high voltage systems. A simple error in switching procedures can have dire consequences, including injuries, asset damage, and prolonged downtime. Additionally, substations and transformers form the backbone of power distribution systems, essential for uninterrupted operations. By equipping workers with a deep understanding of substation and transformer functionality, this course ensures operational reliability, safety, and reduced risk of system failures. This training is more than a technical requirement—it’s a commitment to safeguarding personnel and assets.

Learn more about the course here

2. Control of Hazardous Energies (CoHE) Course: Essential for Wind Technicians

Managing hazardous energies is a critical skill for technicians working on machinery where stored or active energy poses a threat. The Control of Hazardous Energies (CoHE) course, although not currently a mandatory GWO certification, is increasingly recognized as indispensable for wind energy professionals. STL USA champions this training as essential for anyone working on turbines, especially up-tower technicians. Industry trends suggest that leading OEMs will soon include CoHE as a required qualification, emphasizing its growing importance.

Course Content

1. Understanding Hazardous Energies: This module explains the types of energy (electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical) encountered in turbines and their potential risks.
2. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO): A comprehensive guide to de-energizing and securing equipment before maintenance or inspection.
3. Risk Assessments and Safe Practices: Participants learn to conduct risk evaluations, select appropriate PPE, and follow strict safety protocols to mitigate hazards.

Why It’s Crucial

Wind turbines are complex machines with numerous energy sources, from electrical circuits to hydraulic systems. Proper CoHE training empowers technicians to handle these high-risk environments confidently, preventing accidents and reducing downtime. Beyond routine safety measures, this course instills a culture of proactive risk management, demonstrating a commitment to safety that benefits both technicians and employers.

Bonus Insight

You can combine the GWO CoHE course with NFPA 70E training for a comprehensive approach to electrical and hazardous energy safety.

Learn more about the course here

3. Qualified Electrical Worker (QEW) Training Aligned with NFPA 70E Standards

As wind turbines grow larger and more powerful, the electrical risks for technicians increase significantly. The Qualified Electrical Worker (QEW) course, combined with NFPA 70E certification, is tailored to equip technicians with advanced electrical safety knowledge. This training addresses the unique challenges of working with electrical systems in wind turbines and emphasizes the safe handling of both energized and de-energized equipment.

Course Content

1. Understanding NFPA 70E Standards: Participants learn the guidelines established by the National Fire Protection Association, including arc flash protection, shock hazard analysis, and appropriate PPE selection.
2. Electrical Hazard Identification: Training focuses on recognizing electrical risks, assessing hazards, and implementing preventative measures.
3. Safe Work Practices: Technicians gain practical knowledge of lockout/tagout procedures, maintaining safe approach distances, and adhering to best practices for working around electrical systems.

Why This Training Is Vital

Electricity remains one of the most significant hazards on wind farms, often leading to severe injuries or fatalities if mishandled. The QEW with NFPA 70E certification equips technicians to minimize these risks effectively. It not only ensures compliance with safety standards but also enhances employability by qualifying workers for advanced roles. Employers also benefit from reduced incident rates and a workforce skilled in maintaining safe operations in high-risk environments.

For wind technicians, this course represents a step toward greater competency, safety, and career advancement in the evolving wind energy sector.

Learn more about the course here