In December, SEPA's webinar will feature a discussion about the several rooftop fires at commercial solar installations that have highlighted an important safety design issue potentially found in many PV projects in the United States. In investigating the root causes of these fires, the complex nature of ground faults and fault currents in PV arrays was identified as a probably cause and has become much better understood through follow-up research. This webinar will begin with a description of a fire at a utility-owned Duke Energy facility in North Carolina, which will include the lessons learned in understanding the right application of PV design and electrical building codes. A recent report from the Solar America Board of Codes and Standards will feed into the discussion on the broader fire safety issues of faults and fault currents, including what we know today and research that is underway to better understand the problem and make recommendations for future solutions.

Speakers: Bill Brooks, Brooks Engineering and Donna Robichaud, Managing Director, Commercial Execution, Duke Energy Carolinas
Moderators: Larry Sherwood, Project Administrator, Solar ABCs (Solar America Board for Codes and Standards) and Mike Taylor, Director of Research, Solar Electric Power Association
Cost: Free to SEPA Members and Media (subject to verification); $199 Non-members
Target Audience: Utility planners, engineers and solar program staff; solar developers, installers and other solar industry stakeholders.